Mexico took in a record US $40.8 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025

Mexico attracted a record US $40.87 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, a 10.8% year-on-year increase, the Economy Ministry (SE) reported on Wednesday.

In a press release, the SE said the growth — based on originally published figures — reflects a growth trend for the fifth consecutive year.

“Mexico is positioning itself as a strategic destination for global productive capital, in an environment in which FDI flows to developing economies showed a 2% drop in 2025,” it said.

The data indicates the United States remained Mexico’s principal investment partner, generating FDI flows of US $15.88 billion, 38.8% of the total.

Spain ranked second at US $4.4 billion (10.8%) with Canada (US $3.3 billion, 8.1% ), the Netherlands (US $2.4 billion, or 5.8%) and Japan (US $2.3 billion, or 5.6%) filling out the rest of the top 5.

The SE reported that reinvestment of profits registered the largest share of FDI flows entering Mexico in 2025 — nearly 68% — followed by new investments (18%), and intercompany accounts (14.3%).

New investments grew nearly 133%, to US $7.38 billion in 2025, providing the biggest bounce to the total FDI flow.

The SE described the performance of new investments last year  as “entailing a greater capacity for Mexico to attract new capital that can promote the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and productivity growth in the national industry.”

The reinvestment of profits contracted slightly, falling 3.7% from US $28.7 billion to US $27.6 billion, which the SE attributed to a greater distribution of dividends.  

As for intercompany accounts, they registered annualized growth of 17%, rising from US $4.99 billion in 2024 to US $5.8 billion in 2025. The SE said this is associated with the dynamics of capital reorganization in corporate groups.

Intercompany accounts are transactions originating from debts between Mexican companies that hold FDI in their share capital and associated companies abroad.

Once again, Mexico City was the top destination for FDI in 2025, receiving US $22.38 billion, roughly 55% of the total. This represented a 55% increase over 2024.

Second place went to Nuevo León, which received US $3.63 billion, or 8.9% of the total and a nearly 73% increase compared to last year.

México state ranked third, receiving US $3.28 billion, or 8%, a 24% year-on-year improvement. 

With reports from El Economista, El Financiero, La Jornada and El País 

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
A youtube video thumbnail reads "confidently wrong about inflation" with an image of mexican pesos and the podcast hosts

For the first time, Mexico’s inflation is now lower than in the US: A ‘Confidently Wrong’ podcast

0
In a new podcast episode, Travis and George break down the historic shift as Mexico's inflation falls below that of the US, and what it means for the peso and interest rates.
A container ship in the Pacific port of Manzanillo, Colima.

Mexico in Numbers: How Mexico overtook Canada, Japan and China as top exporter to the US

5
This week's installment of Mexico in Numbers tracks how Mexico overtook Canada, Japan and China over three decades to become the top exporter to the US, reshaping North American trade.
Chipotle meal

Is Chipotle opening in Mexico a good or bad thing for the country? An MND debate

16
MND's Travis Bembenek and María Meléndez debate whether Chipotle's grand opening in Monterrey tomorrow is a game-changer or a game-ender. What do you think?
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity