Mexico has the second largest economy in Latin America and 15th largest economy in the world with a GDP (nominal) of $1.15 trillion. One of the fastest growing sectors for the nation is its manufacturing industry which is contributing substantially to the country’s output.
According to a report from the Mexican Center of Public Finance Studies (CEFP) the top Mexican manufacturing industries include:
Automotive
According to CEFP, automotive and automotive parts manufacturing is spearheading Mexico’s manufacturing industries. As of 2017, eleven automotive companies have established manufacturing operations in the country, producing nearly 500 different light vehicle models. Major automotive brands that have established manufacturing operations in Mexico include BMW, Ford, GM, Mazda, Volkswagen, and Nissan, among others.
Mexico currently ranks as the seventh-largest vehicle manufacturer worldwide and fifth-largest auto parts producer, creating $85 billion in revenue. With an influx of new companies moving their operations into the country, it is believed that vehicle production will increase to 5 million by 2020.
Aerospace
The aerospace industry in Mexico is starting to boom. Though it is still a relatively young industry, the country has already seen a 20% export growth between 2013 and 2015, which brought in nearly $6 billion USD worth of investment in 2015 alone. Additionally, the number of aerospace companies in Mexico increased to 320 that same year.
According to Defense News, the following 10 aerospace companies have started manufacturing in Mexico:
- Lockheed Martin
- Boeing
- BAE Systems
- Raytheon Companies
- Northrop Grumman
- General Dynamics
- Airbus
- L3 Technologies
- Leonardo
- Thales
80% of the 320 aerospace firms in Mexico are manufacturers, while the other 20% focus on design, engineering, or maintenance-repair-overhaul (MRO) services.
Electronics
The electronic industry in Mexico has been a boon for the Mexican economy and is expected to grow 20% annually for at least the next decade. As of 2016, Mexico exported $77.5 billion worth of products to the U.S., and the year before that, $79.6 billion.
A third of the electronic products manufactured in Mexico are information technology (IT) related items, while another 30% are consumer electronics like T.V.s, radios and video products. The electronics manufacturing industry is also tied into automotive manufacturing.
There are currently about 910 electronic firms in Mexico including companies like Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Foxconn, and Intel.
The reason so many electronic companies have decided to move manufacturing operations into Mexico is the competitive cost of operations while still having access to a talented and skilled workforce.
Medical Device
While the medical device manufacturing industry is not classified as a dynamic sector by the Mexican CEFP, it is an emerging industry. This developing industry is expected to bring about new economic opportunities for Mexico and for the companies who decide to set up operations within its borders.
Mexico offers many advantages to the medical firms who decide to manufacture in the country including but not limited to:
- Federal Drug Administration (FDA), European Conformity (CE) and ISO 13485 compliant facilities.
- 92% of the medical devices produced in the country are exported to the U.S. and Canada.
- There are over 38 thousand people trained and working in the industry.
In 2017, Mexico produced $13.5 billions worth of medical devices and is expected to manufacture $14.7 billion worth of products by the end of 2018. Due to this rapid growth, countries around the world have begun to invest heavily, with the U.S. investing a total of $1.6 billion between the 2005 and 2016 alone.