LatinNews Daily - 26 February 2025

*Mexico’s economy ministry (SE) has released data showing that the country received US$36.9bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024. This is a 2.3% increase from the previous year and the highest yearly FDI figure ever recorded. The US maintained its position as the largest investor in the country, accounting for 45% of total FDI inflows with a figure of US$16.5bn. Japan came in second with US$4.3bn (12%), followed by Germany (US$3.8bn, 10%), Canada (US$3.2bn, 9%) and the Netherlands (US$1.9bn, 5%). Together these five countries provided 81% of the total FDI in 2024. Of the total FDI, 54% went to the manufacturing sector, with most of the investment in this sector going to transportation equipment (50%), drinks and tobacco (20%), computer equipment (9%), chemicals (6%), and basic metals (4%). Other sectors to receive FDI were financial services (16% of total), transport (7%), temporary storage (7%), wholesale trade (6%) and mining (4%). As regards geographical distribution, Mexico City (CDMX) accounted for 39% of the total FDI amounting to US$14.4bn. Other states to attract large amounts of FDI were Estado de México (US$2.6bn, 7%), Baja California (US$2.5bn, 7%), Nuevo León (US$2.1bn, 6%), and Chihuahua (US$1.5bn, 4%). These five states alongside Guanajuato, Baja California Sur, Puebla, Jalisco, and Querétaro, together received 79% of the total FDI inflows.