Mexican Products Made in Belgium? The EU Is a Clear Opportunity

Based in Mexico, obviously, nearshoring is a hot trend and even though instability and the ever-changing geopolitical environment have made it harder, I believe it will still be a trend throughout the coming years.

What we have also noticed is the will to produce more closely to customers. In B2B, this is obvious in automotive and aeronautics, where providers are often forced to follow the new implementation of the OEM.

Certainly, the Mexican agroindustry can't grow their papaya or coffee beans in Belgium and I don't think we will soon see large fields of yellow potatoes to produce frozen fries at an industrial level (potatoes are mostly white potatoes in Mexico).

But what about transformed food products, when ingredients are easily found locally?

In Belgium, you can find water and malta. During COVID, Corona beer was produced for the European market in Belgium due to supply chain problems. The last time I went to Belgium, in 2025, I checked a Corona can in a supermarket and it was still produced in Belgium. Check a Stella Artois bottle in Mexico: it hasn´t crossed the Atlantic.

Other products that you can find in large supply in Belgium: Totopos. The bigger European producer is situated in our small country.

Recently, we have been in touch with several Mexican agroindustry companies looking for partners to start production in Europe. Just like soya sauce in your favorite Japanese restaurant hasn´t crossed the Pacific Ocean, your Mexican sauces in Europe might soon be produced in a European country where we eat food that is much less spicy (even though my favorite sauce is the Samurai that you should try on your next trip to Belgium, with fries of course).

Locally produced is good for business and the planet, but it puts some pressure on smaller companies. They cannot always plan production in other markets and they have to compete in their home country with foreign brands produced locally. But there are also opportunities. New brands from Mexico, for instance, don´t need massive production and small and medium-sized companies can become their partner at the start of the adventure. Or they can take the initiative, following new consumption trends, producing new and exotic products, or make a deal with a foreign company to produce and promote their products. 

Halfway through the process are companies that send their products in bulk to be packaged in Europe.

All of this is not new, but I believe the pandemic has accelerated the process, as much as the will of some companies to reduce their CO2 impact.

Mexican companies are keeping themselves up to date with regulations, such as those applying in the European Union, the biggest market on Earth. It means that there are more Mexican companies aware and ready regarding such regulations, helping them in the process of developing a local presence in Europe. In most cases, this market is also undoubtedly the best alternative to diversify Mexican exports.

This process of diversification is also an opportunity for European SMEs exporting technologies and services to Mexico. Their solutions are needed to help Mexican companies comply with European regulations. Natural ingredients and raw material suppliers working in Mexico from Europe can support them in the new market they are trying to tackle.

Mexican food is also among the fastest-growing  “ethnic” food in Belgium, and in Europe. As European consumers get to know Mexican specialties, this trend prepares the Mexican agroindustry for a softer landing and a better prepared market to choose their brands. At the very least, shouldn't the spicy sauce leader in the European market be Mexican and not American?

For at least the near future, more than ever, foreign trade between Europe and Mexico is much needed.

Obviously it's our mission to promote trade and investment with Belgium and Wallonia, but our country has much to offer in relation to those trends. Mexican products are already being produced in Belgium, the European institutions are in Brussels, and most Mexican goods enter Europe either via the Netherlands or Belgium. Last but not least, Belgium is a test market with different consumption habits in the north and in the south. Three national languages also help to extend beyond Belgian's small borders.

If Mexican companies want to set up their European business operations in Belgium, they should not hesitate to contact us for local support and access to the right partners and information.