Coming into Mexico, or moving product out of it
For more than twenty years, Rutanamex has done due diligence for companies coming into Mexico and for companies moving product out of it, most of it in manufacturing. It started on the plant floor: before Mexico, J Rutan Flores spent years inside factories across Northern California as a field representative for an industrial equipment maker. Building in Mexico was the side line. Write to us in English or Spanish and we answer the same day.
First step: write to us. We reply in writing, and every number we give you carries its source and its date.
Each figure moves on its own calendar: the peso every banking day, the rest monthly or at each decision. Each tile shows its period, the figure before it and when the next one is due. Banxico is Mexico’s central bank, INEGI its statistics office, IMSS its social security institute.
The questions a company asks before it commits
Me and my team work on the decision in front of you: whether to come, where, by which route, at what cost, and what the rules will ask of you on the way in and on the way out. We tell you what we know and what we do not, and we name the source of every figure.
Where to locate
Which state, which industrial park, and what the region really offers in people, power, water and roads.
Open the room →Which route in
Contract manufacturer, shelter, IMMEX or a company of your own: what each one costs and what you end up owning.
Open the room →The landed cost
What a part or a product really costs in Mexico against where you make it today, including the costs people forget.
Open the room →People and wages
What the labour market looks like in the place you are weighing, and what the law asks of an employer.
Open the room →Customs and origin
Tariff lines, NOMs, permits and USMCA rules of origin, read from the official texts with their dates.
Open the room →Selling into Mexico
Who buys, how they pay, and whether a distributor, an agent or your own team should carry the stock.
Open the room →Moving product out
Exporting from Mexico to the USA and beyond: the paperwork, proving origin, and the border.
Open the room →Checking a partner
Who you are about to sign with, checked against the public record before money moves.
Open the room →Five steps
- Write to us: who you are, what you want to know, and the decision in front of you.You give: your company, your product and the decision in front of you.
- We sign a confidentiality agreement (NDA), yours or ours, and you send us your paperwork. Looking at it costs you nothing.You get: confidentiality in writing, and a look at your paperwork at no charge.
- From what you have told us and shown us, we quote in writing what we need to review, the fee and the timeline. You send the fee.You get: a written quote before any money changes hands.
- We assess your case: the documents, the sources, and an intake call only if it is needed, recorded with notice.You get: every figure checked against its source, with its date.
- You receive our assessment in writing, dated, with every figure sourced, and we walk you through it on a call.You get: a document you keep, share with your board and act on.
Every engagement begins the same way. First we understand what you want; then we sign an NDA and you share your information. We do not charge to look at your paperwork. From what you tell us and show us, we quote in writing exactly what we need to review, and nothing starts until you accept it.
We give no opinion until we have read your case. Filings with customs and tax authorities stay with your licensed customs broker, accountant or lawyer; we work beside them.
United States and Mexico, goods and services, 2025
The United States buys 190.2 billion dollars more from Mexico than it sells to it.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, USA International Transactions factsheet, 2025 annual figures. The total and the difference are our arithmetic.
Thirty-two economies in one country
Each state in the colour of its region, one of Mexico’s eight economic regions. Click any state to open its own page: its numbers, its places and what a company coming in should know.
Interactive maptap or click a state to open its page
Largest shares of national output, 2024
- Mexico City15.0%
- State of Mexico9.1%
- Nuevo León8.1%
- Jalisco7.6%
- Guanajuato4.5%
- Veracruz4.3%
Largest exporters, 2025
- ChihuahuaUSD 109.6 bn
- CoahuilaUSD 67.5 bn
- Nuevo LeónUSD 58.7 bn
- Baja CaliforniaUSD 56.5 bn
- JaliscoUSD 52.7 bn
- TamaulipasUSD 36.8 bn
Sources: INEGI, Producto Interno Bruto por Entidad Federativa 2024 (5 December 2025), shares our arithmetic; INEGI, Exportaciones por Entidad Federativa, the four quarters of 2025 summed, preliminary. Regions: our grouping of the 31 states and Mexico City into eight. Map: Natural Earth, simplified.
Three neighbours, three ages
Mexico is young: 47% of its people are under 29, against 35% in the United States and 32% in Canada. The workforce of the next three decades is already born.
Mexico, 2025
132.5 million people · median age 30.8 · under 15: 23.9% · 65 and over: 8.7%
See Mexico in detail →
United States, 2025
348.2 million people · median age 39.6 · under 15: 17.0% · 65 and over: 18.6%
See United States in detail →
Canada, 2025
40.3 million people · median age 41.7 · under 15: 14.9% · 65 and over: 20.5%
See Canada in detail →
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024), World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition: estimates and medium-variant projection for 2025, people by single year of age and sex (the top bar is everyone aged 100 and over). All three pyramids are on the same scale, each age as a share of its own country’s people. Generations as of 2025. Counts in millions are our sums of the UN figures. INEGI’s own count for 2025 (Encuesta Intercensal 2025, 22 September 2026) is 130.9 million, of whom 130.4 million live in private dwellings, against the UN’s 132.5 million.
