The Wall Street Journal: US tech giants want AI-related hardware manufactured in Mexico

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April 2, 2024

Rows of seated workers at a Foxconn electronics factory in Shenzhen, China — A Foxconn electronics factory in Shenzhen, China. (Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons)

Major United States tech companies have asked their Taiwanese manufacturing partners to increase production of artificial intelligence-related hardware in Mexico, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Those firms — described as “some of the biggest U.S. companies in artificial intelligence” — are seeking to reduce their reliance on China, the Journal reported Sunday.

Foxconn sign manufacturing facility in Santa Teresa, Chihuahua. — A Foxconn manufacturing site in Santa Teresa, Chihuahua. (File photo)

It noted that as the production of AI-related hardware increases, “U.S. companies are looking to avoid repeating the history of the smartphone after it took off some 15 years ago” as “much of the core manufacturing of smartphones and their parts” — including by Taiwanese companies — “ended up in China.”

The newspaper also reported that Taipei-based electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn is already making AI servers in Mexico for U.S. tech giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nvidia. That information came from “people familiar with the operations,” but wasn’t confirmed by the U.S. companies, the Journal said.

Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, Quanta, Compal and Inventec — known in Taiwan as the “six brothers of electronics” — all have manufacturing facilities in northern Mexico.

Citing industry executives and analysts, the Journal said that Foxconn and other Taiwanese companies are “heeding the call” from U.S. companies to ramp up the production of AI-related hardware in Mexico.

It noted that Foxconn — which has plants in the northern cities of Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana — said in February that it spent around US $27 million to purchase land in Jalisco “in what people familiar with the plan described as a major expansion of the company’s AI server production.”

The Journal also noted that the company — the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer — has said that it has invested $690 million in Mexico over the past four years.

Mexico City father and daughter dressed in fan gear at a Cruz Azul soccer game — As smartphones became a part of daily life around the world, US tech giants found themselves caught depending on Chinese companies for the component parts. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)

In addition, Foxconn — also known as the Hon Hai Technology Group — and the government of Chihuahua announced last August that they had formed a “strategic partnership” aimed at “advancing talent training, fostering innovation technology, and promoting sustainable energy development in Mexico’s largest state.”

Foxconn, which makes electronic products for companies such as Apple, Sony and Nintendo, and some 300 other Taiwanese firms in Mexico, including a number of automotive suppliers, benefit from the USMCA free trade pact, which took effect in 2020, superseding NAFTA. As part of the growing nearshoring trend, companies from around the world are investing in Mexico to take advantage of USMCA, proximity to the U.S. and other factors.

The Journal noted that another Taiwanese company that is expanding in Mexico is Inventec, which makes AI servers and other high-tech products for major U.S. tech firms.

The newspaper highlighted that Inventec’s regional manager in Mexico, Arch Chen, told a conference in Taiwan in December that a leading American company involved in AI development chose to have its equipment produced in Mexico rather than the United States after inspecting facilities in Mexico and being impressed by their technology.

Meanwhile, major U.S. server manufacturers including Dell and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have asked their suppliers to shift some server and cloud computing production to Southeast Asia and Mexico, “reducing reliance on China,” the Journal said, citing “people familiar with the matter.”

The newspaper noted that it is becoming more difficult to manufacture high-tech equipment in China because the United States doesn’t allow the export to China of advanced chips for AI applications such as those designed by California-based Nvidia.

Taiwanese companies will contribute to major changes in Mexico’s industrial structure, says business leader

Francisco Cervantes, president of the influential Business Coordinating Council (CCE), said last year that the growing presence of Taiwanese firms in Mexico is part of a process that will “dramatically modify the industrial structure of Mexico in the next 10 years.”

An increase in the production of AI-related hardware will inevitably lead to the creation of more advanced manufacturing jobs in Mexico and could help spur innovation in other manufacturing sectors. The hardware used in AI applications, the Journal noted, “consists of powerful computers called servers, storage systems, cooling units, connectors and other equipment.”

“… They are designed to tackle the complex calculations needed in AI programs and often incorporate cutting-edge processing units,” or AI chips, the newspaper said.

Cervantes was part of a group of Mexican officials and businesspeople who met last June with a delegation of representatives from 20 Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers who traveled to Mexico to evaluate investment potential. Representatives from Foxconn and Inventec were part of the Taiwanese delegation that met with Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro, billionaire businessman Carlos Slim, the CCE chief and others.

