Nuevo León, Chihuahua, and Coahuila once again ranked among the top three in the national ranking, consolidating their position as the most robust industrial hubs in Mexico, according to the results of the third edition of the Industrial Development Index (IDI) 2025 , prepared by FINSA , an industrial real estate developer.

According to the analysis, Baja California maintained its fourth position and the State of Mexico ranked fifth, driven by advances in infrastructure and economic dynamism.

In the infrastructure category , which assesses the availability and evolution of space designated for industrial development in each entity, as well as the quality and capacity of its physical and digital connectivity, Nuevo León expanded its leadership, reaching 17.9 million square meters (m²) of industrial space , in addition to having the highest level of new construction, with an average of 1.3 million m² per year over the last five years.

Chihuahua and Baja California remain among the states with the highest installed capacity and sustained growth.

Mexico City also stood out, with an annual average of 334,000 m² of new construction, followed by Coahuila with 321,000 m², Jalisco with 271,000 m², Querétaro with 221,000 m², and Guanajuato with 209,000 m².

In terms of connectivity, the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA)  positioned the State of Mexico as the national leader in air cargo, “although an impact is anticipated from the last quarter of 2025 following the revocation of routes by the United States government.”

The growth of containerized cargo in the ports of Lázaro Cárdenas and Veracruz strengthened the logistical position of Michoacán and Veracruz.

In contrast, road safety indicators showed progress in Tlaxcala, San Luis Potosí and Morelos; while Mexico City, Durango and Nayarit showed significant setbacks, detailed the IDI 2025.

“The Industrial Development Index has become a strategic tool for evaluating the real capacity of entities, in line with initiatives such as the Mexico Plan , which seek to articulate a long-term industrial and territorial policy,” highlighted Sergio Argüelles, president and CEO of FINSA.

Regarding the environment and sustainability , Durango stood out in wastewater treatment, with levels close to 100 percent. It was followed by Jalisco, Mexico City, Aguascalientes, and Baja California. However, critical gaps persist in the southeast of the country, particularly in Campeche and Yucatán.

Chihuahua, Baja California, Nuevo León, Mexico City and Tamaulipas had an outstanding performance as main drivers of LEED certified buildings, although 17 entities did not register any activity in the period analyzed.

Among other data, the IDI revealed that Mexico City also led in the number of researchers linked to industry, applications for inventions and STEM graduates (science, technology engineering and mathematics).

Regarding economic development , Nuevo León (12.6%), State of Mexico (9.3%), Coahuila (8.2%), Jalisco (7.9%), Guanajuato (6.9%) and Baja California (6.6%) concentrated the largest share of the manufacturing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) .

Meanwhile, Mexico City took the national lead for the first time in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the secondary sector, that is, the industrial sector, with an annual average of 16.7 billion dollars (USD) , while Nuevo León remained at 11.7 billion USD .

Manufacturing exports continue to be concentrated in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Baja California, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas—which together account for more than 53% of the national total. Jalisco, Sonora, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí show relative improvements in intermediate positions.

Among the conclusions of the analysis, FINSA noted that global conflicts, as well as trade tensions between the United States and China, have accelerated the transition to regional supply chains, where resilience, proximity, and logistical security are becoming key factors.

In this scenario, Mexico maintains a privileged strategic position as the main trading partner of the United States and as a natural platform for productive integration in North America.

“The coming years will be crucial for more regions of the country to capitalize on these trends. Mexico has a historic window of opportunity to consolidate a balanced and competitive industrial policy aligned with the challenges of sustainability, innovation, and logistical security imposed by the new global order,” highlighted IDI 2025.

However, the opportunities arising from nearshoring (relocation of production lines), manufacturing expansion, and technological transformation are being captured unevenly across regions, deepening differences in infrastructure, talent, sustainability, and security.

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The nearshoring phenomenon (relocation of production lines to consumption centres) that has gained strength in recent years is redefining the dynamics of trade and production in the region, in which logistics plays a fundamental role.

Aldo López, Commercial Vice President of Onest Smart Logistics , explained that the evolution of nearshoring has led to a substantial transformation in the country’s industrial infrastructure.

Decades ago, warehouses were basic and poorly equipped. Today, Mexico has world-class distribution centers that meet the standards of the United States and Europe.

However, accelerated growth has created challenges, such as the temporary shortage of industrial warehouses in strategic regions such as Monterrey, Guadalajara and the Bajío .

“Mexico has made great progress in terms of the quality of its warehouses. Before, we had old facilities, but today, industrial warehouses in Mexico are first class and we compete head to head with developed countries,” said López.

Onest Smart Logistics has responded to this demand by building and operating technologically advanced warehouses , including bonded warehouses and strategically located distribution centers.

In addition, Lopez pointed out that they are investing in innovative solutions, even studying the use of drones for inventory management and the implementation of intelligent systems to optimize the supply chain .

López stressed that the future of the logistics sector is linked to the adoption of advanced technology .

Warehouse management systems (WMS), transportation management systems (TMS) and artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing the industry, enabling demand prediction, route optimization and improved operational efficiency.

“Using artificial intelligence and our WMS and TMS systems, we can predict which products will move faster and which will remain stuck in inventory. This helps our customers make informed decisions,” Lopez explained.

In this sense, the growth of nearshoring poses challenges for the industry. For example, Aldo López mentioned the need to train personnel in areas far from large cities and improve transportation to connect distribution centers with rural areas.

Furthermore, although Mexico remains competitive in terms of labor costs, it is crucial to maintain a balance between labor reforms and the economic viability of companies.

“The main challenge will be training and logistics to bring workers to the new facilities. Many distribution centers are located outside of large cities, so we need to ensure that people are willing to travel,” Lopez said.

Despite these challenges, López is optimistic about the future of nearshoringin Mexico.

“With our strategic location, world-class infrastructure and advanced technology, Mexico is perfectly positioned to remain a leader in global logistics,” he said.

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