IMMEX Program covering 6,400 companies in 28 states remains key to Mexico’s foreign investment
IMMEX Program (Industria Manufacturera, Maquiladora y de Servicios de Exportación) spans 6,400 companies across 28 states through 19 associations, and remains one of the primary vehicles for attracting foreign investment to Mexico, according to the Consejo Nacional de la Industria Maquiladora y Manufacturera de Exportación (Index). Alfonso Valdés, Index’s national secretary, said the program continues to demonstrate its relevance to the national economy amid a complex international trade environment.
A program at the center of Mexico’s export manufacturing base
IMMEX allows manufacturers to temporarily import machinery, equipment and production inputs without paying general import duties, provided the resulting goods are exported. The framework underpins a large share of Mexico’s export manufacturing base, from automotive and aerospace suppliers to electronics and appliance makers, and has long been a reference point for companies weighing whether to establish or expand operations in the country.
Index represents its member companies through 19 regional associations spanning 28 states, giving the organization a broad view of how manufacturers across industries are responding to shifting trade conditions.
IMMEX as a guarantee of certainty for investment
Valdés said the framework has become a necessary mechanism for continuing to attract foreign capital to the country, noting that the federal government has recognized the importance of the temporary-import mechanism within the strategy to develop the export manufacturing industry under the IMMEX 4.0 framework.
The Index representative said one of the organization’s goals is for the program to be managed without differentiating by sector, whether automotive, metal-mechanic, food, furniture or aerospace, since all face similar trade and regulatory challenges. He called on industrial sectors to work together in response to new international trade conditions and to meet the requirements set by the United States.
Tariff uncertainty has not stopped investment
Felipe Armando Villarreal, president of Index Nuevo León, said tariffs imposed by the United States are creating uncertainty among exporting companies, though he noted that, so far, these measures cannot be said to be stopping investment into Mexico. He highlighted that Nuevo León retains advantages tied to its proximity to the U.S. market, which continues to be an attractive factor for international companies.
He acknowledged, however, that both the country and the export manufacturing industry remain highly dependent on U.S. trade decisions.
What continued IMMEX certainty means for companies establishing in Mexico
Continuity in the IMMEX framework as a source of legal and operational certainty shapes how exporting companies decide where and how to expand their operations in Mexico. Talk to the American Industries Group team to learn how our shelter services can simplify your market entry and support your manufacturing expansion.
Source: Index in national and local media
