Overview

Advanced Manufacturing (AM) sits at the intersection of technology and automation. Companies implementing AM in their manufacturing increase efficiency and build more robust and resilient supply chains. Mexico is among the five largest importers of advanced manufacturing technology globally. This sector has grown exponentially since 2020 as companies have started nearshoring to Mexico. Through their adoption of AM tools, Mexican manufacturers are investing in the technological advances needed to remain and stay ahead of the competition. 

The below table reflects an estimate of the market size in terms of U.S. market share. The percentage of Mexican imports translates to opportunities for U.S. manufacturers of AM. Total imports of AM-related equipment have decreased by seven percent annually since 2017. This decrease indicates that inputs for AM are available domestically year on year. The value of imports from the U.S. has also decreased by ten percent compared to 2017. Mexico’s Asian partners are currently taking most of the market share.

Leading Sub-Sectors

Advanced Materials

In Mexico, advanced materials were initially developed and produced in low volumes by a few R&D centers. Mexico today has over 200 companies producing advanced materials at relatively higher volumes. Producers of advanced materials have grouped in clusters in the State of Mexico, and the Bajio and central Mexico regions.

Nanotechnology is a critical component  in the production of advanced materials in Mexico. With nanotechnology, designers create advanced materials that exhibit specific attributes, including lightness, porosity, strength, and capillarity. Lighter materials are in constant demand by the automotive and aerospace industries.

Advanced materials find applications in many sectors that require a manufacturing component with specific characteristics. Advanced materials are beginning to see applications in construction, filtration substrates, sensing materials, biotechnology, and aerospace. Advanced materials also include composites which have found applications in almost every field. Mexican consumers of composite materials are in the automotive, biomedical, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industries.

Automation and Mobile Robots

In 2021, Mexico imported USD 136 million worth of industrial robots (HS 8479.50), excluding software, auxiliary equipment, and engineering services. In order of importance, Mexico’s largest trade partners for robots are Japan, South Korea, U.S.A., China, and Germany. Another trend gaining relevance as other industries are adopting these technologies in their entire supply chain is the use of and import of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and Mobile Robot Automation (MRA), among others.  A study by Warehouse Automation Market estimates that the global market value for automation and robotics may be USD 4 billion by 2025.

Visual Factory

AM allows companies to “see” every step in their process through the digitalization of their factories. The visual factory concept involves the use of interconnected digital platforms currently in demand by Mexican manufacturers, including Enterprise Resource Management (ERP), Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Andon Systems, Wearable Technologies, and others. A fundamental part of this technology relies on sensors of all types. In 2021, Mexico imported USD 21 million in sensors (HS 9025.19), excluding the USD 12 million imported by the automotive and aerospace industries. Mexico imports about half of that from China.

Resources

Siavi 5.0 Ministry of Economy

National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)

Events

• Expo Manufactura 2023, Cintermex Febraury 7-9, 2023. Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
• Industrial Transformation Mexico (ITM), Poliforum, Oct 5-7, 2022. Leon, Guanajuato

Contacts

Mario Vidana

Commercial Specialist

U.S. Commercial Service—Monterrey

Tel.: +52 (81) 8047-3118

Mario.Vidana@trade.gov