Nuevo Leon Leads Mexico’s IMMEX Export Growth

Summary: Nuevo Leon’s IMMEX exports surpassed US$17 billion in the first five months of 2026, underscoring the state’s position as a key manufacturing and export hub as Mexico’s manufacturing exports exceeded US$355 billion in 1H2026. The expansion is increasing the importance of customs compliance, supply-chain traceability and regulatory preparedness, particularly as manufacturers navigate the USMCA review while Mexico’s computer equipment exports surge on rising AI infrastructure demand. 

Nuevo Leon recorded more than US$17 billion in exports under Mexico’s IMMEX program during the first five months of 2026, an 8.9% increase from the same period a year earlier. The state accounted for 16% of Mexico’s total IMMEX exports, reinforcing its role as a manufacturing and export hub.

The figures come as Mexico’s manufacturing sector continues to expand its contribution to international trade. During 1H2026, manufacturing exports exceeded US$355 billion, up 25.8% from the same period in 2025 and representing 91.3% of Mexico’s total exports.

For companies operating within Mexico’s export manufacturing ecosystem, however, maintaining this growth will depend not only on production capacity but also on operational certainty and compliance with evolving trade rules. 

Compliance Becomes a Competitiveness Factor

As export activity expands, manufacturers are facing greater requirements for documentation, traceability and regulatory compliance. Zelina Fernández, Director General of Index Nuevo Leon, said companies need to treat compliance as a factor that supports competitiveness and operational continuity rather than simply as a legal requirement.

The changing environment includes the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), new commercial conditions, increased government oversight and additional customs requirements. These developments are creating pressure on manufacturers to anticipate regulatory changes and strengthen internal controls.

“Companies cannot react when the change has already occurred; we have to anticipate it,” Fernández said.

The need for stronger controls is also linked to the diversification of Mexico’s manufacturing exports. During 1H2026, nonautomotive manufacturing exports increased 37.6%, according to the information presented by Index Nuevo Leon.

This growth is expanding the range of products and supply chains operating under Mexico’s export manufacturing framework. As a result, companies increasingly need systems capable of documenting the movement and origin of materials throughout their operations. 

Traceability Gains Importance for Export Manufacturers

The increase in manufacturing activity is placing greater emphasis on companies’ ability to demonstrate compliance across their supply chains. Luis Morales, Director of the Foreign Trade Committee at Index Nuevo Leon, said traditional approaches to importing and manufacturing are no longer sufficient for the current operating environment.

Companies must be able to demonstrate and document individual transactions while maintaining traceability throughout the process. This includes establishing the origin of goods, applying the correct tariff classification, demonstrating the materiality of transactions and maintaining consistent documentation for government authorities.

For manufacturers, these requirements have implications beyond customs procedures. Accurate records can affect the continuity of IMMEX operations, the ability to respond to audits and the management of cross-border supply chains.

Index Nuevo Leon will address these issues during the IMMEX Forum 2026: The Future of Compliance in Export Manufacturing in Mexico, scheduled for Aug. 25 at Club Industrial in Monterrey.

The event will bring together representatives from government and industry to examine regulatory developments affecting Mexico’s export manufacturing sector. 

USMCA Review and AI to Shape IMMEX Agenda

The forum’s agenda will focus on several areas that are becoming relevant to manufacturers operating in Mexico, including modernization of the IMMEX program, new customs criteria and the practical application of artificial intelligence in fiscal and financial management.

Participants will also examine operational traceability, strategies related to Section 232, commercial scenarios ahead of the USMCA review, and changes at the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), particularly regarding trade facilitation and digital security.

The event will include government officials and industry representatives, including Betsabé Rocha, Minister of Economy of Nuevo Leon; Ximena Escobedo, Federal Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce; Javier Ortiz, Director of Index’s National Foreign Trade Committee; and Estefanía Capdevielle, representing ANAM.

The focus on digital tools comes as Mexico’s export manufacturing base is also undergoing a shift toward technology-related production. 

AI Infrastructure Expands Mexico’s Export Base

Mexico’s manufacturing growth increasingly includes computer equipment linked to the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Computer-related exports reached US$82.9 billion during the first half of 2026, a 172% increase from the same period in 2025, according to S&P Global.

The category surpassed automobiles and auto parts, which generated US$74.8 billion in exports during the first six months of the year. The shift reflects growing demand for computing equipment as US investment in AI infrastructure expands, reported MBN. 

The United States represented 93.9% of Mexico’s computer equipment exports, highlighting the role of geographic proximity and the USMCA framework in the sector.

Taiwanese companies are also contributing to this development by using Mexico as a manufacturing and assembly platform for products destined for the US market. Taiwan remains a major producer of advanced chips and semiconductor components used by technology companies, while Mexico provides manufacturing and assembly capabilities closer to the final market.

This model allows components manufactured in Asia to be incorporated into servers and other computing platforms in Mexico before being exported to the United States. 

Mexico’s Role in North American Supply Chains

The expansion of computer equipment exports illustrates how Mexico’s manufacturing base is evolving beyond its traditional dependence on automotive production. While automotive remains a major component of the country’s export economy, AI-related demand is creating additional opportunities for manufacturers, logistics providers and suppliers.

However, the expansion also highlights the importance of understanding where value is created within these supply chains. Mexico can capture manufacturing activity, employment and export flows while much of the semiconductor design, intellectual property and technological integration remains concentrated in Asia.

For Nuevo Leon and other manufacturing centers, the combination of export growth, changing trade rules and technology-driven demand is increasing the importance of operational controls. As companies prepare for the USMCA review and evolving customs requirements, compliance and traceability are becoming central elements of Mexico’s competitiveness as a manufacturing platform.