The general director of the Coordinator for the Promotion of Foreign Trade (Cofoce) , Luis Ernesto Rojas Ávila, said that although Mexico is close to the US market and has a privileged geographic position, it attracts less than 5% of the companies that have left China , compared to competitors such as India and Vietnam.
“Mexico has a privileged strategic position. However, so far less than 5% of all that has been repatriated outside of China has arrived in Mexico. Nearshoring arises in the midst of the trade war between the United States and China, which has expanded into a national security dispute that is practically at very advanced levels,” explained Roja Ávila.
This context presents a structural change in international trade, with a growing demand for integration in supply chains outside Asia. Rojas Ávila said that November 5 will be a turning point for the global economy , due to the elections in the United States, which could “rewrite a new chapter in the world economy,” affecting import policies and favoring or limiting the entry of Chinese products.
This situation puts Mexico in a strategic position to become a “ supply hub for the United States and Europe .”
However, according to the director of Cofoce, there are still barriers that limit full integration, which is why he urged strategic decisions to be made so that Mexico is not only an assembly country, but a key player in high value-added supply chains .
“Mexico’s worst enemy is Mexico itself; we need to react. The opportunity is there, but we have to really take advantage of it,” Rojas Ávila said.
During his presentation, Rojas Ávila showed a graph with the US industrial focus projected towards 2030, where sectors such as high technology, artificial intelligence and human transport drones predominate .
He stressed that the United States will begin to abandon the manufacturing of certain basic products, “everything that has to do with manufactured basic products, coal, machinery , even the entire issue of fashion, footwear and clothing,” he explained.
This reconfiguration in the United States opens opportunities for Mexico to become a supplier of these lower-value but high-demand products.
Rojas Ávila also identified strategic sectors, such as aerospace, agriculture and electromobility, which are key to the US economy and offer great opportunities for Mexico.
He explained that these industries depend on skilled labor and a continuous supply of components, due to US restrictions to avoid dependence on China.
Meanwhile, in the agricultural sector, he said that companies in the United States have begun to opt for ready-to-eat products , due to the lack of personnel in the restaurant sector.
“Instead of buying fresh products, they now need products that are ready to serve. Don’t sell me broccoli anymore, don’t sell me asparagus anymore, rather sell it to me in a salad that is already cut and washed,” Rojas Ávila exemplified, on how the American market is looking for alternatives that Mexico could offer.
The director also highlighted the interest of European companies, especially from Spain and other countries of the European Union, in establishing alliances with Mexico in the context of euroshoring .
This trend arises due to high costs and rising inflation in Europe , which is encouraging the relocation of production to more accessible countries such as Mexico.
In this context, Spanish companies began to partner with Mexican producers to develop and export high-value products such as artichokes and other ready-to-eat foods, taking advantage of the logistical advantage offered by Mexico.
Rojas Ávila also highlighted a recent case: “The largest artichoke company in Europe comes to Mexico and says: we are going to develop it, harvest it and sell it as a ready-to-eat product.”
Rojas Ávila also stressed the importance of integrating Mexican micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) into global supply chains, which are currently disconnected from large transnationals.
He mentioned that according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , 75% of the inputs used by multinational companies in Mexico are imported, which limits the participation of local MSMEs in these value chains.
“If we fail to integrate MSMEs, nearshoring will fail without providing any significant benefits for the country. Companies must acquire certifications and comply with international quality standards to take advantage of this opportunity. The pieces are already there; all we have to do is fit them together,” said Rojas Ávila.
Regarding the aerospace industry, he stressed that Mexico is already emerging as an important center for this industry, especially in the manufacturing of components and advanced technology services.
“Let me tell you that the largest investment in the entire aerospace and aeronautical industry, including engines, interiors, exteriors, is coming to Mexico,” Rojas Ávila shared.
He said the aerospace sector pays high salaries and requires long-term commitments and significant technology transfer.
He said that this represents a boost for Mexican talent, but also demands that the country offer adequate conditions for investment.
Rojas Ávila also urged young people and entrepreneurs to adopt a long-term vision that positions Mexico as a competitive country , capable of taking advantage of the economic transition that nearshoring implies.
“We cannot continue selling ourselves as a country with cheap labor. It is time to go out into the world, prepare ourselves and change the international perception of Mexico,” he said, encouraging those present at the 2024 Transport Logistics Forum to think about how the country can differentiate itself on a global level.
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