How to Find Manufacturers in Mexico

You’ve decided that Mexico is where you want to manufacture your products. There are many benefits to doing so. However, choosing the right manufacturer requires you to consider factors such as the commodities you plan to market, labor rates, and shipping times.  

Key Takeaways

• Mexico’s top manufactured exports include vehicles, medical devices, textiles, electronics, and furniture.
• The Maquiladora, Manufacturing, and Export Services Industry (IMMEX) system allows U.S. businesses to set up manufacturing facilities in Mexico to take advantage of generous import/export laws.
• When looking for a manufacturer in Mexico, it’s a good idea to start by looking on a state-by-state and city-by-city basis, as different types of manufacturing facilities are often clustered within a general area.
• Try to find facilities that combine manufacturing expertise with proximity to the U.S. border.
• Meeting in person with potential business partners is fundamental to building business relationships and ensuring your needs will be met.

If you’re looking for a Mexico-based manufacturer, join us as we review the steps you’ll need to take during the process.

What are the Manufactured Products of Mexico?

Mexico produces a wide range of different products. It ranks seventh in the world for automobile manufacturing, and is also the 12th largest supplier of aerospace components. 

In 2023, the following products accounted for most of the exports from Mexico into the U.S. by USD value.

Top Five Manufactured Exports to the USA From Mexico in 2023

Textiles, including clothing, also account for a significant portion of Mexican exports.

Finding Manufacturers in Mexico

There are a few options U.S. businesses can use to find manufacturing partners in Mexico. 

Search Online Manufacturing Directories

Businesses can use these directories to find the right manufacturer for their desired goods.  Directory websites usually allow you to search according to parameters such as country, manufacturing capabilities, and specific keywords and search terms.

MFG.com is an example of an online directory that simplifies searching for manufacturers. While it isn’t specific to Mexico, you can set the parameters to search within that country specifically. 

Contact Companies

Portals like Google Business can help you find companies that operate in Mexico. You can explore company websites to determine whether one or more have the manufacturing capabilities that you require. 

If they do, you can proceed to contact the company via email, online contact form, or phone. We would advise you work with a bilingual team when reaching out. 

Partner With a Business Consultant

If you’re unable to meet a manufacturing agent face to face, working with a consultant who can is a great option. Mexican business owners often prefer a more personal approach when building professional relationships than those in the U.S.  

Consultants can give you a leg up in ensuring your choice of manufacturer gives you a fair price, transparency in the manufacturing process, and the quality you need to build your customer base.

Best Places to Manufacture in Mexico

When choosing a manufacturing facility in Mexico, it’s important to take location into account. This isn’t just a matter of proximity to the U.S. border, but also because certain areas specialize in certain types of manufacturing.

The list below includes major manufacturing sectors within Mexican border states, along with some specific manufacturers who operate within them.

Baja California

While frequently thought of as a tourist destination, Baja boasts many manufacturing facilities. I’ve listed some of them below on a city-by-city basis.

• Mexicali: This is the state’s capital that is located directly on the California border. It is home to Kenworth Paccar, Collins Aerospace Systems, and GKN Aerospace.
• Tijuana: A financial and industrial center, it also hosts Carefusion, FLEX, and Sumitronics.
• Tecate: There are over 100 manufacturing operations here, including international companies such as Teleflex and Taylor Guitars. 
• Ensenada: Located 78 miles from San Diego, this city is a manufacturing hub for Fender Guitars, ICU Medical, and Dialight.

Sonora

With its rich mineral deposits, livestock ranches, and busy tourism industry, Sonora is one of the wealthier states in Mexico. It shares a border with Arizona, and some examples of areas with high manufacturing capabilities within Sonora include the following.

• Hermosillo: Ford, Te Connectivity, and Bosch are all located in this city, which is home to 32% of the state’s population. 
• San Luis Rio Colorado: The main industries here are textiles, metal fabrication, and electronic devices. Massimo and TSE Brakes both have manufacturing operations in this area. 

Queretaro

Textiles are one of this state’s primary exports, and its direct connection to Mexico City and the U.S. border makes it particularly attractive for stateside businesses. Some of the chief manufacturing locations in this north-central Mexican state are:

• Santiago de Querétaro: A hub for manufacturing and corporate headquarters for businesses such as Bombardier Aerospace, Kellogg’s, and General Electric. 
• San Juan del Rio: Here, Indorama Ventures produces surfactants, an important component of cleaning products.
• El Pueblito: The El Pueblito Industrial Park is home to several manufacturers, including pneumatic device makers Multiproductos Llanteros and tungsten/carbide specialists MEXALLOYS.

Guanajuato  

This state is home to many manufacturers of vehicles and auto parts. It’s also a logistics hub with a focus on the production of textiles and chemicals. 

Going city-by-city, here are just some of the manufacturers found in Guanajuato.

• Silao: Located near the center of the state, Silao’s manufacturers include American Axle & Manufacturing, shock and strut specialists KYB, and plastics supplier Summit Polymers.

• San Luis Potosi:  This state has grown significantly over the past 30 years, and is host to 19 industrial parks. Manufacturing from brands like Draexlmaier, Bosch, and Cummins accounts for 30% of the state's GDP. 
• Aguascalientes: Automotive manufacturers including Nissan, Honda, Mazda, and GM have facilities here. The city is particularly attractive for manufacturers due to its direct shipping routes via the North American SuperCorridor Coaltion (NASCO) corridor. 

