Mexico market · Tariff-aware sourcing · Since 1998
Clothing Manufacturer for Mexican Brands
SDF Clothing makes private label apparel in Bangladesh. For Mexican brands there is one fact to understand before anything else: since 1 January 2026, most clothing imported from countries without a free trade agreement faces a Mexican tariff of up to 35%. Bangladesh has no such agreement with Mexico.
We would rather tell you that now than after you pay a deposit. This page shows the numbers, the labelling rules and the cases where Bangladesh production still makes sense for a Mexican business. First orders start at 300 pieces per style.
Rules and rates last reviewed 1 October 2026. Always confirm the current tariff line with your customs broker before you place an order.
The tariff, tax and label rules that decide your margin
| Import tariff | A December 2025 reform, in force from 1 January 2026, raised duties on roughly 1,400 tariff lines. Most textile and apparel lines sit at up to 35% for goods from countries without a Mexican trade agreement. |
|---|---|
| Trade agreement with Bangladesh | None. Preferential rates for USMCA, Japan, the UK and other partners do not apply to Bangladesh-origin goods. |
| Tariff status | The 2026 increases were written into the permanent tariff law, unlike the temporary measures of 2024 and 2025. |
| VAT (IVA) | 16%, applied on the customs value plus duties and fees. |
| Label standard | NOM-004 textile labelling. The label must be in Spanish and sewn in. |
| Local party | A Mexican importer with a tax ID (RFC) appears on the label as the responsible party. |
Sources: Mexican Official Gazette reporting via law-firm and trade-press summaries of the 2026 tariff reform, and published NOM-004 guidance. Your customs broker must confirm the exact tariff line for each product.
What the 35% tariff does to your price
A 35% duty is charged before IVA, and IVA is then charged on the higher total. On a shipment with a CIF value of USD 12,000, duty alone is USD 4,200. That is why the same garment can cost far more to land in Mexico from Bangladesh than from a supplier in Mexico, the United States, Canada or another partner country.
Bangladesh’s factory-price advantage on cotton knits is real, but a duty of this size can erase it. Compare the full landed cost of each option, not the factory price.
When Bangladesh still makes sense for Mexican brands
There are cases where the numbers can work, and cases where they do not. We prefer to say so plainly.
- Premium products with high margin. If your retail price is several times the landed cost, a large duty may be affordable for fabrics or constructions you cannot get locally.
- Specialist fabrics and trims. Organic cotton to GOTS standard, certain knit structures or heavy-gauge pieces may not be available in Mexico at your quantity.
- Styles that fall outside the 2026 list. Not every product line was raised. Ask your broker to check each HS code first.
- Sample and capsule runs. Small test batches of a new design can justify higher duty if they lead to a larger local production run.
- Programmes that use Mexican import regimes. Some manufacturers use IMMEX arrangements. These rules were tightened for textile inputs in 2026, so take advice from a licensed customs professional.
NOM-004 labels: sewn-in, Spanish, complete
Mexican textile labelling rules are among the strictest we work with. Guidance for garments says the label has to be permanent and readable, and it must be in Spanish. It can also carry other languages. Because it is sewn in during production, it has to be planned before bulk cutting starts.
You provide the exact text and layout. We produce and attach the label to your artwork, and check every style before shipping. Our garment label guide explains placement.
- Brand name and size.
- Fibre composition as percentages, in descending order.
- Care instructions using standard symbols and Spanish text.
- Country of origin: Hecho en Bangladesh, or an accepted equivalent.
- Name, address and RFC of the Mexican importer or responsible party.
Shipping to Mexico
Mexico is one of the longest sea lanes we serve. Most cargo goes to the Pacific ports of Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas, usually with transhipment through Colombo or Singapore. We do not quote a fixed transit time here, because schedules vary a lot by service. Your forwarder should give a routing and date at booking.
Customs brokers are increasingly selective with textile imports. Have the certificate of origin, invoices and label evidence ready, and expect closer inspection than in other markets.
Registrations and customs checks your importer must pass
A Mexican company cannot clear apparel with only an RFC. Under Mexican customs rules the importer must be on the general importers registry (Padrón de Importadores) and, for textiles and clothing, also on the sectoral registry (Padrón de Importadores de Sectores Específicos). The general registration is free and usually takes a few working days, while the sectoral one can take longer, so ask your importer to start both before your first order ships.
- Brand declaration: importers of many apparel lines must declare the brand at customs, and a missing declaration can lead to suspension from the sectoral registry.
- Estimated prices: The Mexican finance ministry publishes estimated prices for many apparel lines. If the declared value is lower, the importer may need to lodge a guarantee for the tax difference.
- Label evidence: customs brokers check the label against NOM-004, so send label artwork and samples to your importer before shipping.
What the landed cost multiple means for your retail price
In the landed cost example below, a USD 10,000 factory price becomes USD 16,200 once freight and the 35% duty are added, about 1.6 times the FOB price. IVA of 16% comes on top, but a VAT-registered business can generally credit it against its own IVA, so confirm the treatment with your accountant.
Set your retail price from the landed cost and not from the factory price. Our landed cost guide shows how to build the spreadsheet for your own styles.
Landed cost example for a Mexican importer
This example uses the 35% ceiling for illustration. Your line may be lower, and customs processing fees are ignored to keep the maths clear.
| Factory price (FOB Chattogram) | USD 10,000 |
|---|---|
| Freight and insurance | USD 2,000 |
| CIF value | USD 12,000 |
| Import duty at 35% of CIF | USD 4,200 |
| IVA at 16% of (CIF + duty) | USD 2,592 |
| Import taxes in total | USD 6,792 |
Duty alone adds 42% to the freight-inclusive price of the goods. IVA is normally creditable for a registered business, but duty is a real cost. Ask us for a quote at your target quantity so you can compare with Mexican production.
Mexico import questions
What tariff does Bangladesh clothing pay in Mexico?
Most clothing lines from countries without a Mexican trade agreement face duty of up to 35% since 1 January 2026. Bangladesh has no such agreement with Mexico. Your customs broker should confirm the rate for each HS code.
Is the 35% tariff temporary?
The 2026 reform was written into Mexico’s permanent tariff law rather than issued as a temporary measure, according to law-firm summaries. Policy can still change, so check again before each large order.
Is it still worth sourcing from Bangladesh for Mexico?
Sometimes. It works for high-margin products, specialist fabrics and small capsule runs. For basic cotton T-shirts and similar items, a local or USMCA supplier is usually cheaper once duty is added. We will tell you honestly when the numbers do not work.
What must the Mexican label include?
Guidance for NOM-004 lists brand, size, fibre composition, care instructions, country of origin and the details of the Mexican responsible party including tax ID, all in Spanish and sewn into the garment.
Do I pay IVA on top of the tariff?
Yes. IVA of 16% is charged on the customs value plus duties and fees. A registered business can normally credit it.
What is your minimum order for Mexican brands?
The first order starts at 300 pieces per style. Because tariffs raise the cost of every mistake, we recommend a sampled and tested pilot before you scale.
What registrations does my Mexican importer need?
The importer should be on the general importers registry and, for textiles and clothing, the sectoral importers registry. Both are handled through the tax authority, and the sectoral one can take longer, so start early.
Can Mexican customs question my invoice value?
Yes. Mexico publishes estimated prices for many apparel lines, and a declared value below the estimate can require a guarantee for the tax difference. Ask your customs broker to check the current estimated price for your HS code before you agree the order price.
Related pages
Check the numbers before you commit
Send your styles and target quantity. We quote the factory price in 48 hours so you can compare full landed cost against local and USMCA options.