Mexico’s Computer Equipment Exports Surge 172% as AI Demand Grows

Mexico’s exports of computer equipment used in AI rose 172% to US$82.9 billion in the first half of 2026, surpassing automotive and auto-parts exports as demand from the US AI industry reshapes the country’s manufacturing role.

Mexico’s manufacturing model is gaining a new technology-driven dimension as the global expansion of artificial intelligence reshapes demand for computing equipment. Computer-related exports reached US$82.9 billion in the first half of 2026, a 172% increase from the same period a year earlier, reveals S&P.

The shift places computing equipment ahead of automobiles and auto parts, which generated US$74.8 billion in exports during the first six months of the year. It also highlights how Mexico’s position within North American supply chains is evolving as US investment in AI infrastructure increases.

The United States accounted for 93.9% of Mexico’s computer equipment exports, reinforcing the importance of geographic proximity and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the sector. “Mexico does not produce the entire chain, but it has the advantage of having industries integrated with the United States,” says to El País Julio Ruiz, Chief Economist, Citi Mexico.

From Automotive Manufacturing to AI Infrastructure

For three decades, Mexico’s export economy has been closely associated with automotive manufacturing. The integration of Mexico, the United States, and Canada under the regional trade framework enabled complex production networks in which vehicles and components could cross borders multiple times before final assembly.

The latest export figures point to a different sector gaining prominence. Computer equipment associated with AI infrastructure has become a significant component of Mexico’s manufacturing exports, although its position in the value chain differs from that of the automotive industry.

Taiwan is central to this development. According to the reporting cited by El País, Taiwanese companies are using Mexico as a manufacturing and assembly platform for products destined for the US market. Taiwan produces advanced chips used by companies such as Apple, Nvidia, and AMD, along with other semiconductor components. These components can be assembled into servers and other computing platforms in Mexico before being exported to the United States.

Banamex describes Mexico as an assembly platform close to the US market, while design, technological integration, and supply-chain coordination remain concentrated in Asia. This structure creates an important distinction between export growth and domestic value creation. Mexico can capture manufacturing activity, employment and trade flows without necessarily retaining a proportional share of the value generated by semiconductor design, intellectual property, and global technology coordination.

Semiconductor Manufacturing Remains a Strategic Gap

The rapid expansion of computer exports also exposes the limits of Mexico’s position in the semiconductor value chain. The country has established capabilities in electronics, automotive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing, but domestic semiconductor production remains limited.

Franco Rodríguez, CEO, QSM Semiconductors, argues that Mexico can build on its existing industrial base by developing capabilities in mature or legacy-node semiconductors rather than attempting to compete immediately in the most advanced chip segments.

Legacy-node chips are used across automotive, medical equipment, telecommunications, appliances and industrial systems. Their importance became evident during the global semiconductor shortages that disrupted manufacturing after 2020.

QSM Semiconductors is developing a 6,000m2 semiconductor plant in El Marques, Queretaro, focused on 450nm chips. According to information provided by the company, construction is 85% complete, with operations expected to begin in September and initial chip production targeted for the end of 2026. The company says the plant is designed to serve primarily Mexico’s domestic market, with 90% of production intended for domestic customers. It also expects the facility to support specialized employment and the development of semiconductor-related capabilities.

For Mexico, such projects could provide a path toward greater participation in the semiconductor value chain while complementing its existing role as a manufacturing and assembly base.

AI Growth Raises Infrastructure Requirements

The expansion of computer exports is also connected to another development: the growing demand for data centers and AI infrastructure in North America. Technology companies have increased investment in data center capacity in Mexico, particularly in the Bajio region. However, the expansion requires infrastructure beyond factories and assembly facilities, including electricity, specialized talent and industrial inputs.

Valeria Moy, Director, Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), says Mexico’s existing electricity network is already under pressure from current demand and that additional capacity will be required if the country is to capture the opportunity created by AI infrastructure.

The issue is particularly relevant because the same supply-chain reconfiguration that is increasing demand for Mexican manufacturing is also raising expectations for the country’s infrastructure. Data centers, semiconductor facilities and advanced manufacturing operations require reliable access to energy and specialized technical capabilities.

Mexico’s geographic position gives it an advantage as companies seek manufacturing platforms close to the US market. Taiwan’s interest in expanding investment in Mexico, including potential industrial development in Sonora, reflects the broader shift toward regionalized supply chains.

Computer assembly has also expanded across industrial centers including Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Reynosa, Zapopan, Apodaca, and Mexicali. The challenge for Mexico will be to translate the growth in exports into deeper domestic capabilities.