Cuitláhuac García Jiménez, governor of Veracruz speaking at a podium — Last June, the Finance Ministry announced tax discounts and other benefits to foreign investors in the newly developing Isthmus of Tehuantepec Corridor. An event arranged by the ministry attracted both governors in the affected states and a delegation of 20 Taiwanese companies. (Governor Cuitláhuac García Jiménez/Twitter)

Both U.S. companies that work with Taiwanese firms and the U.S. government are actively seeking to reduce reliance on China and Asia more broadly for the supply of high-tech products such as semiconductors, commonly known as chips.

Just last week, the U.S. Department of State announced that it would partner with the Mexican government in a new semiconductor initiative whose ultimate aim is to strengthen and grow the Mexican semiconductor industry.

North American countries are hoping to “replace products imported from Asia as much as possible,” according to James Huang, chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

“Based on this consensus, Mexico is poised to become the most important manufacturing base for the USMCA,” he said.

Indeed, Mexico is already attracting significant foreign direct investment as companies — especially manufacturers — seek to reduce their dependence on China and position themselves on the doorstep of the world’s largest economy while taking advantage of things such as affordable labor costs.

Mexico is an attractive investment option, but not one without problems

The Journal’s report acknowledged that foreign companies using Mexico as a production hub face a range of risks. They include crime, insufficient water and electricity supply, and “intense wage competition for workers skilled at assembling high-tech goods,” the newspaper said.

The Tranium 2 chip and the Gravitonn chip by Amazon — Chips like the Trainium 2 and the Graviton, which came to market in November. power Amazon’s AI cloud servers, but Amazon relies on Taiwanese manufacturers TSMC and AIChip for even its in-house design services. (Amazon)

Mexico-based managers of Taiwanese companies who spoke with the Journal said they use private security services to stop crime groups from targeting their plants to steal chips and valuable equipment. They also said that Mexican workers are, in general, less willing than Chinese workers to put in extra hours.

Water supply is a concern in much of Mexico, leading President Andres Manuel López Obrador and other officials to encourage foreign companies to invest in the south and southeast of the country, where water is more abundant.

To spur such investment, the government has developed the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec between the Pacific coast port of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and the Gulf coast port of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. Mexican officials last year encouraged Taiwanese firms to consider investing in the trade corridor, which includes a modernized coast-to-coast railroad and will also have a chain of industrial parks.

As for electricity supply, the director of the Federal Electricity Commission said in January that the state-owned utility is ready to provide the power required to meet nearshoring-related demand.

The government has invested significant amounts of money in both water and electricity infrastructure, but supply of the former, in particular, remains a major concern as much of the country continues to suffer from drought.

During the visit of the Taiwanese delegation last year, Economy Minister Buenrostro asserted that “Mexico is the country in the Americas that has invested the most in infrastructure projects in the last five years: airports, trains, highways, and more.”

The government has not, however, managed to significantly improve security.

Violence — mainly generated by organized crime groups — remains a major problem in parts of Mexico, including in states that are popular with foreign manufacturers such as Guanajuato and Baja California.

Homicides have trended down during López Obrador’s presidency, but the numbers remain high at around 30,000 per year, making the reduction of violence a major challenge for Mexico’s next president, who will take office on Oct. 1.

With reports from The Wall Street Journal

Rarámuri runners complete 540-km race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

By

MND Staff

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April 2, 2024

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Six women in traditional Raramuri dress with raised hands under the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, — The six-woman relay team celebrating at The Speed Project finish line, at Las Vegas' iconic welcome sign. They completed the punishing 540-kilometer, invitation-only race without stopping for two days and nights, wearing traditional sandals. (Ra Ra Ra/Instagram)

A 540-kilometer ultramarathon from Los Angeles to Las Vegas dubbed The Speed Project experienced a first this weekend: six women finishers from the Indigenous Rarámuri community that lives in the mountains of Chihuahua.

Wearing huaraches (sandals) rather than running shoes, the brightly dressed Ra Ra Ra Team completed the 335-mile race in just over two full days and nights of running as a relay group — without stopping, one of the few rules of the invitation-only event that’s shrouded in mystery.

A Rararmuri indigenous team of women in traditional dress in a sports huddle. — The team with their support crew, who followed them throughout the race in a camper van. (Ra Ra Ra/Instagram)

It marked the first time that a group of Rarámuri women completed the race.

Though there is no set route, the race began at the Santa Monica Pier at 4 a.m. Friday and stretched through the Mojave Desert to the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, with 15,000 feet of elevation gain along the way.

According to Runner’s World magazine, the race is “clouded in equal parts mystery and intrigue.” It isn’t sanctioned by any running organization, it has no website, its Facebook page hasn’t been updated in a year and there is no official set of regulations.

