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Industrial News Report WEEKLY LATEST NEWS IN MEXICO

AUGUST 26, 2026

NEWS BY STATE NEW INVESTMENTS US MEXICO RELATIONSHIP LEGISLATIVE UPDATES PRODENSA INSIGHTS

US - MEXICO NEWS

US-MEXICO NEWS

SECURITY COOPERATION WITH U.S. • At the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Buenos Aires, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch outlined Mexico’s security strategy, emphasizing a shift from targeting cartel leaders alone to dismantling entire criminal structures, including finances, supply chains, production infrastructure, and distribution networks. He highlighted the destruction of more than 2,700 clandestine drug laboratories, the seizure of millions of liters and kilograms of chemical precursors, and a 51% decline in daily homicides since September 2024.

• During the event, DEA Administrator Terrance Cole publicly described Harfuch as a “trusted partner” and “good friend of the United States,” underscoring the current level of bilateral security cooperation. The remarks come as Mexico seeks to demonstrate concrete results in combating organized crime and fentanyl trafficking amid ongoing scrutiny from Washington.

• In addition, less than a day later, federal forces conducted an operation against a CJNG cell linked to Heraclio “El Tío Lako,” arresting nine people, including close relatives of the regional leader, and seizing weapons, explosives, vehicles, and drones; leading to subsequent road blockades. The incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing Mexico and Harfuch’s strategy, particularly in regions where criminal groups continue to challenge government authority and affect economic activity. SOURCE: EL ECONOMISTA, EXPANSIÓN, EXCELSIOR

US-MEXICO NEWS

SHEINBAUM AND CARNEY DISCUSS USMCA REVIEW • President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed developments affecting North American trade and the USMCA during a bilateral conversation on August 20th. According to the Canadian government, both leaders emphasized the importance of renewing the agreement as soon as possible to provide greater certainty to businesses and workers across the region. The discussion also covered progress in cross-border trade between Mexico and Canada and the importance of maintaining close bilateral coordination on issues affecting North American economic integration, while the leaders agreed to maintain close communication.

• For Mexico, closer coordination with Canada could strengthen a trilateral approach to preserving the agreement and reinforcing regional supply chains, particularly as Washington considers changes to the trade framework. SOURCES: EL HERALDO

TRANSSHIPMENT ADD PRESSURE TO USMCA REVIEW • On August 13, the White House published “The Great Transshipment Scam,” a report examining the global use of third countries to circumvent U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and identifying Mexico among more than 40 countries and trading blocs exposed to this risk. Mexico receives particular attention because its preferential access to the U.S. market under the USMCA could make it an attractive route for Chinese goods seeking more favorable tariff treatment. However, transshipment and legitimate nearshoring are not equivalent: Chinese components can be legally imported, transformed in Mexico, and incorporated into exports when applicable rules are met.

• Trade data provide limited support for a generalized transshipment hypothesis. Between 2024 and 2025, U.S. imports from China fell by $131.7 billion while imports from Mexico increased by $31.2 billion; meanwhile, Mexico’s imports from China rose by only $3.8 billion. The findings suggest Washington’s concerns may warrant targeted traceability mechanisms rather than broad restrictions. This distinction could become increasingly relevant during the USMCA review, particularly as the U.S. considers stricter rules-of-origin enforcement. SOURCE: IMCO

LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES LABOR • AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING SIMPLIFICATION ACTIONS FOR PROCEDURES CARRIED OUT BEFORE THE SECRETARIAT OF LABOR — Presented by: Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare

— Objective: Provide an opportunity to ensure that procedures and services carried out before the Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare clearly specify requirements, response deadlines, and resolution times, while reducing bureaucratic costs, avoiding contradictions and duplications, and promoting greater efficiency and benefits for users. — Status: August 21, 2026 – Exemption from Regulatory Impact Analysis

• AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING SIMPLIFICATION ACTIONS FOR PROCEDURES CARRIED OUT BEFORE THE CENTER FOR LABOR CONCILIATION — Presented by: Federal Center for Labor Conciliation and Registration — Objective: Enable the use of digital tools or means to carry out procedures and services; establish response periods shorter than the maximum legally established; extend the validity of resolutions; eliminate requirements and bureaucratic costs. — Status: August 19, 2026 – Published in the Official Gazette of the Federation

LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES

ECONOMIC • AGREEMENT REFORMING PROVISIONS OF THE GUIDELINES FOR GRANTING TAX BENEFITS TO TAXPAYERS CONDUCTING PRODUCTIVE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT POLES FOR WELL-BEING OF THE ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC — Presented by: Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit

— Objective: Provide greater legal certainty to taxpayers interested in obtaining the tax benefits and administrative facilities derived from investments made in the Development Poles for Well-Being of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. — Status:August 19, 2026 – Published in the Official Gazette of the Federation

ENVIRONMENTAL • INITIATIVE WITH DRAFT DECREE ISSUING THE GENERAL LAW OF ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION — Presented by: Deputy Óscar Bautista Villegas (SLP PVEM)

— Objective: Abrogate the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection and establish a comprehensive framework for environmental prevention, liability, integral remediation of environmental damage, restoration, compensation, and sanctions for environmental harm. — Status:August 19, 2026 - Published

NEWS BY STATE

BAJA CALIFORNIA Salvador Roberto Maese Barraza, current president of Index Mexicali, has officially launched his campaign to lead the National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) for the 2027–2028 term. As the only registered candidate so far, Maese Barraza is proposing five key areas focused on strengthening Mexico’s manufacturing ecosystem through technology, engineering, automation, semiconductors, electromobility, and greater integration of Mexican SMEs into regional supply chains. His platform also includes stronger binational representation in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, improvements in infrastructure and regional competitiveness, and a new Export Manufacturing 4.0 program to streamline IVA and IEPS certifications and potentially reduce the time required for new companies to begin operations in Mexico by 50%. The election, representing more than 1,200 companies across 19 local associations, will take place on October 28 in Monterrey, Nuevo León. SOURCE: INDUSTRIAL NEWS BC

NEWS BY STATE

CHIHUAHUA Chihuahua will showcase its electrical and electronics industry capabilities at SEMICON Taiwan 2026, one of the world’s leading semiconductor events, taking place September 2–4 in Taipei. Through Invest in Chihuahua, the state will seek to attract investment, strengthen ties with Taiwanese companies and investors, and identify opportunities for supply-chain development and collaboration. The participation is particularly relevant as Taiwan was Chihuahua’s leading source of foreign direct investment during the first quarter of 2026. With more than 100,000 professionals from 65 countries expected, the event will highlight technologies including AI computing, advanced packaging, silicon photonics, quantum technologies, and smart manufacturing, supporting Chihuahua’s strategy to move toward higher-value activities in AI, electromobility, data centers, and advanced manufacturing. SOURCE: PRO CHIHUAHUA

NEWS BY STATE

NUEVO LEON Index Nuevo León is preparing to launch PROCIM (Trusted Manufacturing Industry Supplier), a new certification platform designed to help local SMEs integrate into global export supply chains and capture a larger share of Nuevo León’s manufacturing market. The platform will evaluate suppliers across production capacity, logistics, financial stability, and quality standards, providing certified companies with a digital profile that purchasing departments can use to assess their capabilities and reduce operational risks. The initiative comes as IMMEX exports from Nuevo León reached $20.7 billion in the first half of 2026, up 9% year over year, while 39% of industry inputs already come from Mexican suppliers. PROCIM aims to increase local sourcing by connecting multinational manufacturers with vetted SMEs, with the platform’s official launch and supplier registration scheduled for September 3. SOURCE: MEXICO INDUSTRY

NEWS BY STATE

GUANAJUATO The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the Government of Guanajuato are coordinating electricity infrastructure projects to support the state’s municipal and industrial growth, with more than MXN 13 billion planned for transmission and distribution. The investment includes upgrades in San José Iturbide, Irapuato, León, and Guanajuato Puerto Interior, modernization of León’s underground network, and the development of a smart electricity grid supported by nearly 946 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure. CFE also highlighted the Salamanca combined-cycle plant and plans for a new 457 MW combined-cycle project by 2030. The initiative includes coordination with municipalities, business chambers, and key industrial clusters to anticipate future energy demand and ensure reliable electricity infrastructure for Guanajuato’s continued industrial expansion. SOURCE: EL ECONOMISTA

NEWS BY STATE

QUERETARO Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard inaugurated the third edition of InnovaFest in Querétaro, an event focused on accelerating technological development and connecting innovators with investors, industry, and financial institutions. The event brought together more than 5,000 participants and showcased nearly 400 commercialization-ready prototypes, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence, aerospace, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. Ebrard highlighted the need to strengthen intellectual property, increase patent activity, and improve access to funding so Mexican entrepreneurs can compete internationally. The event also featured technology workshops, investor opportunities, and support for inventors, while the Mexican Innovation Award attracted more than 3,100 applications and will provide MXN 3.2 million in financial incentives, alongside more than MXN 2 million in scholarships and training. SOURCE: EL HORIZONTE

NEWS BY STATE

MEXICO CITY •

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Mexico City’s industrial real estate market continued to lead national demand in July, despite a significant increase in available space. According to Solili, industrial vacancy in CDMX reached 900,000 square meters, more than double the 400,000 square meters recorded a year earlier, following the addition of approximately 1.4 million square meters of new supply between August 2025 and July 2026. Despite higher availability, CDMX recorded 155,000 square meters of industrial demand in July, representing 35% of national demand and the highest level among Mexico’s industrial markets. The region’s attractiveness continues to be supported by its role as a major consumption, distribution, and logistics hub. Vacancy varies considerably across the metropolitan area, with Cuautitlán registering the highest rate at 28%, followed by Toluca at 20%, Zumpango at 14%, Tepotzotlán at 13%, and Tultitlán at 10%. Meanwhile, nearly 1 million square meters of additional industrial space re-

main under construction. The combination of strong demand and expanding inventory will determine whether the market can absorb new capacity without further increasing vacancy in the coming months. SOURCE: REAL ESTATE

NEWS BY STATE

STATE OF MEXICO •

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Procter & Gamble (P&G) will invest $140 million to expand its manufacturing capacity in Naucalpan, State of Mexico, strengthening the production of medicines and healthcare products for markets across Latin America, North America, and other regions. The investment includes two projects focused on increasing capacity and modernizing the company’s operations. The $100 million “Agave” project will add a new building to increase production of Sedalmerck and Dolo-Neurobión, as well as a laboratory for product testing, with completion expected by the end of 2026. The remaining $40 million will fund the “Evolution” project, including a warehouse and a new Pepto-Bismol production line, scheduled to begin construction in early 2027. The projects will incorporate automation and generate additional jobs, adding to P&G’s approximately 900 employees at its Naucalpan plant. The expansion reinforces the State of Mexico’s role as a manufacturing hub and highlights the importance of retaining and expanding investments from companies already established in the region.

SOURCE: MEXICO INDUSTRY

INVESTMENT NEWS

NORTHERN MEXICO PEGATRON Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Pegatron announced on August 21 a US$330 million investment to build a new plant in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, focused on components for electromobility and data centers. The project, to be developed between 2026 and 2029, is expected to create 1,000 high-value jobs and strengthen Chihuahua’s position in electronics manufacturing.

FRIGOSTAR Frigostar, part of Mexican group Gazpro, inaugurated a US$45 million cold-storage facility in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, on August 20. The plant will serve food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical supply chains with specialized refrigeration and freezing technology, reinforcing the region’s cold-chain logistics capacity.

