Prodensa Weekly Manufacturing Report Mexico July 15, 2026
US-MEXICO NEWS
US-MEXICO SECURITY COOPERATION
• A new diplomatic dispute has emerged between Mexico and the United States over the July 2024 capture of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada after the FBI donated the aircraft used to transport him to a museum in New Mexico, describing it as part of a successful operation against organized crime.
• Mexican authorities argue this contradicts previous assurances from former US Ambassador Ken Salazar that no US aircraft, personnel, or prior operational knowledge were involved.
• President Sheinbaum and the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) have accused US authorities of providing incomplete information and requested further clarification.
• The controversy has also renewed attention on Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who is on leave after being indicted by the US Department of Justice on charges of conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel. President Sheinbaum rejected speculation that the federal government was protecting Rocha.
• The case has become significant because, if US authorities conducted or facilitated the operation inside Mexican territory without authorization, it would reinforce Mexico’s argument that the action constituted an unacceptable intervention and a violation of its sovereignty.
• The dispute is likely to remain a sensitive issue in bilateral security cooperation, particularly as both governments seek closer coordination against organized crime while managing longstanding concerns over jurisdiction, intelligence sharing, and respect for national sovereignty.
SOURCE: LA JORNADA, EL FINANCIERO
US-MEXICO NEWS
USMCA REVIEW TALKS
• Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, traveled to Washington to prepare for the next round of bilateral USMCA review negotiations, scheduled for the week of July 20 in Mexico City.
• According to a report submitted by the Ministry of Economy to the Senate, Mexico will present 13 trade concerns during the upcoming talks, including US Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automotive products, Section 122 measures, state-level trade barriers, labor enforcement issues, and other restrictions considered inconsistent with the agreement.
• Mexico will also prioritize resolving steel tariffs, preserving automotive competitiveness, preventing unilateral trade measures, strengthening North American supply chains, and promoting regional investment in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, electronics and advanced manufacturing.
• The upcoming discussions will be critical in defining how the new annual review mechanism operates while addressing longstanding trade disputes.
SOURCES: FORBES, EL FINANCIERO, SENATE
MEXICO’S ECONOMIC INDICATORS
• Mexico ranked among the world’s ten largest recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, attracting a record US$41 billion and returning to the global top ten, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026.
• During President Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, Secretary of Finance, Edgar Amador, highlighted the result as evidence of investor confidence in Mexico’s macroeconomic stability, while the President pointed to additional positive indicators, including record exports, historically high formal employment, strong wage growth, rising industrial activity, and Mexico’s position as the United States’ largest trading partner.
• Additional economic data reinforced this positive outlook. Inflation fell for the third consecutive month to 3.37% yearover-year in June, its lowest level since December 2020, while consumer prices declined 0.27% month-over-month— the largest June decrease on record. The moderation was driven primarily by lower agricultural prices, particularly fruits and vegetables, although analysts cautioned that services inflation remains relatively persistent and that geopolitical and weather-related risks could still generate price pressures later this year.
SOURCE: EL ECONOMISTA, EL FINANCIERO
U.S.-MEXICO MIGRANTION DISPUTES
• Ministrer of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velasco, said Mexico will move beyond diplomatic protests by filing criminal complaints with US state prosecutors and the Department of Justice over 17 deaths recorded during the current US administration.
• The decision follows the fatal shooting of Mexican national Lorenzo Salgado, during an ICE operation in Houston, which President Sheinbaum described as a homicide.
• Mexico will also pursue civil actions against private companies operating ICE detention centers, seek precautionary measures before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and request UN intervention to strengthen protections for detained Mexican nationals.
• While the legal actions are unlikely to immediately alter US immigration policy, they increase political and diplomatic pressure over detention conditions and the treatment of Mexican nationals.
SOURCE: RELACIONES EXTERIORES, LA TIMES
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES
LABOR
• INITIATIVE AMENDING ARTICLE 86 OF THE FEDERAL LABOR LAW ON PAY EQUALITY
Objective: Requires legally incorporated companies employing more than fifty workers to undergo labor authority verification of pay equality, based on business size classifications established by the Ministry of Economy. The initiative seeks to strengthen enforcement of equal pay principles and promote greater workplace gender equality through mandatory compliance reviews.
Status:Published in the Parliamentary Gazette –July 8, 2026.
