Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Coahuila Lead Industrial Development

Mexico’s industrial development remains concentrated in a handful of northern states, led by Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua and Coahuila, according to the Industrial Development Index (IDI) 2025, underscoring persistent regional disparities even as pockets of growth emerge nationwide. The study finds that these three states continue to outperform the rest of the country due to strong infrastructure, logistics capacity, a skilled labor force and close integration with regional and international supply chains. Together, these advantages have allowed them to consolidate their position as Mexico’s most robust industrial hubs.

Baja California, the State of Mexico and Jalisco complete the group classified as having a high level of industrial development. Their performance is supported by economic dynamism, a solid manufacturing base and connectivity to key domestic and export markets.

The IDI, backed by industrial real estate developer Finsa, shows that leading states are not only preserving their competitive advantages but also expanding them. By contrast, states with intermediate levels of industrial development are advancing more gradually and continue to face structural gaps that limit their ability to catch up.

These gaps are most evident in infrastructure quality, sustainability, security, human capital and technological adaptability. As a result, opportunities linked to nearshoring, manufacturing expansion and technological transformation are being captured unevenly across regions, the report says.

While Mexico retains a strategic position in the global industrial landscape, the study stresses that the ability to capitalize on these trends increasingly depends on local preparedness and each state’s capacity to create attractive conditions for long-term investment.

The findings highlight that Mexico’s challenge extends beyond attracting new industrial projects. According to the report, the country must also promote more balanced development to broaden its productive base, strengthen regional capabilities and narrow long-standing gaps between states.

Under the IDI 2025, states classified as having a high level of industrial development are Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Baja California, the State of Mexico and Jalisco. Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Queretaro, Mexico City, Sonora, San Luis Potosi and Aguascalientes fall into the medium-high category, while Puebla, Veracruz and Sinaloa are rated medium-low. All remaining states are classified as having low industrial development.

Since 2023, Finsa has published the Industrial Development Index annually as a comprehensive tool to assess the evolution, readiness and industrial potential of each state. The index has become a key reference for identifying investment opportunities and measuring alignment with Plan México, particularly in terms of nearshoring and the strengthening of regional supply chains.

The IDI is built around five strategic dimensions and analyzes 30 variables drawn from public institutional sources, evaluating both current conditions and future prospects in a global environment increasingly shaped by the need for resilience, geographic proximity and logistics security.

Manufacturing, Construction Spur Regional Industrial Growth

While the Industrial Development Index highlights long-term structural differences among Mexico’s states, short-term industrial performance data offer a more dynamic view of how these disparities play out in real time. Recent figures from INEGI show that, despite national-level pressure, manufacturing and construction are generating localized rebounds across several regions, reinforcing the role of sector-specific momentum in shaping Mexico’s industrial landscape.

Recent industrial activity data suggest that, despite these structural differences, several regions are showing notable short-term momentum. According to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federal Entity released by INEGI, Mexico’s industrial activity posted uneven but resilient regional performance in September 2025, even as national figures remained under pressure, reported MBN. 

On a month-over-month basis, Nayarit led industrial growth with a 5.0% increase, followed by Tabasco at 4.3% and Guanajuato at 3.6%, underscoring the impact of localized investment and sector-specific projects. Nuevo Leon and Jalisco also ranked among the strongest performers, with gains of 2.6% and 2.1%, respectively, reinforcing their strategic role within national supply chains tied to manufacturing, logistics and exports.

Monthly data also reveals a fragmented industrial landscape, as several states recorded sharp declines, reflecting divergent growth cycles and varying exposure to key sectors.

Year-over-year figures point to stronger performance in northern Mexico and the Bajio region. Tamaulipas posted the largest annual increase at 12.2%, followed by Aguascalientes at 5.5% and San Luis Potosi at 5.0%. Additional gains in Baja California Sur and Jalisco highlight sustained opportunities for companies seeking installed capacity, supplier ecosystems and export platforms.

Manufacturing emerged as a key driver of localized surges, with notable advances in Tabasco, Chiapas, Aguascalientes, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí. Tabasco stood out with a 116.5% annual jump, reflecting the impact of specific industrial and energy-related projects.

Construction activity also supported industrial momentum. Guerrero led annual growth with a 17.0% increase, followed by Guanajuato, Jalisco and Nuevo Leon. These trends point to heightened demand for infrastructure, industrial parks and development projects linked to industrial expansion.

Despite a 2.3% annual contraction in the national industrial index in September, state-level data confirm that Mexico continues to host multiple industrial growth pockets spanning manufacturing, construction, infrastructure and energy. Looking ahead to 2026, the challenge for companies and industrial clusters will be to convert these regional rebounds into sustained productivity gains, new investment and deeper integration of local supply chains.

Nuevo Leon stands out as a clear example. According to data from INEGI and the Mexican Social Security Institute, the state ranked first nationally in industrial growth and formal job creation, accounting for nearly 90% of the overall increase in manufacturing activity during the first half of 2025.