After beginning in 2014 on the strength of a rumor, the event “has a reputation for being one of the hardest — and most secretive — relay races in the world,” Runners World notes. There is also a race for single runners who want to cover the entire distance themselves.

The runners of Rarámuri origin who competed are from the Sierra Tarahumara, a mountain range in northwestern Mexico that forms part of the Barrancas del Cobre (Copper Canyon).

They are Verónica Palma, 34; Ulisa Fuentes, 25; Isadora Rodríguez, 46; Lucía Nava, 27; Rosa Para, 29; and Argelia Orpinel, 40. Many of them had competed in (and won) individual ultramarathons and/or marathons.

indigenous raramuri women running through a town in Chihuahua, Mexico — The Indigenous Rarámuri, traditionally from Chihuahua’s Copper Canyon, have long been known as natural long-distance runners capable of remarkable stamina. (Beba Guzmán/Donadora.org)

For this race, each ran approximately 90 kilometers (56 miles) over three days. The women followed the active runner in a camper van, and then a teammate took over when necessary.

The race is equivalent to just under 13 marathons.

The Indigenous Rarámuri, or Tarahumara, are renowned for producing many long-distance runners, who typically run in sandals made with discarded car tires. After studying their cardiovascular functions 50 years ago, cardiologist Dale Groom called them “modern Spartans.” Rarámuri means “light-footed” in their native language.

“37 kms,” a feature-length drama about Rarámuri runners seeking to compete in the Mexico City Marathon, premiered last year. And the name of Rarámuri runner Lorena Ramírez became familiar to many after she was featured in the 2019 Netflix documentary “Lorena, Light-Footed Woman.”

“Capable of wandering in all kinds of complicated terrain, Rarámuris are born to run,” the newspaper La Jornada wrote this week. “Accustomed to traveling along steep trails and unusual paths, [The Speed Project] was very similar to the mountainous terrain in which they move daily in the Sierra Madre Occidental.”

The women — all mothers — wore traditional wide skirts made of printed fabric and striking colors. Their finishing time was 52 hours.

The team reportedly received US $6,000 for participating, which didn’t cover their expenses. They tried to raise 500,000 pesos (US $30,200), but their page on Donadora.org had raised only 234,093 pesos as of Tuesday morning.

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A post shared by Ra Ra Ra (@ra_ra_raaaaaa)

Click on the picture to see a short video profile on the Rarámuri relay team. (Beba Gonzlaez)

With reports from Expansión, La Jornada and Latinus

Opinion: What can Mexico’s next president offer Mexicans living in the US?

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Mexico Institute/Wilson Center

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April 2, 2024

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Xóchitl Gálvez talks with a Mexican at eatery counter in New York City — Mexico presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez talks with a Mexican immigrant during her visit to New York City in February. (Xóchitl Gálvez/Instagram)

Mexico’s leading presidential candidates Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez have both gone on tour in the United States since their campaigns began, both courting the votes of millions of Mexicans living on the northern side of the border.

The country’s National Electoral Institute (INE) has continued to expand the ways that Mexican nationals can vote while abroad, hoping to both increase turnout and make Mexicans feel more connected to their country of origin despite living in the United States and, in the case of people without authorized immigration status, being unable to visit Mexico and subsequently return to their home in the U.S.

Claudia Sheinbaum at the front of a crowd of supporters in Los Angeles — Claudia Sheinbaum in in October, exiting a Los Angeles theater. (Claudia Sheinbaum/Twitter)

The discourse of the Morena government has done far more to recognize Mexican nationals abroad than previous governments. Both Morena’s founder, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (known as AMLO), and its current presidential candidate, Sheinbaum, have praised emigrants for their contributions to Mexico’s economy in the form of remittances sent back home, while also celebrating that more and more migrants have been returning to Mexico in the past decade.

This discourse is in line with Morena’s general emphasis on centering the most economically vulnerable. Mexicans who leave for the United States without authorized immigrant status tend to be those seeking to escape economic precarity, making them an important part of the population that Morena was founded on trying to reach.

While the recognition and praise of this demographic as “héroes paisanos” (compatriot heroes) is nice and might in and of itself help win consular votes, what concrete benefits can the Mexican government offer its emigrant constituents?

Expansion of consular services can go a long way without causing much political controversy. Mexican consulates already offer a much more expansive set of services than any other country with comparable numbers of immigrants in the United States —specifically when it comes to monitoring and supporting Mexican nationals in their interactions with U.S. law enforcement — but getting a passport or consular I.D. appointment can feel impossible. Not having a valid photo I.D. presents a wide array of impediments to basic mobility and access to services, and for many Mexican nationals without immigration status in the U.S., a passport or consular I.D. is their only option.

