Last updated: October 10, 2026
Steel, aluminum, profiles, pipe, sheet and other construction materials face special controls in Mexico and high duties in the United States. For contractors, distributors and industrial projects, reviewing these points before buying avoids held cargo and surprise costs.
Steel into Mexico: automatic notice and sector registry
- Many steel products in chapters 72 and 73 need an automatic import notice for steel products, filed in VUCEM before the import.
- Aluminum products also have their own automatic notice for several tariff lines.
- Many of these lines require registration in the sector-specific importer registry (steel sectors).
- If the origin is a country without a trade agreement with Mexico, check the 2026 duty increases and the antidumping duties in place on several steel products.
- September 2026 changes: definitive antidumping duties on hot-rolled steel from China and Vietnam, and on hollow aluminum profiles from China and the United States. A trade agreement does not exempt goods from an antidumping duty.
- If the steel or pipe ships from Houston, see oilfield and heavy equipment between Houston and Mexico.
Other construction materials
- Electrical material, lighting and some finished products may need NOM standards and Spanish labeling.
- The tariff classification sets the duty, the permits and whether a notice applies.
- Heavy or oversized cargo (beams, structures, machinery) needs the crossing and loading equipment planned ahead.
Into the U.S.: Section 232
- The U.S. applies Section 232 duties of up to 50% on steel, aluminum, copper and many derivative products, even when the goods qualify for USMCA.
- The metal content and the country where it was melted or smelted must be declared. A wrong declaration can bring penalties.
- Estimate your entry cost with the duty calculator.
What we coordinate for projects
- Classification, automatic notices and registry before the first shipment.
- The pedimento in Nuevo Laredo and the U.S. entry on the same shipment.
- A Laredo warehouse to receive, consolidate and release by project phase.
- Equipment for heavy cargo and machinery.
Related guides: sector-specific importer registry · antidumping duties · all trade guides
Frequently asked questions about steel and construction materials
Do I need an automatic notice to import steel into Mexico?
In many cases, yes. Many steel products in chapters 72 and 73 need an automatic import notice for steel products, filed in VUCEM before the import. Several aluminum tariff lines have their own notice.
Which importer registry is needed for steel?
Besides the general importer registry, many steel tariff lines require registration in the sector-specific importer registry, under the steel sectors. We review it together with the classification before the first shipment.
Does USMCA exempt goods from antidumping duties?
No. An antidumping duty is charged even when a trade agreement applies. One example from September 2026 is the definitive duty on hollow aluminum profiles from China and also from the United States. See antidumping duties.
Does the U.S. charge duty on steel that qualifies for USMCA?
Yes. Section 232 duties of up to 50% apply to steel, aluminum, copper and many derivative products even when the goods qualify for USMCA. The metal content and the country where it was melted or smelted must also be declared.
Do you handle heavy or oversized cargo?
Yes. Beams, structures and machinery need the crossing and the loading equipment planned ahead. We have a Laredo warehouse to receive, consolidate and release the goods by project phase.
Moving materials for a project?
Send us the material list, the origin and the project destination. Request a quote or call +1 (956) 717-4150, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Central.