Nuevo León’s export-manufacturing sector recorded more than US$20 billion in exports during the first quarter of 2026, according to figures presented by Index Nuevo León. The state’s 901 IMMEX companies account for 427,313 jobs, El Horizonte reported after the group’s press conference.
The second piece of the story is local content. Milenio reports that export manufacturers affiliated with Index have reached up to 10% local-supplier integration through an import-substitution program, largely replacing Asian inputs in electronics, electrical equipment, plastics, profiling and automotive-related manufacturing.
Why it matters
For Monterrey operators, this is the less flashy side of nearshoring: not only more export volume, but more of the bill of materials being sourced closer to the plant. The figures also show the scale of the base that can absorb that work — hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state’s IMMEX network.
Index Nuevo León said the program generated more than Ps. 358 million in purchases from local small and midsize businesses by the end of 2025 and trained 1,300 companies. Those are program results, not a guarantee that every supplier is ready for a new contract.
The other side
Felipe Villarreal, president of Index Nuevo León, said a T-MEC review or future tariffs could create operational disruptions, higher costs and production delays. He also argued that Nuevo León’s location and existing cross-border base mean investment has not stopped.
What to watch
The 51st National Index Convention will take place in Monterrey from Oct. 28 to 30. The useful follow-up is whether the current 10% local-integration progress expands into more contracts for Nuevo León suppliers before the trade rules become clearer.
- Where: Nuevo León, with the national Index convention in Monterrey
- Who: Index Nuevo León and export manufacturers
- When: Q1 2026 data; convention on Oct. 28–30
- Numbers: US$20B+ in Q1 exports; 901 IMMEX firms; 427,313 jobs; up to 10% local integration
- Sources: El Horizonte and Milenio