Resources invested in expanding access to these appointments can provide a simple but necessary lifeline for unauthorized immigrants who do not have another way to acquire a valid photo I.D. Recently, however, AMLO has been pushing for far more ambitious and impactful plans.

His government has cooperated extensively with the Biden administration on matters ranging from accepting people who have been removed from the United States and securing the Mexican-Guatemalan border. He is now seeking a broad package of benefits from the U.S. in exchange.

Soldiers from the U.S. guarding the border in Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Cuartoscuro)

Among AMLO’s ideas are a US $20 billion Marshall Plan-style investment in Latin America, the removal of the U.S. embargo on Cuba and of sanctions against Venezuela, and — most consequentially for migrants — a mass immigration status regularization (amnesty) program for people from Latin America who have been living and working in the United States for 10 years or more.

As far-fetched as any form of amnesty seems in the current U.S. political environment, relief for unauthorized immigrants who meet certain requirements is an idea that has been present throughout the history of immigration policy. Traditionally, amnesty has been offered as a counterweight to increases in enforcement in other areas of immigration law, as was the case with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which granted a path to permanent residence and subsequently citizenship to almost 3 million qualifying immigrants.

Since then, narrower forms of permanent or temporary legal forgiveness of unauthorized status have protected certain nationalities — or, in the case of DACA, people who were brought to the country as children — from deportation. These more recent protections have been the result of administrative adjustments and have not been codified by Congress. This means that they remain vulnerable to changes in administration or challenges in the courts.

In the years since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 and the placement of immigration enforcement within it, dramatically increasing border security and the detention of immigrants have far outpaced any new forms of relief.

The result has been a bloated system that inflicts more punishment for lesser offenses at enormous human and economic costs, enriching security contractors and smugglers while cutting off opportunities for immigrants to build lives for themselves through formal channels.

It is long past time to counter this major pattern in immigration policy with new paths to authorized status, and the Morena government has every right to continue to use its leverage to press for amnesty wherever possible. Beyond the obvious humanitarian benefits to the recipients of regularized immigration status, amnesty has a host of benefits for both the U.S. and Mexico.

Immigration from Mexico to the U.S. has been hovering around a net-zero rate for years. Many more Mexican nationals would be free to go back and forth if they knew that they were not jeopardizing their ability to reenter the United States by doing so, enabling them to contribute to their communities on both sides of the border. Authorized status would also allow Mexican nationals to legally work in the United States, which would increase both formal domestic production in the U.S. and potential remittances that boost the Mexican economy.

If they continue to push for this relief until some form of it is granted, AMLO and Sheinbaum will succeed in widely expanding not only their party’s voter base but also emigrants’ economic and cultural impact, as Mexican nationals in the United States are afforded the opportunity to formally contribute to the well-being of both nations.

This article was originally published by The Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center.

Ian Scholer received a Master’s Degree in Mexico-United States Studies from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) with research focused on immigration detention. He currently works as a Paralegal at the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mexico News Daily, its owner or its employees.

Alberto Kalach, the panoramic architect of nature

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Ana Paula De la Torre

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April 2, 2024

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Alberto Kalach has become synonymous with modern Mexican architecture, through buildings like the Reforma 27 tower. (kalach.com)

No matter the size of the building, architect Alberto Kalach has the ability to make it feel like a panoramic and timeless space. His management of the different perspectives between interiors and exteriors is exceptional.

For Kalach, creating architecture and gardens is akin to creating compositions in space, much like painting. His creations feature intersecting lines and oceans of light that create playful figures through impressive skylights. All Alberto Kalach’s work invites the viewer to experience open and natural spaces. The Mexican architect has become an indispensable global reference in architecture because, let’s admit it, he has made a significant impact on it.

In Constituyentes 41, the gardens form part of the design of the building. (kalach.com)

Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of his creative legacy during the 30 years since he founded his architectural studio, “Taller de Arquitectura X (TAX)” is the natural oasis that harmoniously (both aesthetically and practically) thrives in his creations. Nature in Kalach’s designs exists as natural extensions of space, often in the form of interior courtyards. In some of his buildings, such as the iconic Torre Constituyentes 41, nature simply becomes part of the space, like a living and untamed garden within the vertical landscape.

