May 7, 2025 MexicoCRE - MexicoFDI - Newsletter Edition

📈 Mexico was again the world´s largest exporter to the US

As Mexico maintains its position as the United States' top trading partner, the country's industrial and commercial real estate sectors are experiencing growth driven by nearshoring trends. With over $500 million in newly announced investments across strategic locations, including Jalisco, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Nuevo León, the first quarter of 2025 demonstrates Mexico's strengthening position as a prime destination for manufacturing and logistics operations .

Mexico exported goods worth US $131.29 billion to the world’s largest economy in the first quarter, up 9.5% compared to the same period of 2024. In the first three months of 2025, Mexico was again the world´s largest exporter to the United States according to data published by the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday. Mexico beat out Canada and China to retain its position as the top exporter to the United States. Canada’s earnings from exports sent to the U.S. increased 7.9% annually in the first quarter to $108.93 billion, while China’s revenue rose 5.1% to $102.65 billion. Mexico’s share of the United States’ $948 billion market for imports in the first three months of the year was 13.8%.

🏭 Major Investment Highlights

Bulkmatic's $250M Intermodal Terminal in Nuevo León

• Investment: $250 million

• Location: Nuevo León

• Project Details: Development of a state-of-the-art intermodal terminal

• Impact: Set to enhance logistics capabilities in Northern Mexico

• Company Background: Bulkmatic, a leading dry bulk transportation company, continues its strategic expansion in Mexico, leveraging its expertise in bulk trucking, transload, and warehousing solutions .

ODATA's Data Center Investment in Querétaro

Odata, a subsidiary of Aligned Data Centers, has officially launched operations at its new data center campus, DC QR03, located in Querétaro, Mexico. This ambitious project represents an investment of over $3 billion and aims to provide a total capacity of 300 megawatts (MW) once fully completed. The first phase of the campus, which began operations in February 2025, currently delivers 200 MW and includes a facility designed to support cloud services and artificial intelligence, with a capacity of 72 MW .

Querétaro has emerged as a significant hub for digital infrastructure in Mexico, with 15 data centers currently operational and projections indicating that this number could exceed 35 in the coming years, driven by investments surpassing $12 billion since 2009 . Odata's CEO, Ricardo Alário, highlighted that the campus has already secured three hyper-scale clients and is strategically positioned to serve both national and U.S. markets, particularly in light of energy restrictions in certain U.S. regions .

The project also addresses energy availability challenges in the sector, with plans for an additional 400 MW expansion, marking one of the largest initiatives of its kind in Mexico . Furthermore, Odata has introduced its patented Delta Cube cooling system, which enhances energy efficiency by directly capturing heat from server racks and can be integrated with hybrid cooling solutions .

Overall, the establishment of QR03 reinforces Querétaro's role as a key data center hub in Mexico, complementing investments from major companies like AWS, Google, and Microsoft in the region .

Suacero's Expansion in San Luis Potosí

Suacero, a Mexican company specializing in steel production, is investing 750 million pesos to expand its plant located in Soledad Graciano Sánchez, San Luis Potosí. This expansion aims to double its production capacity from the current 260,000 tons annually. The project is expected to create 550 new jobs, contributing significantly to the local economy .

The CEO of Suacero, José Canales Salazar, emphasized the importance of promoting national production amidst global financial uncertainties and reducing reliance on imports. He highlighted San Luis Potosí's competitive environment, which has attracted over 8.5 billion dollars in investments over the past three years .

Suacero is committed to sustainability, utilizing 100% recyclable scrap as raw material and employing renewable energy sources. The company also engages in environmental initiatives, such as reforestation efforts through its "SUACERO Verde" campaign .

MEOR's Strategic Park Portfolio

Meor, a real estate developer, plans to invest $1.5 billion in acquiring stabilized industrial parks in Mexico over the next five to seven years. This investment aims to capitalize on the growing trend of nearshoring, which involves relocating production closer to the U.S. market. The company intends to add 1.1 million square meters of gross leasable area across key locations.. This initiative is part of Meor's broader strategy to develop eight industrial parks, enhancing logistics and operational efficiency for businesses in the region.

🚗 Auto Parts Industry in Yucatán

The auto parts industry is increasingly establishing a presence in Yucatán, a region not traditionally known for automotive manufacturing. In 2024, Yucatán experienced an 8.1% growth in automotive parts production, the highest in Mexico, indicating a significant shift in the region's industrial landscape . This growth is attributed to investments from companies looking to complement their manufacturing processes and export to Central America .

Yucatán's exports of transportation equipment surged by 81.9% in 2024, reflecting its growing role in the automotive and aerospace sectors . The region has attracted $99.8 million in Foreign Direct Investment for transportation equipment manufacturing since 2006, with a notable portion directed towards the aerospace sector .

Key factors influencing this growth include improvements in infrastructure, energy supply, and the development of human capital through partnerships between industry and universities .

🌎Foreign Direct Investment (Q1 2025)

In the first quarter of 2025, Baja California attracted US$4 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for 16% of Mexico's total FDI during this period. This influx of investment has resulted in the creation of over 19,600 direct jobs in the state. The significant interest from global companies is attributed to the region's competitive and stable conditions.

A notable investment announcement came from Sempra Energy, which plans to invest approximately US$3.5 billion in energy infrastructure within Baja California. Overall, the commerce sector led the national FDI attraction with US$11 billion, highlighting Baja California's crucial role in employment and investment dynamics. The state government credits this growth to effective coordination with various government levels and strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering key sectors in the region .

🔮 Future Outlook

The industrial real estate sector in Mexico continues to show strong growth potential, driven by nearshoring trends and strategic advantages. Key challenges include:

• Need for infrastructure improvements

• Limited availability of industrial-zoned land

• Increasing demand for Class A facilities

However, the ongoing investments and development projects demonstrate strong market confidence and suggest continued growth in the sector. The combination of strategic location, competitive labor costs, and strong trade agreements positions Mexico favorably for continued industrial real estate expansion.

☎️ CONTACT US

DiscoveryCRE is Mexico's Premier Commercial Real Estate Liaison Specializing in Nearshoring and Industrial Tenant Site Selection. We help companies make informed SITE SELECTION decisions. Manufacturing and Logistics Operations.

When nearshoring to Mexico, having the right partner makes all the difference. Our team primarily represents industrial tenants and buyers providing expert site selection and facility acquisition for manufacturing and logistics companies across Mexico.

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Thank you for reading our edition of the MexicoCRE Newsletter. Stay tuned for more updates and investment opportunities! 🙏