Textile Manufacturing: Why Mexico Is a Prime Location For Your Textile Production Company
Revitalized by innovation, rising demand, and the USMCA free trade agreement's ratification, Mexico's textile manufacturing industry is surging.
Mexico’s Quality Textile Manufacturing Industry is Tailored for Business Success
Textile manufacturing in Mexico has been a well-established industry for centuries and has a rich history dating back to the country’s first textile factory in Puebla in 1830. The early textile factories were the start of successful yarn, fabric, and other textile industries in the country. As competencies in textile manufacturing have evolved throughout the century, the textile market has surged.
With annual textile exports of USD $7 billion per year, Mexico’s textile and apparel industry is now one of the country’s strongest industries.
Given the growth of the automotive, aerospace, and medical device industries in Mexico, demand for technical textiles, industrial fabrics, and specialty apparel has increased. Wage inflation in China and other Asian countries has also made Mexico a top alternative for textile production in recent years. Coupled with proximity to high-demand markets (the United States in particular accounts for over 70 percent of Mexico’s textile exports) and the ability to provide fast turnaround times, textile and apparel manufacturers based in Mexico can create quality products cost-effectively. A textile manufacturer based in Mexico has access to many industry benefits including low production costs, prime industrial locations, and large market opportunities.
With historical growth in the textile industry of 5 to 7 percent per year – which is expected to continue – manufacturers seeking a textile production haven for quality fabric, cotton, fiber, yarn, and other textiles have no further to look than Mexico. If you are ready to enter the textile industry in Mexico, we can help you get started with the production process today.
Mexico’s Textile Manufacturing Industry by the Numbers
639,000
workers are employed in Mexico’s textile manufacturing industry
As of 2020, Mexico's textile and apparel industry employs a remarkable 639,000 textile workers, from cotton farming and fiber production to fabric and finished apparel manufacturing.
3%
of Mexico’s GDP is accounted for by the textile and apparel sector
According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), Mexico’s textile industry accounts for approximately 3 percent of the country’s GDP.
$7 billion
in annual exports of textile and apparel
Mexico exports about USD $7 billion per year in textiles, yarns, and cotton fabrics to destinations around the globe. The United States is by far the country’s largest textile market importer, accounting for over 70 percent of Mexico’s textile exports.
Launch Your Company Confidently with Tetakawi’s Textile Advantage
Whether you’re thinking about manufacturing textiles in Mexico or you have already started your business, Tetakawi can help your company launch, operate, and thrive in the country’s competitive textile manufacturing industry. With over 34 years of experience in the Mexican manufacturing landscape, we’re experienced in getting textile manufacturers up and running smoothly. Our industry services are built on strategy, driven by experience, and tailored to meet your operation’s unique needs. Though we’re the largest shelter services provider in Mexico, our hands-on approach means that you can rely on a trusted partner to guide you through every step of the process of starting your textile business, while keeping things under your control. We offer several types of services and can help you:
- Select the right site for your textile factories and manufacturing business
- Configure legal, organizational, and support production structures
- Recruit, train, and retain your company employees
- Manage all admin functions from finance and accounting to labor and processing textiles through customs
- Keep processes running smoothly from initial launch through ongoing production
- and so much more – we do the heavy administrative lifting so that your textile team can focus on your competitive advantage: manufacturing quality textiles .
Start your textile manufacturing business seamlessly and enter the Mexico market with comprehensive support from Tetakawi.
Establish or expand your textile manufacturing business in Mexico with our tailored services. From in-depth consultations to turnkey manufacturing facilities, we can help your manufacturing company at any stage of the start-up process.
Focus on what you do best and we’ll do the rest – our shelter service offering is the easy, cost-effective, and low-risk way to establish a textile manufacturing presence in Mexico.
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Launch successfully with a streamlined team of experts dedicated to ensuring your entry strategy is executed on-time and on-budget.
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Run your textile operation seamlessly with turnkey manufacturing facilities that combine Class A industrial space, on-site support, and shelter services.
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From site selection and customs analysis to cost estimation, we’ll help you make decisions that are informed, strategic, and actionable.
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Top FAQs About Textile Production in Mexico
What are the top areas of growth for companies looking to manufacture textiles in Mexico?
There are several significant opportunities for manufacturers of textile and apparel products, particularly with fabric production. Some of the best prospects in Mexico's textile industry include manufacturing of:
- Rayon-based synthetic fibers and other artificial fibers
- Fabrics with textured polyester dyes
- Taffeta fabrics with discontinuous dyes made of polyester fibers
- Upholstery fabrics
- Industrial fabrics for the automotive and aerospace industries
- Silk and fine wool fabrics
The wide variety of fabrics and textiles made in Mexico is a large factor contributing to the growth of the textile industry and the number of market opportunities available. The growing opportunities in the textile industry drove several companies to move their production facilities to the Mexican market. Whether you want to stick with traditional processes like the cotton spinning mill and roller spinning frame or want the latest technology for your facilities, we can help you establish factories with mills and machines that will support your textile needs.
What impact has USMCA had on Mexico's textile manufacturing industry?
The introduction of USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) has only improved competitive opportunities for Mexico's textile and apparel industry. Under the agreement's "yarn-forward" rule of origin, for an apparel item or textile to qualify for duty-free treatment, each component must be formed within the free trade area. This includes the spinning of the yarn or thread, the weaving or knitting of the fabric, the fabric dyeing process, and final assembly. Given these requirements, Mexico has become an increasingly attractive option for its proximity, ease of entry with shelter services, and low cost of making textiles. By producing textiles in Mexico, your fabrics and yarns can qualify for duty-free custom processing.
Where should I locate my textile manufacturing operation in Mexico?
According to the Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 63% of Mexico’s textile industry is concentrated in the central and northeastern parts of the country, with hubs in Puebla, Mexico City, and the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Jalisco, Queretaro, Coahuila, Sonora, Guanajuato, Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi. Whether you need workers for spinning cotton and dyeing fabrics, resources for managing production facilities and controlling waste, or support for any other part of the textile process, these locations have the resources and labor necessary to produce textiles and run a successful textile operation. Each location is an ideal place to open your textile production factories and enter the growing industry.
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Start Your Mexico Strategy Today!
Talk to a Tetakawi expert to discover how your company can succeed in Mexico.