Chihuahua

Bordering Texas and New Mexico, Chihuahua employs more engineers per capita than any other state in the country. 

Let’s take a look at some of its chief manufacturing sectors and commodities.

• Chihuahua City: The state’s capital boasts maquiladoras for household brands such as Ford Motor Company, LG Electronics, and Hallmark.
• Ciudad Juárez: Aerospace giants like Lear and Boeing manufacture aircraft in this city. Leading wire and optical cable manufacturer Sumitomo operates here as well.
• Guadalupe: This municipal area is home to manufacturing plants Metalloy Piping Solutions and STERIS, a medical equipment supplier.

Coahuila

Bordering Chihuahua to the east, Coahuila combines a strong manufacturing sector with Mexico’s largest deposits of coal.

The state’s manufacturing sectors include:

• Saltillo: In addition to automotive manufacturers GM, Mercedes-Benz, and Chrysler, Saltillo also hosts Grupo Industrial Saltillo, makers of everything from household wares to construction equipment.
• Torreón: U.S. agricultural equipment giant John Deere manufactures many of its goods here. Yura Corporation, a maker of wiring harnesses and control modules for vehicles, also operates out of Torreón. 

Tamaulipas

Sharing a border with southern Texas, Tamaulipas has a thriving industrial sector in many of its cities and municipalities, including:

• Nuevo Laredo: The Oradel Industrial Center houses manufacturing facilities for several companies, including medical supplier Medline and heavy-equipment titan Caterpillar.
• Reynosa: Situated near Mcallen, TX, Reynosa is known for electronics and medical manufacturing from companies such as Kimball Electronics and Erika de Reynosa. 
• Matamoros: This city is home to well over 100 maquiladoras. One of the most noteworthy is Novalink, a manufacturer of diverse products such as electronic devices and textiles.

These are just some of the thousands of manufacturers located within Mexico.

Let’s say you’ve found a manufacturer that looks like a good fit for your needs. Before you jump in feet first, it’s a good idea to understand some cultural and political distinctions between our two countries.

Sourcing Suppliers in Mexico

When sourcing suppliers in Mexico, there are some key differences in business practices with which you should familiarize yourself.

The “Never Say No” Attitude

If you meet with a Mexican manufacturer and ask them if they can provide the services you require, they will almost always answer yes, even if your request is actually be beyond their capabilities. This isn’t intended to be a deceptive tactic, but is rather a reflection of the population’s work ethic. 

The “never say no” approach to business is a key reason why it is worth exploring a supplier in person and checking their facilities yourself. Failure to take this step may cause you to end up with products manufactured through an outsourcing company. This reduces transparency in the manufacturing process and will likely lead to a poor perception of the quality of your goods. 

Call The Manufacturer

When you are sourcing a supplier, make sure that you pick up the phone and call the company. This is a cultural difference compared with stateside businesses. 

In the U.S., transactions are usually handled by e-mail or another remote transactional process. Conversely, Mexican manufacturers prefer face-to-face meetings and phone calls. 

Meeting With Mexican Business Partners

If you do meet with a manufacturer across the border, you’ll find the following guidelines for interactions with potential business partners in Mexico useful.

• Dress Professionally: This might go without saying, but given the relaxed dress codes many U.S. offices have adopted, it’s worth pointing out that professional attire is still the standard for business meetings in Mexico. Suits and ties for men, and comparable office attire for women, are still expected. 

• Meeting Over Meals: Long lunchtime meetings are a common practice for building relationships between business partners. Don’t expect the same strict adherence to scheduling you might be used to in the U.S.

• Be Prepared to Get Personal: Discussions of topics like family, personal achievements, and other topics unrelated to work are standard for lunch meetings in Mexico, acting as a sort of icebreaker before getting down to business. 

These meetings will probably occur later in the day than the traditional noon lunchtime meeting in the U.S., and can take well over two hours, so stay flexible.

Regulations for Manufacturing in Mexico

Mexico’s manufacturing regulations are set at the federal level. Unlike in the United States, Mexico’s national government has far more control over state legislation

For manufacturing, various regulations exist for, health, safety, and labor. Something that has recently become more significant for manufacturers are environmental regulations, such as:

• Waste: The law here prohibits companies from transporting, storing or disposing of waste without the correct permits. 
• Air Pollution: It is crucial that when choosing a manufacturer, they have the proper operating licenses for emissions. 
• Water Pollution: Violators of water pollution regulations may be held financially responsible by the National Water Commission, or CNA. 

Ensuring that your choice of manufacturer doesn’t have a history of regulatory violations is one of many reasons to work with a consultant during this complicated process.

Finding Manufacturers With R+L Global Logistics

Choosing the right manufacturer in Mexico is a complicated process affected by numerous factors, including linguistic and cultural barriers. This is where an experienced global logistics powerhouse like R&L can help. 

Our Mexico cross border shipping service is built on over 30 years of experience and knowledge. Through our multilingual specialists, we can assist you with finding manufacturers for your commodities, no matter what you plan to produce.

We also offer a full range of logistics services, including:

• Cross border shipping
• Intra-Mexico freight
• 3PL warehousing
• And more

Are you ready to partner with Mexican manufacturers to meet your business goals? If so, give us a call at (866) 335-0495 or contact us online today!