North America's Manufacturing Moment: Why Mexico Is the Next Decade’s Game-Changer

Prodensa executives, including CEO Emilio Cadena, recently joined a panel at the Global Investors' Symposium hosted by the Milken Institute. The discussion focused on why the next decade represents a historic opportunity for Mexico. In this blog, we share key insights and implications gathered during the panel—especially for foreign investors, manufacturing leaders, and companies exploring nearshoring or doing business in Mexico.

A 10% Shift That Could Double North America's Manufacturing Power

One of the most powerful insights shared by Emilio Cadena was the comparison between manufacturing footprints in China and North America. While China is home to nearly 6 million manufacturing establishments, the combined total of Mexico, the United States, and Canada is only 600,000.

What does this mean? Capturing just 10% of China's manufacturing activity would double North America's industrial capacity. This is not just a trend—it’s a once-in-a-generation shift in the global supply chain. With an average facility age of just 27 years (compared to 54 in the U.S.), manufacturing in Mexico is more modern and more automation-ready than ever.

“The single greatest opportunity to deploy capital in Mexico is in manufacturing. This is the biggest individual opportunity in Mexico’s history.” — Emilio Cadena, CEO of Prodensa

Why Local Capital Must Lead the Way

A major challenge identified during the panel was the disproportionate reliance on foreign investment. In Brazil, domestic investors are often first movers. In Mexico, U.S. capital still dominates.

The consensus: it’s difficult to sell Mexico to foreign investors if local capital is not leading the way.

Infrastructure: The Circulatory System of Nearshoring

Any conversation about shelter services in Mexico or turnkey operations must also involve logistics and infrastructure. Currently, Mexico has 109 km of highway per 100,000 people compared to 189 in Argentina and 230 in Uruguay. To fully unlock nearshoring potential, Mexico needs to invest not only in factories, but in ports, roads, and energy infrastructure.

Public-private partnerships, government development banks (like Bancomext), and guarantee instruments are key to de-risking large-scale projects.

Strengthening the Supply Chain with Smart Financing

Mexico exports over $220 billion USD to the U.S., but less than 20% of those exports are properly financed. Access to working capital is the biggest barrier for local suppliers trying to serve OEMs like Ford or Honeywell.

Emerging technologies such as fintech and AI underwriting can: 

“It’s not about who manufactures faster, but who finances smarter.” — Mario Antunez, Equity Link

The "Mexico Plan" and Strategic Reindustrialization

The Mexican government is advancing the Plan Mexico, an industrial policy designed to align public financing with strategic sectors. This means greater access to credit, more co-investment from commercial banks, and more support for transformational projects.

If you're planning on doing business in Mexico, this is a unique opportunity to align with sectors prioritized by the state—from pharmaceuticals to green energy to semiconductors.

Human Talent: Mexico's Competitive Edge

Despite the rise of automation, the most in-demand skills remain human: resilience, execution, and critical thinking. Still, technological literacy and AI skills are rapidly becoming essential.

Mexico has:

• A younger, more productive workforce than many global competitors

• A demographic advantage

• A fast-growing culture of corporate upskilling

The responsibility for preparing talent is now falling on companies. For firms investing in manufacturing in Mexico, training and talent development should be treated as core strategic investments.

• Nearshoring isn’t hype: It’s a seismic shift in global production. Mexico stands to benefit massively.

• The next decade is now: Acting fast is crucial to gain early-mover advantages.

• Infrastructure is strategic: Not just factories, but full ecosystems of logistics and connectivity.

• Capital matters: Both foreign and local financing need to scale.

• Workforce is your differentiator: Invest in skills as much as machines.

• Regional mindset: Think North America, not just Mexico, to align with evolving supply chains.