Kalach and TAX

Kalach has mentioned that he knew he would become an architect when he was a child, when his father gave him an encyclopedia where he came across an illustration of “Fallingwater,” a house designed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Born in 1960, he studied architecture at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and later at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. In 1981, at the young age of 21, he founded his (now highly renowned) studio, “Taller de Arquitectura X (TAX).” In 1984, he achieved second place at the 71st Prix de Paris Verleihung of the Columbus, Indiana School of Art. A year later, in 1985, he secured third in the International Design Competition for the Museum of Modern Art in Bonn, Germany.

Kalach effortlessly combines nature with modernity, lending a sense of the wild to even the most developed environments. (kalach.com)

Today, his most famous project is perhaps the “Biblioteca José Vasconcelos,” the largest public library in Latin America, a stunning project that transports visitors to a futuristic realm of knowledge, light, and beauty. His work has been featured in significant exhibitions; at the Museo de Arte Moderno de México in 1984 with “Projects for the Opera de la Bastille” and the New York Hartell Gallery on Landscape Architecture.

His philosophy

There are key design elements that Kalach is particularly interested in; landscape, materials, structure, interaction with space and community, light, sustainability, and social impact.

His efforts not only represent a significant contribution to the field of architecture but also position him as a visionary in the quest to enhance architecture as a tool for collective evolution. Kalach authored the book “Ciudad Futura,” which serves as a master plan for the revitalization of the lakeside city that the Mexican capital once was, offering a collection of reflections on the most effective urban solutions for Mexico City and a strategy to restore its lakes. Ciudad Futura was released in collaboration with other prominent architects, including Teodoro González de León, José Manuel Castillo Olea, and Gustavo Lipkau. Writing further about his vision for Mexico City, Kalach also published “Project Atlas for Mexico City,” a similar blueprint for a sustainable future, in 2012.

Recently, he has showcased his inclination for the use of simpler materials that are both ecological and aesthetically pleasing. Interestingly, Kalach rarely emphasizes his profound interest in sustainability, despite being regarded by some experts as a leading example of how to enhance and integrate environmentalism into his projects. Perhaps, for Kalach, environmentalism is simply inherent to architecture.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos, the largest library in Latin America, takes visitors to another dimension. (Kalach.com/Yoshihiro Koitani, Jaime Navarro y Margot Kalach)

“In the end, the city and architecture are situated within a geographical, natural environment. The dialogue with the place is essential. The connection with the environment is the foundation of architecture. All urban issues are in some way linked to the environment: the overexploitation of aquifers, the subsidence of the entire city, and the structural implications of this subsidence…” Kalach said of his architectural values, in an interview with design magazine Gatopardo.

A living legend’s extraordinary legacy

The versatility of Alberto Kalach is undeniable. He is responsible for iconic Mexico City landmarks like “Constituyentes 41” and “Reforma 27” with their captivating gardens within. On a smaller scale, he has designed picturesque houses nestled in natural surroundings, such as “Casa Pentágonos” and “Casa Wabi.” Kalach’s portfolio also includes monumental and striking creations like the underground world of the Biblioteca José Vasconcelos and unique hotels set amidst nature like “Casona Sforza” and “Hotel Terrestre” in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.

The groundbreaking Hotel Terrestre, in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. (Kalach.com/Jaime Navarro)

With his work being featured in publications such as The Architectural Review, AW, Contemporary World Architects CWA, Arquine, and GA Houses, Kalach’s fame has grown and he is now internationally renowned for his skill in blending nature with modern architecture, garnering international acclaim for his sustainable and forward-thinking approach. As an architect, thinker, urbanist, and painter, Alberto Kalach has left behind a rich cultural legacy, weaving light, color, space and nature together with a deftness not often seen in his field.

Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.

Live in Mexico City? Here’s what you need to know about air quality

By

MND Staff

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April 2, 2024

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Mala Calidad Aire-2 — Mexico City's air quality can often be terrible, especially towards the end of the dry season. We asked a leading pulmonologist how to deal with the smog. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

Recently, I saw a post in a Facebook group for foreigners living in Mexico City. It simply said: “When does the air quality start getting better here? Like good (lmao).”

I wish there were an optimistic answer — or a clear day in sight. Unfortunately, a more realistic response is: “Maybe the air quality will improve for one day in a few weeks from now.”

Hazy view of Mexico City skyline — Mexico City is an incredible place to live, but the air quality can leave a lot to be desired. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico City’s air is some of the worst you can breathe on this planet.

Swiss air quality awareness group IQAir rates it the 14th most polluted city in the world, the worst rating of any metropolis in Latin America. From January to August 2023, the city only registered 55 days of fresh air, meaning air quality was poor 77% of the time.

