Overview

Increased connectivity has spurred the growth of Mexico’s digital economy in recent years and changed Mexico’s consumption habits. Data from the Mexican Association of Online Sales (Asociación Mexicana de Venta Online or AMVO) show that Mexico’s eCommerce grew by 23 percent in 2022. For the past four years, Mexico has ranked in the top five countries with the biggest eCommerce growth in the world.

According to the Mexican Internet Association, by the end of 2022 the country had 96.8 million Internet users, representing an annual increase of 9.3 percent. The National System of Statistical and Geographical Information (INEGI) reports that Internet users are highly concentrated with 81.6 percent of urban populations having Internet access versus 56 percent for rural populations.

It is estimated that 30 percent of the country’s population lives in communities without broadband coverage, excluding them from the digital ecosystem. Ninety-eight percent of Mexico’s Internet users connect through a smart phone.

Security concerns and a large informal sector represent obstacles for the digital ecosystem. The Mexican Internet Association estimates that 30 percent of Mexico’s Internet users have concerns of online fraud, and to the distrust in sharing banking information online is the main obstacle in the adoption of eCommerce. Fifty-five percent of the country’s population engages in informal economic activities (source: National Institute of Statistics and Geography, National Employment Survey March 2023).

The López Obrador administration’s main priority is providing universal connectivity through its Internet para Todos (Internet for All) program, which aims to establish Internet in rural and underserved communities, particularly in public areas. The program is run by CFE-Telecomunicaciones e Internet para Todos, a subsidiary of the Federal Electricity Commission (Comisión Federal de Electricidad or CFE), which was established in 2019. The Internet Para Todos employs wireless broadband, fiber optic lines, satellites, and mixed solutions, representing some opportunities for U.S. companies. The deployment of the project was significantly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain issues.

The National Digital Strategy Office (Estrategia Digital Nacional or EDN) which is housed in the Office of the Presidency, is responsible for drafting and implementing the country’s digitalization policies and has focused on publishing guidance for the regulation of the acquisition of Internet and communications technologies within the public administration. Mexico is only somewhat digitally mature. The International Institute for Management Development’s World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2022 ranked Mexico in the 53rd position out of the 65 countries that were evaluated.

Since 2020, digital services are subject to value-added tax (VAT) legislation in Mexico. Foreign residents and companies providing digital services in Mexico without a permanent establishment in the country must register with the tax authorities and comply with regulations. Intermediaries of digital services are also responsible for withholding VAT and income tax from Mexican individuals conducting economic activities on a digital platform. It is expected that the Mexican market will show positive technology trends during 2023, such as the level of demand for cloud services and other digital transformation solutions, mainly in the larger enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises are still in the early stages of digitalization.

Leading Sub-Sectors

• Retail
• Financial services and insurance
• Logistical services (automation in warehouses and fulfilment centers)
• Lodging and food services

Opportunities

• Digitalization and eCommerce solutions for small and medium companies
• Financial inclusion solutions
• Digital tools for sales and marketing
• Cybersecurity solutions for small and medium companies
• Payment solutions
• Digital solutions for workforce development
• Solutions to integrate IT into production

Resources

Mexican Internet Association

Mexican Online Sales Association

Latin American Internet Association