In a context marked by “ declining interest from Chinese companies and increasing North American and European investments,” Fibra MTY announced that it plans to invest $700 million in 2025, with the aim of strengthening its industrial portfolio and taking advantage of the growth of nearshoring (an industrial trend that refers to the relocation of production lines to consumption centers), according to company executives.
This strategy also includes the sale of office assets for an estimated value of between 300 and 400 million dollars, resources that will be reinvested in the industrial segment.
“We are seeing a slowdown in demand from Chinese companies, but at the same time a significant increase in the participation of North American and European companies, especially in key sectors such as automotive, auto parts and semiconductor manufacturing,” said Jorge Ávalos Carpinteyro, CEO of Fibra MTY, at a press conference.
In this regard, the company’s executives commented that the nearshoringboom is generating significant growth in the construction of industrial parks, with 94 new developments currently underway, an increase of 25% compared to the existing supply.
“This phenomenon represents a historic opportunity for Mexico, but it requires a robust energy infrastructure and a more agile regulatory framework to be fully exploited,” added Ávalos.
He also noted that the industrial sector in Mexico faces significant challenges , including energy infrastructure, logistics and regulations .
Ávalos mentioned that the development of an industrial park requires up to 36 procedures at the municipal, state and federal levels, which generates redundancies and slows down the processes.
In response, he stressed that the sector is working with the authorities to implement a one-stop shop to streamline these procedures and facilitate the investments needed to meet growing demand.
Another crucial challenge identified by the company is access to electricity . According to Ávalos, although the government and private initiative have promoted investments in distributed and isolated generation, the problem of energy transmission and distribution remains a major barrier to industrial growth.
He also stressed that Mexico’s ability to capitalize on nearshoring will largely depend on solving these energy problems, since without sufficient electricity, the operation of new industrial parks will be unviable .
They also reported that 85% of Fibra MTY’s portfolio is currently made up of industrial warehouses , and the goal is to reach 100% by the end of 2025.
In this context, the company began a process of divestment in offices , including properties in Monterrey and Interlomas, and will use these resources to expand its portfolio of class A industrial assets.
Jaime Martínez, the company’s Finance Director, explained that the company has already committed nearly 80% of the resources projected for 2024 to industrial acquisitions and expansions.
“We are managing these movements in an orderly manner, working with international brokers to ensure an efficient transition,” Martinez said.
They highlighted that nearshoring brought a steady flow of investments to Mexico, particularly in sectors such as light manufacturing, logistics and technology. Although the participation of Chinese companies showed a fall of 8.4% in the last year , the demand for industrial space by North American and European companies has grown steadily.
“We see a Mexican industrial market with enormous potential for expansion. We currently have 460 industrial parks, and we hope to reach 550 in the coming years, consolidating Mexico as a strategic hub for North America,” said Ávalos.
In addition, Fibra MTY’s investment plan includes the implementation of renewable energy generation solutions on its properties.
These statements were made in the framework of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of Fibra MTY, where they highlighted that since 2014 the company has multiplied the value of its assets more than 12 times.
“These 10 years have allowed us to demonstrate that sustainable growth is possible when transparency and the alignment of interests with investors are prioritized. The future is even more promising, with a market that presents us with great challenges and opportunities,” concluded Ávalos.
Representatives of Fibra MTY also expressed an optimistic message about the impact of nearshoring in Mexico and the ability to contribute to the sector in a changing economic context.
Main image source: Fibra MTY
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