Why is the air quality so poor in Mexico City?

Air quality is measured on a scale of 0 to 500, with 0 being perfect. On a typical day in Mexico City, the air quality index (AQI) hovers around 100, largely due to pollutants from vehicle emissions.

Over five million cars circulate the city daily, releasing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides into the air we breathe on the streets and in our homes. In many cities, those emissions disperse and dissipate after peak travel times. Mexico City, however, is in a valley, so contaminants rise and settle like glitter in a snow globe, every day.

Heavy traffic is one of the major contributors to air pollution in the capital. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartoscuro)

This year, several additional factors have worsened air quality in Mexico City. Heightened activity of the nearby Popocatepetl volcano, forest fires in central Mexico and reduced rainfall have made the air especially heavy in 2024. Also impacting air quality in Mexico City are residential and commercial emissions including the burning of gas for stoves and heaters, household products, personal care products, paints and pesticides.

Despite the persistence of poor air quality in Mexico City, the air is actually much better today than it was 30 years ago.

Air pollution in Mexico City reached its peak in the 1980s and 1990s when all five major air pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and airborne particles) were at record highs. Since then, federal and city-level initiatives to monitor and limit emissions have reduced atmospheric concentrations of lead, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Ozone and suspended particle (PM) concentrations in Mexico City, however, are still above federal and international air quality standards.

What does a pulmonologist have to say?

Sneezing and coughing more than usual this spring? Pulmonologist Dr. Paula Olvera of Mexico’s National Institute for Respiratory Illnesses (INER) says an increased presence of two major pollutants will cause an immediate allergic reaction.

Dr. Paula Olvera of Mexico’s National Institute for Respiratory Illnesses says exhaust fumes and construction dust are largely to blame for the air quality in Mexico City. (Dr. Paula Olvera/Linkedin)

The big two for lung health are Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5), present in vehicle emissions, and PM10, which includes dust from construction sites, landfills and agriculture, wildfires and industrial emissions. Airborne particles are measured by their diameter, and anything smaller than 10 micrometers is inhalable by the lungs, causing lung tissue to become inflamed.

“It is very common that people come here to live in Mexico City and they develop rhinitis, which causes a lot of sneezing, discomfort and nasal congestion… it is not very serious, but it is persistent,” remarks Dr. Olvera. “Then, they go to Cuernavaca and it’s as if they were never sick,” she continues.

Though rhinitis is manageable with allergy medication, eye drops and (many) tissues, over time, daily inflammation of the lungs and respiratory system can lead to other illnesses, including lung cancer.

According to the World Resources Institute, in 2019, Mexico reported more than 48,000 premature deaths attributable to exposure to polluted air. Beatriz Cárdenas, director of global air quality at the World Resources Institute, describes air pollution as the main environmental risk worldwide.

A study published in late 2023 found that exposure to PM2.5 in Mexico City was also associated with illnesses beyond the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, impacting digestion and even mental health. Though air pollution does cause immediate damage to your lungs, more serious consequences are typically seen after long-term exposure.

“To develop a more serious condition, such as cancer, you would need [approximately] 20 years of exposure,” says Dr. Olvera. “What happens is, poor air quality produces chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation over time will cause the cells to mutate and make metaplasia,” she explains.

I love living in Mexico City. What can I do to protect my lungs?

It’s important to note that some populations are at greater risk for complications due to air pollution, including people with existing respiratory illnesses such as asthma, older adults with chronic heart or lung disease and children. If this is the case for you, you may want to consider living in an area with less traffic and more green spaces.

Finally, a use for those leftover facemasks – protecting your lungs on days when air quality is bad. (deposit photos)

In addition, Dr. Olvera says there are several ways to protect your lung health while living in Mexico City.

1) Pay attention to the air quality

“The air quality [in Mexico City] is rated good, moderate, bad or extremely bad,” says Dr. Olvera. “Depending on the day’s rating, avoid doing exercise outdoors, or go to a gym where you will have less exposure.”

2) Monitor your oxygenation with an oximeter

That pandemic purchase is great for monitoring lung health long term.

Dr. Olvera says an oximeter is a great tool for keeping an eye on how the air quality is affecting you personally. The important thing is to first know what your baseline oxygenation is.

“For example, if you are oxygenating 98 all of the time, it’s normal for your oxygenation to vary two points, to 100 or 96,” explains Dr. Olvera. “But if one day you are at 90, this is a direct indication of a bronchial condition.”

If a cough lasts more than six weeks or you suddenly have trouble breathing, see a doctor.

