This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Overview
Increased connectivity has spurred the growth of Mexico’s digital economy in recent years. COVID-19 changed Mexico’s consumption habits and accelerated the country’s digitalization. Data from the Mexican Association of Online Sales (Asociación Mexicana de Venta Online or AMVO) shows that Mexico’s e-commerce grew by 27% during 2021, compared to the previous year. For the past three years, Mexico has ranked in the top five countries with the biggest e-commerce growth in the world.
According to the Mexican Internet Association, by the end of 2021 the country had 89.5 million Internet users, representing 75.7 percent of the population over the age of six. Internet users are highly concentrated with 77 percent of urban populations having internet access versus only 48 percent in rural populations.
It is estimated 20 million people live in communities without broadband coverage, excluding them of 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 only 22 percent of the internet users buy goods online and only 17.6 percent conduct banking operations. Thirty percent of Mexico’s internet users have concerns of online fraud, and 28 percent are not willing to share banking information online (The Wilson Institute, from their “Infographic digital trade and digital economy 2022”). Fifty-six percent of the country’s population engages in informal economic activities (National Institute of Statistics and Geography, National Employment Survey March 2022).
The López Obrador administration’s main priority is providing universal connectivity through its Internet para Todos 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 opportunities for U.S. companies. The deployment of the project has been significantly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the world-wide supply chain issues.
The National Digital Strategy Office (Estrategia Digital Nacional or EDN) which is housed in Office of the Presidency, is responsible for drafting and implementing the country’s digitalization policies. In August 2021 EDN published Mexico´s digital strategy for 2021-2024. The document contemplates two objectives: the digitalization of the public sector, and increasing broadband access, it also highlights the country´s need to achieve technological sovereignty.
McKinsey & Company ranks Mexico 55th in digital maturity out of 151 countries. The same company states that gaining a higher level of digitalization could boost´s Mexico´s GDP by 15 percent.
The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) is expected to increase opportunities for U.S. ICT firms. The USMCA’s digital trade chapter contains the strongest commitments of any international agreement, providing a firm foundation for the expansion of trade and investment in innovative products and services.
Leading Sub-Sectors
- Retail
- Financial services and insurance
- Logistical and transportation services
- Lodging and food services
Opportunities
- Digitalization solutions for small and medium companies
- Financial inclusion solutions
- Digital tools for sales and marketing
- Cybersecurity solutions for small and medium companies
- Payment solutions
Resources