Mexico ranked among the world’s Top 10 exporting nations in 2024 after recording US$617 billion in total exports, cementing its position as Latin America’s leading exporter of high-technology manufactured goods, according to data from the World Trade Organization.

Mexico’s export performance is underpinned by structural advantages, including deep integration into North American supply chains, geographic proximity to the United States and Canada, and preferential access under USMCA. Economists also point to competitive production costs, strong logistics infrastructure and a growing pool of specialized talent as key factors supporting sustained export growth in the coming years.

The global market for high-technology manufactured goods has expanded rapidly over the past two decades. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the value of global high-tech trade rose from US$2.4 trillion in 2005 to nearly US$6.6 trillion in 2024, growing at an average annual rate of 4.7%, as detailed in its International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2025.

While China and the European Union account for the bulk of global high-tech exports, Mexico has emerged as the clear leader in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region as a whole represents about 4% of global high-tech exports, but Mexico alone accounts for 85% of the region’s total, up from 76% in 2005. Over the same period, Brazil’s share fell from 15% to 7%.

Mexico’s specialization is concentrated in two main segments: data processing and computing machinery, and automotive manufacturing. Mexico ranks first in 18 of the Top 20 high-technology products exported by the region, including gasoline-powered light vehicles, digital processing units, and transmitters with receivers. Analysts say this leadership reflects not only Mexico’s industrial scale, but also its ability to integrate into highly sophisticated global value chains.

Mexico’s export profile also stands out for its geographic concentration. Unlike other Latin American economies, which distribute exports across regional and global markets, Mexico maintains a strong predominance of the US market. This focus has deepened productive integration with the world’s largest economy and positioned Mexico to benefit from nearshoring, as companies relocate supply chains closer to North America.

With a manufacturing platform increasingly oriented toward innovation, operational efficiency and international integration, Mexico is well placed to capitalize on the global transition toward advanced manufacturing. The combination of skilled labor, industrial infrastructure and proximity to key markets is expected to remain a central asset for attracting investment, strengthening supply chains and consolidating Mexico’s role as a global export powerhouse.

Six States Drive Mexico’s Export Growth: INEGI

MBN reported that Mexico’s export sector remains highly concentrated geographically, with a handful of northern and Bajio states accounting for most of the country’s external trade momentum, supported primarily by manufacturing activity, according to official data. Six states, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Baja California, Jalisco, and Tamaulipas, continue to anchor Mexico’s integration into global trade, reflecting a strong dependence on specific industrial hubs for export growth.

Data from INEGI, through its Quarterly Exports by State report, show that total state-level exports reached US$152.6 billion in 3Q2025, marking a 9.2% increase from a year earlier. Results underscore the resilience of Mexico’s export sector despite an international environment shaped by economic deceleration and financial volatility.

Chihuahua remained the country’s leading exporting state, with shipments totaling US$28.9 billion, representing 18.9% of national exports. It was followed by Coahuila at 11.6%, Nuevo Leon at 9.7%, Baja California at 9.3%, and Jalisco at 9.1%. Including Tamaulipas, with 6.2%, the six states accounted for 64.8% of Mexico’s total exports during the period.

On an annual growth basis, Quintana Roo posted the largest increase at 120%, followed by Jalisco at 89.1%, Chihuahua at 42.9%, Zacatecas at 36.6%, and Chiapas at 27.7%. INEGI noted that in several cases the sharp increases reflect a low comparison base.

By economic sector, manufacturing continued to dominate, accounting for 93.8% of total export value in the quarter. Mining contributed 4.2%, while agriculture and livestock represented 2.0%.