3) Fill your home with air-purifying plants

Plants thrive in Mexico City despite the air, and can help us breathe better.

Houseplants can help purify the air in your home and make a difference in your respiratory health. (Huy Phan/Unsplash)

Easy-to-maintain pothos are a great choice for purifying your indoor environment, as well as peace lilies, palms, ferns and the beautiful Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum).

4) Wear a face mask when the air quality is worse

An N95 face mask doesn’t just keep COVID-19 away — it can also block harmful air pollutants.

Face masks are typically given a rating of either N90, N95, N99 or N100, depending on the percentage of particulate matter they can filter. An N95 mask, for example, blocks against 95% of particulate matter larger than 0.3 micrograms, which includes the vast majority of PM2.5 and PM10.

5) Finally, invest in an air purifier

Many people have turned to air purifiers since the COVID-19 pandemic, both as a way to prevent the spread of airborne illnesses and to improve overall lung health.

How can I monitor Mexico City’s air quality on a daily basis?

To get an accurate reading of the air quality in your colonia, visit aire.cdmx.gob.mx, which also offers more information on pollutants by neighborhood.

The AQI also offers an air pollution monitor.

Also, keep alert for when Mexico City decrees a contingencia ambiental (environmental contingency). This is an emergency program to alert the public during severe air quality episodes and restricts certain vehicles from circulating to reduce the levels of ozone, PM2.5 and PM10 in the air.

When Mexico City is under environmental contingency, it’s best to stay indoors and limit physical activity.

By Caitlin Cooper, Mexico News Daily writer

Remittances to Mexico keep setting records, but the money doesn’t go as far as it used to

By

MND Staff

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April 1, 2024

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U.S. dollars and coins — A favorable exchange rate for the Mexican peso means purchasing power is down for remittances. (Mathieu Turle/Unsplash)

Remittances continued to flow into Mexico at record high levels in the first two months of the year, but the current strength of the peso is diminishing their purchasing power.

The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) reported Monday that Mexicans abroad sent US $4.51 billion home in February, a 3.8% increase compared to the same month of 2023. It was the highest remittances total ever sent to Mexico in the month of February.

The vast majority of remittances to Mexico come from the United States, where millions of Mexicans live and work.

The total for January and February also increased, rising 3.4% annually to reach a record high of $9.08 billion.

The strong start to the year came after a record high of $63.31 billion in remittances were sent to Mexico last year, a 7.6% increase compared to 2022. Mexico is the world’s second largest recipient of remittances after India.

Meanwhile, remittances out of Mexico increased 32.7% in the first two months of the year to reach $218 million, Banxico said.

Clients wait in line at Western Union, a popular money transfer service. — Clients wait to transfer or receive money at a Western Union office. (Archive)

The ‘super peso’ erodes remittances’ purchasing power

The stronger the peso, the less remittance recipients receive, as transfers are made in dollars but converted to local currency upon arrival in Mexico.

The peso was trading at around 19.5 to the US dollar at the start of 2023 whereas one greenback now buys about 16.6 pesos. According to Banxico, the average remittance last month was $384. At the current exchange rate, that amount is equivalent to 6,374 pesos, whereas at the start of 2023 it would have converted to 7,488 pesos.

Recipients of remittances — among which are many low-income families — thus receive about 15% less money than they did in early 2023 for a transfer of the same dollar amount. To compensate for the stronger peso, there is evidence that some migrants have increased the amounts they send in dollars.

Market prices — Headline and core inflation remain high, another blow to purchasing power. (Cuartoscuro)

While inflation has declined from the highs of 2022 and early 2023, the headline and core rates in Mexico remain quite high, further eating into the purchasing power of remittances.

Gabriela Siller, director of economic analysis at Mexican bank Banco Base, said on the X social media platform on Monday that the purchasing power of remittances has been on the wane for 16 months — the longest period on record.

“The loss of purchasing power is due to the appreciation of the peso and high inflation in Mexico,” she wrote.

Will 2024 be another record year for remittances?

The bank Banorte believes it will be. In a note published on Monday, the bank said there is a “favorable outlook for remittances in the short term due to positive signs in the United States economy.”

“Our view and that of the market continues to incorporate a ‘soft landing’ for [economic] activity in that country, and therefore we believe that flows of remittances will continue growing throughout 2024,” Banorte said.

A construction worker — A strong outlook for the U.S. construction and service sectors could lead to higher levels of remittances for Mexico, according to Banorte. (Anthony Fomin/Unsplash)

The bank also said that favorable outlooks for the construction and services sectors in the United States — both of which are large employers of migrants — could lead to higher remittances being sent to Mexico.

