Costco Announces US$100 Million Expansion in Aguascalientes

Costco Wholesale has initiated its 2026 strategic expansion in Mexico with the announcement of a new, large-scale facility in Aguascalientes. The project involves a US$100 million (MX$1.8 billion) investment to develop one of the brand's most expansive locations in the country; the start of a multi-decade growth plan for the retailer in the Mexican market.

The new facility will be situated on a 60,000m2 lot adjacent to the existing branch at Boulevard Aguascalientes Norte 802. Upon completion, the combined site will encompass 90,000m2, making it one of the largest Costco properties in Mexico. According to Patricia Quiles, Legal and Real Estate Director, Costco Wholesale Mexico, current operations will continue without interruption during the nine-month construction phase.

In its 3Q25 report, Costco published a revenue of US$61.96 billion, an 8% year-over-year increase but below Wall Street’s average estimate of US$63.19 billion, as previously reported by MBN. Earnings, excluding certain items, came in at US$4.28 per share, narrowly exceeding analysts' US$4.24 projection.

The expansion in Mexico focuses on enhancing infrastructure and service capacity for the region. Key upgrades include:

• Parking Capacity: Expansion from 360 to 900 parking spaces to accommodate higher foot traffic.

• Fuel Services: The installation of a new Costco gasoline station, a high-demand service for the brand's membership base.

• Job Creation: Aguascalientes Governor Tere Jiménez emphasized that the investment will generate significant local employment and improve access to essential goods.

The Aguascalientes site is the first of several planned for 2026. As of early January, Costco operates 43 locations in Mexico. The retailer intends to bring that total to 47 locations by year-end, with new branches currently under consideration or in development in Mexico City, Queretaro and Nuevo Leon. The Aguascalientes project is slated for completion in late 2026, with a tentative opening scheduled for September.

Costco vs Trump

At the beginning of December, the company sued the US government to ensure it can recover tariff payments if the Supreme Court rules that President Donald Trump lacked the authority to impose them without congressional approval. The lawsuit, filed in the US Court of International Trade in Manhattan, seeks to protect Costco’s ability to reclaim potential overpayments tied to the “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on trading partners, including China, Canada, and Mexico.

The White House defended its position, warning that an unfavorable ruling would weaken its ability to negotiate with trading partners and deprive the Treasury of billions already collected. "The economic consequences of the failure to uphold President Trump’s lawful tariffs are enormous and this suit highlights that fact. The White House looks forward to the Supreme Court’s speedy and proper resolution of this matter,” said White House spokesman Kush Desai.

To manage tariff-related pressures, Costco reduced its supplier base, increased local sourcing, and expanded its in-house Kirkland label.