What comes next, and what changed
The figures we use in our own work, kept here for anyone to read and reuse with credit: the peso, prices, jobs, the official calendar, all 31 states and Mexico City, and the people. They do not depend on the consulting.
What changed
- 22 OctDataEmployment survey (ENOE), September: unemployment 2.8% (published)INEGI
- 22 OctDataConsumer prices (INPC), first half of October (published: 3.62% annual)INEGI
- 9 OctDataFormal jobs (IMSS), September: 22,927,276 (published)IMSS
- 2 NovRuleEmergency quality standard for cement, imports includedAffects: Building, electrical and lighting
Week of 2 Nov
- 3 NovDataRemittance inflows, September (expected date: Banxico publishes on the first banking day)Banxico
- 3 NovRuleIn force: Emergency quality standard for cement, imports includedAffects: Building, electrical and lighting
- 4 NovShow44th National Oncology Congress (SMEO)Guadalajara · Dental and medical
- 4 NovShowExpo AMIC DentalMexico City · Dental and medical
- 4 NovShowExpo Wiretech LeónLeón · Manufacturing and machinery
- 5 NovDataMonetary policy decision, 13:00 (date via BBVA Research)Banxico
- 5 NovShowWINES Experience MexicoMexico City · Food and beverage
- 7 NovShowEUROPOSGRADOS MEXICOMexico City · Education
No dates posted yet
Week of 9 Nov
- 9 NovDataConsumer prices (INPC), October and second half of OctoberINEGI
- 9 NovShowCongreso Internacional Minero Sonora 2026 (Congreso Minero)Hermosillo · Mining, oil and gas
- 10 NovShowEUROPOSGRADOS GUADALAJARAGuadalajara · Education
- 10 NovShowExpo AgroAlimentaria GuanajuatoIrapuato · Agriculture and livestock
- 10 NovShowITB Americas 2026 (inaugural)Guadalajara · Tourism and travel
- 10 NovShowPlastimagen MexicoMexico City · Manufacturing and machinery
- 11 NovShowExpo Eléctrica y Solar Norte 2026Monterrey · Building, electrical and lighting
- 11 NovShowExpo Franquicias Monterrey 2026Monterrey · Franchising and retail
- 12 NovShowExpo Todo Piel y CalzadoMonterrey · Textiles, leather and footwear
- 14 NovShowMexico Motor Show 2026Querétaro · Auto parts
No dates posted yet
Week of 16 Nov
- 17 NovShowExitep 2026 (Exhibición Interamericana de Tecnologías Petroleras)Monterrey · Mining, oil and gas
- 17 NovShowMIP CANCÚNCancún · Software, digital and books
- 18 NovShowExpo Reciclables GuadalajaraGuadalajara · Water, waste and recycling
- 18 NovShowITM Industrial Transformation Mexico 2026Guadalajara · Manufacturing and machinery
- 18 NovShowSmart Technology Expo 2026Guadalajara · Software, digital and books
- 19 NovDataTimely indicator of economic activity (IOAE), OctoberINEGI
- 19 NovShowAIAG Mexico Automotive Forum 2026Monterrey · Auto parts
- 19 NovShowExpo Moto MexicoMexico City · Auto parts
- 19 NovShowWellness & Fitness LATAMMexico City · Sports, outdoor and cycling
No dates posted yet
Week of 23 Nov
- 23 NovDataGDP, third quarter 2026 (revised), and IGAE, SeptemberINEGI
- 23 NovShowConvencion Anual y Expo ANEAS 2026 (XXXVIII)Querétaro · Water, waste and recycling
- 24 NovDataConsumer prices (INPC), first half of NovemberINEGI
- 24 NovShowSurface Finishing Mexico 2026Querétaro · Manufacturing and machinery
- 25 NovDataEmployment survey (ENOE), third quarter 2026INEGI
- 26 NovDataEmployment survey (ENOE), OctoberINEGI
- 26 NovDataQuarterly inflation report (Informe Trimestral), July-September (date via BBVA Research)Banxico
- 27 NovDataMerchandise trade balance, timely figure, OctoberINEGI
- 27 NovShowExpo Monedas y Coleccionables (Monterrey)Monterrey · Toys, hobby and collectibles
- Nov, day not setDataIMSS formal jobs, OctoberIMSS
- 28 NovShowFIL Guadalajara (40th Feria Internacional del Libro)Guadalajara · Software, digital and books
- 29 NovShowExpo Cosmetología y Estética, Bazar Navideño (edición 44)Mexico City · Beauty and personal care
No dates posted yet
Week of 30 Nov
No dates posted yet
Week of 7 Dec
No dates posted yet
Week of 14 Dec
No dates posted yet
Week of 21 Dec
No dates posted yet
Every date, as a list
Official releases coming up
- 5 Nov 2026Monetary policy decision, 13:00 (date via BBVA Research) · Banxico
- 9 Nov 2026Consumer prices (INPC), October and second half of October · INEGI
- 19 Nov 2026Timely indicator of economic activity (IOAE), October · INEGI
- 23 Nov 2026GDP, third quarter 2026 (revised), and IGAE, September · INEGI
- 24 Nov 2026Consumer prices (INPC), first half of November · INEGI
- 25 Nov 2026Employment survey (ENOE), third quarter 2026 · INEGI
- 26 Nov 2026Employment survey (ENOE), October · INEGI
- 26 Nov 2026Quarterly inflation report (Informe Trimestral), July-September (date via BBVA Research) · Banxico
- 27 Nov 2026Merchandise trade balance, timely figure, October · INEGI
- Early Nov 2026IMSS formal jobs, October · IMSS
Dates from INEGI’s and Banco de México’s own bulletins and calendars, except where a line says the date is expected or comes from BBVA Research’s 2026 agenda. The calendar as CSV.