BOSCH Bosch inaugurated a new US$300 million Home Comfort plant in Ciénega de Flores, Nuevo León, on August 19, creating more than 900 jobs. Nuevo León Governor Samuel García attended the opening alongside Bosch México president Alexander Firsching; the company also opened new corporate offices for its climate-solutions division in San Pedro Garza García.

CENTRAL MEXICO JOHNSON CONTROLS Johnson Controls opened a new Service Center in Querétaro on August 21 to support the region’s fastgrowing data center industry, which concentrates 72% of the country’s installed data center capacity. The facility will house parts inventory, a repair center, and technical staff, expanding the U.S. company’s local team beyond its current 180 technicians in Mexico.

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC Schneider Electric announced an expansion of its industrial footprint in Colón, Querétaro, on August 19– 20, adding a third manufacturing facility to the two it already operates there. The French company’s three plants will total roughly 115,000 square meters producing electrical distribution and critical energy infrastructure equipment, expected to generate over 4,000 direct and 8,000 indirect jobs by the end of 2027.

INVESTMENT NEWS

TYW MANUFACTURING TYW Manufacturing México, a Chinese-owned automotive electronics manufacturer, announced on August 18 a US$29 million second-phase expansion of its plant in Irapuato, Guanajuato, following a US$50 million first phase in June 2025 — bringing its total investment to roughly US$79 million. The facility produces electronic boards and PCBA cards for next-generation vehicles, exporting to the United States and South Korea to clients including Kia and Stellantis, and is projected to reach 1,000 jobs in the state.

NEOLPHARMA Mexican pharmaceutical group Neolpharma announced on August 21 an expansion of its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) plant in Cuernavaca, Morelos, plus an additional injectable-medicine facility, financed with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The project is expected to create 600 skilled jobs and aims to reduce Mexico’s reliance on imported APIs, of which it currently sources 85% from abroad.

DEWA CAPITAL DEWA Capital, through its Frontier industrial and logistics platform (active in Hidalgo since 2012), announced on August 19 an investment exceeding 10,100 million pesos to develop an industrial park spanning more than 900 hectares in Reserva Zapotlán, Hidalgo, targeting advanced manufacturing, logistics, pharmaceutical, and medical-device tenants. The first of five planned phases — 1,277 million pesos for urbanization plus 2,000 million pesos for the initial industrial buildings — is set to begin between September and October 2026, with at least 35% of the roughly 5,100 first-phase jobs reserved for local workers.

PROCTER & GAMBLE The State of Mexico government announced on August 20–21 that Procter & Gamble will invest US$140 million to expand its health-care manufacturing plant in Naucalpan — described as P&G’s largest and most important facility in Latin America within its health category. The expansion comprises two projects, “Agave” (US$100 million, completing late 2026) and “Evolution” (US$40 million, construction starting early 2027), adding jobs to the roughly 900 already employed at the 60-year-old site.

INVESTMENT NEWS

COOPERATIVA LA CRUZ AZUL Cooperativa La Cruz Azul is investing 6,500 million pesos in its cement operations in Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, the company confirmed on August 19: 1,800+ million pesos for plant modernization and 3,700 million pesos for a new cement production line, currently at 85% completion and targeting 3 million tons of annual capacity. The remaining amount covers hospital infrastructure for the community. The projects are expected to generate over 14,200 direct and indirect jobs combined.

National ATERA ENERGY Atera Energy, an energy-as-a-service platform backed by Brookfield and Colombia’s Celsia, began operations in Mexico on August 19 with a five-year, US$500 million investment plan to develop, finance, and operate distributed generation and energy-efficiency projects for industrial and commercial clients — without requiring upfront capital from those clients. The company will focus initially on Nuevo León, Coahuila, Guanajuato, and Querétaro, marking its fifth market in Latin America after Colombia, Panama, Honduras, and Peru.

SOURCES: MEXICO INDUSTRY, CLUSTER INDUSTRIAL, EL UNIVERSAL

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