The Ultimate Guide to Mexican Pedimentos

Mexico holds significant importance in global trade, primarily owing to its strategic location and extensive network of trade agreements. Situated between North and South America, Mexico serves as a vital bridge connecting these continents. Coastlines with both, the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans further enhance Mexico’s trade potential, attracting European and Asian importers and exporters. Its proximity to the United States, one of the world's largest consumer markets, positions Mexico as a key player in facilitating cross-border trade and commerce.

Mexico's emergence as a major manufacturing hub is another important factor. The country has become a destination for industries such as automotive, electronics, and aerospace. Multinational companies have realized Mexico's skilled labor force and cost efficiencies to establish production facilities, contributing to the country's prominence in global manufacturing. With a population exceeding 120 million people, the country’s demographic strength makes Mexico an attractive destination for businesses seeking to expand. In addition, its trade-friendly policies make it a haven for global importers and exporters.

Just like any other country, Mexico’s customs department has its own set of rules and regulations for importing and exporting into the country. What makes Mexico’s customs unique and extremely different from other countries’ customs is a document called the ‘Pedimento’.

In this guide, we will explain & tell you everything you need to know about Mexican pedimento and pedimento numbers.

What is a Pedimento?

The Mexican pedimento is a critical customs document required for importing or exporting goods in Mexico. It serves as a comprehensive declaration, providing detailed information about the nature, quantity, and value of the goods. This document is essential for customs clearance, ensuring compliance with Mexican regulations, and facilitating the smooth flow of goods across borders.

Issued by a Mexican customs broker, the pedimento details the shipment's weight, volume, value, origin, destination, and even the specific codes for the goods themselves. These customs brokers handle the intricacies, navigating specific codes and requirements. The pedimento also includes key details such as the importer's or exporter's information, freight forwarders and incoterms, tariff classification, and adherence to specific customs procedures. Think of it as the essential passport for your goods, a document filled with vital information authorizing their entry or exit from the country.

This document serves as a crucial element for tax calculations and record-keeping, ensuring transparency and proper duties are paid. Accurate completion of the pedimento is vital for a seamless and compliant trade process in Mexico. So, whether you're shipping avocados from Michoacán or receiving textiles from Oaxaca, the pedimento serves as the guardian of smooth and compliant trade within Mexico. Usually, the pedimento is made for a group of shipments or multiple consignments. Without a pedimento and its subsequent pedimento number, shipments that you try to import into or export out of Mexico may be confiscated by the authorities.

Explaining the Mexican Pedimento & Pedimento Number

The purpose of the Mexican pedimento is to guarantee that a consignment has entered Mexico legally. Each pedimento is unique to a group of shipments. This means that you need to create a pedimento for different shipments being transported to or from Mexico.

The pedimento number, on the other hand, is the serial number assigned for a particular pedimento. The pedimento number is crucial for tracking and referencing specific import or export transactions. It is an alphanumeric code that typically includes information such as the customs office code, the year of issuance, and a sequential number specific to the transaction. The pedimento number serves as a key reference for customs authorities, importers, exporters, and other stakeholders involved in the international trade process in Mexico. It helps ensure accurate documentation and traceability throughout the customs clearance and trade procedures.

Here's why the pedimento number matters:

• Uniqueness: Each pedimento number is specific to a single shipment, ensuring clear identification and avoiding confusion.

• Tracking: It allows companies, customs officials, and other stakeholders to track the progress of specific shipments through the Mexican customs process.

• Record-keeping: The number is used for record-keeping and reference purposes by both customs authorities and companies involved in the import or export.

• Taxation: It plays a crucial role in calculating and collecting import duties and taxes for the Mexican government.

However, it's important to note that one pedimento may cover multiple shipments. While each pedimento has a unique number, it can represent a group of shipments arriving together or even transported via different modes. Also, while the pedimento number itself isn't confidential, the full details of the pedimento might be restricted unless you're directly involved in the shipment.

Is Pedimento Number Related to HS Codes?

The simple answer is No. Many importers often confuse Pedimento Number with the HS Code of their commodity, however, there is a simple difference between them.

The HS Code classifies the commodity you are importing or exporting whereas the Pedimento number classifies particular shipments that are being imported or exported. It is not directly related to HS codes, which are standardized international codes used to classify goods based on their characteristics. However, in the context of a pedimento, HS codes play a crucial role in accurately categorizing the goods being declared, contributing to proper tariff classification and adherence to customs regulations. Both the pedimento number and HS codes are integral to the customs clearance process, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in international trade transactions in Mexico.

Are Pedimento Customs Brokers Necessary?

Yes, they are. Mexican law requires that you have a dedicated customs broker to prepare pedimentos for you. Since they are unique documents, they have their own set of codes, specifications, and rules best known to brokers.

In addition, the length of your pedimento can differ since two or more companies can have their shipments be a part of the same pedimento. A customs broker will help ensure that your shipment that your shipment does not get lost or stuck in the Customs house.

A customs broker will have a better understanding of the various specifications that go into making your pedimento. Larger companies often have a dedicated team of brokers for creating and maintaining their pedimentos. You can find new pedimento brokers with the help of Trademo Intel’s granular shipment data.

Do You Need to Keep a Track of Pedimento Numbers?

There are many reasons why you must keep a track of your pedimento numbers. Here are a few:

• The pedimento number needs to be represented in your fiscal records for tax authorities within Mexico. It contains information that is relevant to tax authorities, such as fiscal duties, import duties, etc.
• Pedimentos are created for groups of shipments and your pedimento number may not be unique for your shipment. To avoid confusion and further customs problems, knowing the pedimento number at all times will help you maintain knowledge for your shipments.
• The pedimento number is also used for business transactions in Mexico. For example, if the goods you imported into Mexico are being sold to a different company, the company will also need your pedimento number and the pedimentos that you’ve imported.

Finding Pedimento Numbers

The Mexican pedimento can be a bit difficult to grasp at first. For now, you can think of it as the most important document you need to maintain your imports/exports for Mexico. The Intrastat required in the EU is the closest example of a document similar to the Mexican Pedimento. Finding pedimento numbers will help you keep track of your imports and exports. You can use Trademo Intel to cross-check your Pedimento and visualize your shipments in detail.

Intel is a supply chain data and research platform that collects global supply chain data from various authoritative sources and compiles it for your business needs. With Intel’s Mexico-specific dataset, businesses get access to 3.1 million unique pedimento numbers, granular records for 700 million+ shipments, and 2 million buyers and suppliers across Mexico.