The latest changes to the rules
- 2 Nov 2026Emergency quality standard for cement, imports included · in force 3 Nov 2026 · Diario Oficial de la Federación, official standards index (Secretaría de Economía)
- 23 Oct 2026Customs law reformed again: undervalued goods and fuels · in force 1 Jan 2027 · Diario Oficial de la Federación, via SIDOF (Secretaría de Gobernación), evening edition
- 13 Oct 2026Car-assembly parts exempted from the 10 percent import duty · in force 14 Oct 2026 · Diario Oficial de la Federación, via SIDOF (Secretaría de Gobernación)
Every change to the rules, with both dates
Trade shows in the next ninety days
- 4 Nov 202644th National Oncology Congress (SMEO) · Guadalajara · Dental and medical
- 4 Nov 2026Expo AMIC Dental · Mexico City · Dental and medical
- 4 Nov 2026Expo Wiretech León · León · Manufacturing and machinery
- 5 Nov 2026WINES Experience Mexico · Mexico City · Food and beverage
- 7 Nov 2026EUROPOSGRADOS MEXICO · Mexico City · Education
Checked 3 Nov 2026.
Everything on the hub
Mexico in data
Ten charts on output, trade, wages, growth, the middle class and investment, each with its source.
Mexico by state
All 31 states and Mexico City: people, output, exports, informal work, area and capital.
The people
Canada, the United States and Mexico by age and generation, on one scale.
Rules at the border
Fifteen product gates: the rule, its official title and date, and who must hold it.
Expo calendar
Mexico’s trade shows by industry for the next ninety days, each date checked.
What’s changing
Every change to a tariff or a standard, with the date published and the date in force.
Mexico’s stock market and its FIBRAs
The IPC
The S&P/BMV IPC is the Mexican Stock Exchange's benchmark index: about 35 of the largest, most liquid BMV-listed stocks, weighted by modified market capitalisation and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices under its 2014 agreement with BMV.
FIBRAs: Mexico’s REITs
A FIBRA (Fideicomiso de Infraestructura y Bienes Raíces) is Mexico's equivalent of a REIT: a trust listed on the stock exchange that owns income-producing property and passes most of its taxable income to holders, created by 2004 amendments to the Income Tax Law (LISR, articles 223 and 224 at the time). The first, Fibra Uno (FUNO11), listed on the BMV on 18 March 2011.
Index levels and share prices belong to the exchange and to S&P Dow Jones Indices, which license them, so we point to them rather than copy them: Bolsa Mexicana de Valores · S&P/BMV IPC.
The largest FIBRAs and what they own
- FUNO11 Fibra Uno · Diversified
- FIBRAPL14 Fibra Prologis · Industrial / logistics
- NEXT25 Fibra Next · Industrial / logistics
- FIBRAMQ12 Fibra Macquarie México · Industrial (plus some retail)
- DANHOS13 Fibra Danhos · Retail and office (premium malls)
- FMTY14 Fibra MTY · Industrial (with office)
- FNOVA17 Fibra Nova · Industrial
- FIHO12 Fibra Hotelera (FibraHotel) · Hotels
- FINN13 Fibra Inn · Hotels
- FSHOP13 Fibra Shop · Retail
- EDUCA18 Fibra Educa · Education (specialised)
Checked 3 Nov 2026.
Frequently asked
What does it cost?
Nothing to read. Consulting is quoted in writing, after we have looked at your paperwork at no charge.
Where do the figures come from?
From the bodies that publish them: INEGI, Banco de México, the Diario Oficial, the U.S. Census Bureau, the BEA and others. Each carries its source and date.
How often does it change?
Whenever something moves. Every entry and every page carries the date it was checked.
Who is behind it?
J Rutan Flores and his team, doing due diligence on Mexico for more than twenty years.
Do you sell anything?
Consulting, for companies that need a written answer to their own case. The books are sold by Connected Continents Press.
How do I reach you?
Through the contact page or info@rutanamex.com, in English or Spanish. We answer the same day.