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND INITIATIVES
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• FIRST RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2026 GENERAL TAX RULES
Presented by: Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP)
Objective: Introduces various amendments to the 2026 General Tax Rules, updating tax compliance provisions, administrative procedures, and regulatory requirements applicable to taxpayers. The resolution seeks to clarify, adjust, and streamline the implementation of tax obligations and administrative processes under Mexico’s federal tax framework during the 2026 fiscal year.
Status:Published in the Official Gazette (DOF) –July 9, 2026.
ENVIRONMENT
• INITIATIVE ISSUING THE GENERAL LAW ON EMISSIONS REGULATION AND CARBON CREDITS
Objective: Creates a national framework regulating greenhouse gas emissions through non-transferable carbon emission permits and certified carbon credits. The initiative establishes digital permit auctions, promotes carbon capture, ecological restoration, and energy transition projects, while creating the National Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Credits Regulation System to progressively reduce emissions nationwide.
Status:Published in the Parliamentary Gazette –July 8, 2026.
NEWS BY STATE
BAJA CALIFORNIA
Tijuana has recorded the largest industrial lease in its history, with real estate developer MEOR securing more than 700,000 square feet of industrial space for Daikin Applied Americas. The facility will support the production of advanced HVAC and cooling solutions designed for data centers, reflecting the growing demand driven by digital infrastructure expansion. According to Tijuana Economic Development Corporation (Tijuana EDC), this investment reinforces Baja California’s position as a leading destination for high-value manufacturing and foreign direct investment. The project also highlights Tijuana’s increasing attractiveness for companies serving strategic sectors such as data centers, energy-efficient technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
SOURCE: INDUSTRIAL NEWS BC
NEWS BY STATE
CHIHUAHUA
Chihuahua reached an average daily wage of MXN 701.1 in June 2026, ranking seventh nationwide and reinforcing the state’s competitiveness within Mexico’s labor market. Among northern border states, Chihuahua outperformed both Coahuila and Sonora in average salaries, with Ciudad Juárez leading the state at MXN 776.7 per day. The highest wages were recorded in the utilities and extraction sectors, while the manufacturing industry remained the primary driver of formal employment, accounting for nearly half of all insured workers and offering an average daily salary of MXN 761.3. The report also highlighted strong wage growth over the past four years, with average salaries increasing by 46% since 2022, underscoring Chihuahua’s continued economic strength and attractiveness for industrial investment and talent.
SOURCE: PRO CHIHUAHUA
NEWS BY STATE
NUEVO
LEON
Nuevo León continues to strengthen its position as Mexico’s leading industrial and logistics hub through major initiatives in connectivity, supply chain integration, and advanced manufacturing. The state’s Logistics Cluster is advancing a fully integrated binational corridor with Texas to improve cross-border trade efficiency and reinforce the strategic role of the Colombia-Laredo gateway in North American supply chains. At the same time, ENCLELAC 2026 is expected to generate more than US$3 billion in business opportunities for the home appliance industry, further consolidating Nuevo León as the country’s leading white goods and electronics manufacturing center and promoting the integration of local suppliers into global value chains. Complementing these efforts, Aeroméxico’s decision to operate the direct Monterrey–Paris route year-round beginning in October 2026 enhances the state’s connectivity with Europe, facilitating investment, business travel, and international trade while reinforcing Monterrey’s role as the premier business and logistics hub in northern Mexico.
SOURCE: MEXICO INDUSTRY
NEWS BY STATE
GUANAJUATO
Guanajuato Puerto Interior, in partnership with OGPI and Prodensa, hosted a business forum to discuss the evolving landscape of manufacturing in Mexico, focusing on USMCA developments, nearshoring trends, industrial competitiveness, and compliance challenges for IMMEX companies. During the event, Prodensa President Marco Kuljacha highlighted Mexico’s growing export strength despite increased regulatory and geopolitical complexity, emphasizing the country’s deep integration with the U.S. manufacturing sector and the longterm opportunities created by global supply chain reorganization. Arturo Quintero, Prodensa’s Director of Administration and Finance, addressed the importance of comprehensive compliance, cash flow management, VAT recovery, exchange rate strategies, and end-to-end traceability as critical priorities for manufacturers operating in Mexico. The event reinforced the value of collaboration between industry leaders and strategic partners to help companies navigate an increasingly complex operating environment while strengthening Guanajuato’s position as a leading manufacturing hub.
