After closing 2025 with a monthly drop of 0.9% and an annual drop of 7.2%, Mexican mining and metallurgical production , which includes extraction, processing, smelting and refining activities of metallic and non-metallic minerals, registered an increase of 1.5% in January 2026 compared to last December, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) announced this Monday .
According to the Mining and Metallurgical Industry Statistics (EIMM), which provides information on the activity of this sector in order to generate timely indicators, in its annual measurement, production fell 5.3% at the start of 2026.
During the period, copper production remained unchanged, while non-coking coal – which is used for electricity generation – grew by 0.6%, gypsum increased by 0.7% and iron pellets by 11.8% annually.
On an annual basis, the largest declines in mining and metallurgical production during the cycle were in sulfur (33.9%), zinc (23.2%), and lead (15.1%). Gold, silver, and fluorite production decreased by 8.7%, 3.6%, and 3.6%, respectively.
According to Inegi, Zacatecas stood out in gold production with an annual variation of 14%, as well as silver with 6.4% at an annual rate.
Durango registered positive figures in lead with 3.2%, Chihuahua in zinc with 6.4%, Nuevo León in sulfur with 2.1% and Coahuila in fluorite production with 1.2% annually.
The Mexican mining and metallurgical industry is one of the topics that will be in the negotiations of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) , especially regarding tariffs on steel and aluminum.
As part of the strategy to combat unfair practices, the Ministry of Economy has identified 750 companies with allegedly irregular activities, which are dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of steel products, of which 350 were suspended in their imports and procedures were initiated to cancel the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) .
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