In 2023, the Mexican aerospace industry reached record export figures, estimated at nine thousand 5 billion dollars (mdd) and it is expected that in 2024 the figure will increase to 11 billion dollars with more local suppliers and specialized talent, according to Luis Lizcano, president of the Mexican Federation of the Aerospace Industry (FEMIA) .
The growth of the sector was driven by the availability of talent and the ability of Mexican companies to meet international standards in manufacturing, engineering and design .
However, Lizcano stressed that one of the main challenges to maintaining this growth rate is the need to integrate many more Mexican suppliers into the supply chain.
“A strategic challenge we face is to deepen our network of national suppliers, especially small and medium-sized Mexican companies (SMEs), which can become suppliers in the aerospace industry,” said Lizcano.
He explained that currently, the majority of suppliers to the aerospace industry in Mexico are of foreign origin , which limits the country’s ability to maximize the economic benefits of this expanding sector.
In light of this, FEMIA is actively working to reverse this trend, focusing on the identification and development of local suppliers. Another fundamental pillar for the continued development of the aerospace industry in Mexico is human talent.
“The success of our industry has largely depended on the availability of qualified talent. Careers in mechanical, electrical, mechatronic, chemical engineering, and computer-aided design are important. As the demand for aerospace products increases, so does the need for technicians specialized in machining and tool handling,” said Lizcano.
The Mexican aerospace industry has evolved significantly since its inception at the beginning of the 21st century. According to Lizcano, in 2004, the sector’s exports barely reached US$1.3 billion .
“Today, Mexico is a key supplier of critical components such as aircraft doors, engines, fuselages and landing gear,” Lizcano said.
As Mexico positions itself as the sixth largest supplier of aerospace products to the United States , FEMIA and other organizations in the sector are redoubling their efforts to ensure that this growth is sustainable.
The integration of more Mexican suppliers and the training of highly qualified talent are essential for Mexico to continue advancing in the aerospace industry.
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