SOURCE: CLUSTER INDUSTRIAL
NEWS BY STATE
QUERETARO
Querétaro is strengthening its electrical infrastructure as the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) increases investments and coordination efforts to support the state’s rapid urban and industrial growth. During a meeting between CFE and state authorities, the utility highlighted ongoing initiatives under its CFE Conectada Contigo strategy, including closer collaboration with local stakeholders, infrastructure monitoring, and preventive maintenance programs. In 2025, CFE completed 131 distribution projects in Querétaro with an investment of MXN 475 million, adding 160 MVA of capacity, while an additional 65 projects worth MXN 195 million are planned for 2026, contributing another 30 MVA. The investments aim to ensure reliable power supply for new industrial developments and future manufacturing projects while leveraging automation, simulation technologies, and artificial intelligence to improve grid reliability and operational efficiency.
SOURCE: ENERGY MAGAZINE
NEWS BY STATE
MEXICO CITY
• The Mexico City metropolitan industrial market posted record demand during the first half of 2026, with gross absorption reaching 1.01 million square meters, up 59% year over year, according to CBRE.
• Strong pre-leasing activity and continued construction reflect sustained confidence in the region as a manufacturing and logistics hub despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the USMCA review.
• While some automotive investments remain on hold, demand is increasingly shifting toward advanced manufacturing segments such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and data center infrastructure.
• CBRE notes that the USMCA continues to provide a stable framework for regional trade, supporting long-term investment decisions.
• At the same time, Mexico City and the State of Mexico remain the country’s leading recipients of foreign direct investment, reinforcing demand for industrial space and strengthening the metropolitan region’s role as a key destination for diversified manufacturing and technology-driven industries.
SOURCE: REAL ESTATE
NEWS BY STATE STATE OF MEXICO
• Nearshoring continues to tighten industrial real estate availability in the State of Mexico, where demand for logistics and manufacturing facilities is outpacing supply.
• Industrial corridors across the state are operating near full occupancy, with Tlalnepantla reporting vacancy rates as low as 2–6% and the country’s highest industrial lease rates, reflecting strong interest from companies expanding or relocating operations.
• According to market analysts, the main challenge is no longer attracting investment but developing enough industrial infrastructure to accommodate new projects.
• The sustained demand highlights the State of Mexico’s strategic role within the Greater Mexico City manufacturing and logistics hub, while underscoring the need for additional industrial parks and warehouse capacity to support continued nearshoring-driven growth.
SOURCE: EL SOL DE TOLUCA
INVESTMENT NEWS
North México
AREYA
AREYA Escobedo Industrial Park delivered its first building — a 70,000-square-meter facility — to the municipal government of Escobedo, Nuevo León, on July 9, marking the launch of the new industrial complex. Mercado Libre will occupy the site with a distribution center set to begin operations in September, a project expected to generate more than 2,000 permanent jobs plus a seasonal workforce reserve for peak demand periods. The park, which officials say can eventually host up to eight companies, already has plans for a second expansion phase; local authorities framed the project as part of the federal Plan México strategy to attract productive investment across the country.
National
UPS
UPS expanded its North American Air Freight (NAAF) service in Mexico, the company announced on July 8, aiming to strengthen cross-border logistics connectivity between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The service combines air and ground transport, warehousing, and customs brokerage under a single network, offering one-to-three-day transit times for industries including automotive, aerospace, high-tech, and medical devices — sectors that Diana Sánchez, UPS LATAM’s director of Freight Forwarding & Global Logistics & Distribution, said need integrated solutions to handle growing cross-border demand. The expansion is part of a global $50 million investment by UPS in its logistics capabilities, and comes as nearshoring continues to drive manufacturing growth in Mexico, a sector that accounted for 19.6% of the country’s GDP in 2024.
Source: Cluster Industrial
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PRODENSA INSIGHTS
Why USMCA Matters: Strengthening Supply Chains Across North America
USMCA is more than a trade agreement—it is the operational foundation of North America’s integrated manufacturing ecosystem. As the 2026 review advances, manufacturers must prepare for greater scrutiny of Rules of Origin, customs processes, and regional sourcing strategies.
This article explores why deeper integration—not simply lower costs—is becoming the region’s competitive advantage, and how stronger compliance, traceability, and supply chain resilience can help companies protect preferential access and reduce operational risk.
