Ciudad Juarez, Mexico is home to a diverse range of Mexican industries
Whatever your company produces – from cutting-edge consumer electronics, to green automotive parts, to reliable aircraft componets – Ciudad Juárez, Mexico provides a unique haven for diversity in Mexican industries and manufacturing.
The city is not only known for the wide range of products that it churns out, but also for the diverse compositon of its Mexico manufacturing base. Ciudad Juarez and its cross border neighbor, El Paso, is home to 70 facilities that are owned and operated by Fortune 500 companies, as well provides a base of operations for 3000 small and medium sized firms.
As North America’s leading industrial hub for nearly half a century, the El Paso/ Juárez area represents a regional supply base of over $8 billion in purchases of raw materials and other commodities, and is the second most active NAFTA port of entry for all North American commerce. In 2007–2008, Ciudad Juárez was even dubbed the “City of the Future” by the Foreign Direct Investment Magazine. Surprisingly, the “Great Recession” of 2008 didn’t halt the progress occurring in this center of Mexican industries. Ciudad Juarez rebounded well and experienced 9% growth – 23,000 new manufacturing jobs – during 2011-2012, according to statistics from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).
The automotive and electrical products sectors are currently the largest Mexico manufacturing industries served by Juárez production plants. This portion of the industrial base is represented by major companies like automotive components giant, Bosch; multi-national, electronics contract-manufacturing companies like, Foxconn; a technology firm, Flextronics; a global electrical engineering powerhouse, Siemens; an automotive electrical components supplier, Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems; an independent automotive component maker, and Yazaki; a large manufacturer of wire harnesses. Delphi Automotive, Valeo, Visteon, Vishay, Lear Corporation, Bombardier, Honeywell, Scientific Altanta and General Electric have a significant Mexico manufacturing presence in Ciudad Juarez, as well.
While many of North America’s finest electronics and automotive producers have taken advantage of the economic advantages that Ciudad Juárez has to offer in terms of cost and proximity to the U.S., these two Mexican industries are certainly not the only ones that are flourishing in this market. Boeing and other aerospace-industry leaders now call Ciudad Juárez home for a portion of their foreign manufacturing operations. Additionally, the medical device industry is thriving in the region. A 2009 study commissioned by the El Paso Regional Economic Development Corporation revealed that approximately 70% of the nearly 300 FDA-registered medical devices produced in the region were manufactured in Ciudad Juárez. Other companies from additional industries that have also carved out a space for themselves in this Mexico manufacturing oasis include: international telecommunications group, Lintel; the toner manufacturer, Lexmark International; and various appliance and consumer product companies like Electrolux, the world’s largest producer of appliances and equipment for kitchen, cleaning, and outdoor use.
There are many reasons such a diverse range of industries and companies have established themselves and thrived in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Key among them is the fact that there are four international ports of entry connecting the city with El Paso, Texas. Ciudad Juarez also boasts the highest literacy rate in the entire country with over 100,000 local citizens enrolled in institutions of higher education. A contributing factor to the ingredients that can ensure Mexico manufacturing success in Ciudad Juarez are shelter such as those offered by the Tecma Group of Companies. Tecma provides services that facilitate the establishment ongoing operation of low-cost, nearshore manufacturing facilities for US and global companies. Tecma’s Mexico Shelter Manufacturing Partnership (MSMP) eliminates non-manufacturing distractions – allowing companies to place their full attention on their primary Mexico manufacturing mission.