For his part, the head of Latin America economics at Goldman Sachs, Alberto Ramos, said that a “moderation” of economic activity in the United States coupled with the current high level of remittances “should lead to a moderation” of inflows during upcoming quarters.

While remittances increased in annual terms in January and February, there was a month-over-month reduction in both months.

However, remittances are typically high in December, and February this year had two fewer days than January, making the 1.4% month-over-month decline unremarkable.

With reports from El Financiero, Expansión, EFE and Forbes México

Number of active wildfires down to 69 across Mexico

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MND Staff

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April 1, 2024

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A forest fire in Tenango del Valle was just one of many burning in México state and across the country over the weekend. (Crisanta Espinosa Aguilar/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (Conafor) reported that 39 forest fires around the country had been extinguished but that 69 were still active as of Monday morning.

In a post on the social media site X, the agency also reported 2,807 combatants were fighting the blazes, which covered nearly 12,000 hectares.

A forestry commission graphic shows the location of wildfires still active on Monday. (Conafor)

Earlier Monday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador addressed the wildfires during his press conference at the National Palace. At that time, his data showed 84 fires were still active.

The nation’s silver-haired leader also took time during his mañanera to deny that Mexico’s more than 100 fires this year have been caused by real-estate developers wanting to build on that land, something he hinted at last week.

“Real estate interests are also always there,” he said on Wednesday. “I don’t rule it out.”

AMLO clarified his statements on Monday by saying, “From what we have investigated, the number of fires has to do with the drought [and] very high temperatures.”

Firefighting helicopter dropping fire extinguishing chemicals over a forest — Firefighters try to get ahead of a forest fire in Acapulco’s El Veladero National Park earlier this month. (Carlos Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)

He said it cannot be established that there are “bad intentions of developers who want to burn a forest to establish housing,” adding, “More than anything, it is due to accidents” or “the burning of grasslands for livestock and agriculture.”

As of last Wednesday, there were a record 120 wildfires burning in 19 states, according to Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (Conafor). The agency noted that 6,195 firefighters and seven helicopter teams were fighting the blazes that had ravaged 7,137 hectares.

On Monday, Conafor posted updated numbers through 11 a.m. that included 69 active fires in 19 states, covering 11,882 hectares and including 12 fires in natural protected areas.

The president noted that the state of México had the most fires with 11, followed by Guerrero with 10.

According to his data at the time, 3,845 people were fighting the fires: 723 from the forestry commission (Conafor), 1,045 from the Ministry of Defense (Sedena), 338 from the National Guard, 666 from state governments and 1,073 from other agencies.

Overall, from Jan. 1 to March 21, Conafar said 667 forest fires had been recorded in 23 states, in an area of 22,247 hectares. Last week, there were 20 new fires, mostly in the states of Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Chiapas, Durango and Morelos.

Federal officials say they have ramped up coordination between different government agencies and entities. The synergy has reportedly allowed a rapid response to fire reports, with an average response time of less than 2 hours, even in remote and difficult-to-access areas, according to officials.

Fire brigades in Veracruz — As of last Wednesday, there are 1,000 firefighters working to extinguish wildfires in Veracruz. (Cuartoscuro)

In terms of area, the state most affected by the fires is Oaxaca, where 6,633 hectares have burned. México state, Veracruz and Guanajuato have each suffered more than 2,000 hectares of damage.

The natural areas affected include the Nevado de Toluca in central Mexico, the Sierra Gorda in northern Querétaro and neighboring states, the La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas and the El Tepozteco archaeological site in Morelos.

With reports from Excelsior and Aristegui Noticias

This week’s weather forecast: Chilly in the north, hot in central and southern Mexico

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MND Staff

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April 1, 2024

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The Tijuana River in the rain — The cold front brought rain to Tijuana over the weekend. (Omar Martínez/Cuartoscuro)

Rain and cold weather are expected in northern Mexico, while central and southern Mexico will continue to experience hot weather, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) reported Monday.

Cold front 43 and the ninth winter storm of the season are expected to persistently advance over the northwest and north of the country this week, according to the SMN.

The forecast for Monday predicts cold to very cold weather in the mountainous regions of Baja California, Chihuahua, northern Durango, northern Sinaloa and Sonora. Minimum temperatures in these regions are expected to range from -10 to 0 degrees Celsius, with frost expected in the mountains of Sonora, Chihuahua and Durango.

Showers and heavy rain are also forecast for Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Sonora.

The cold front could also bring gusts of wind ranging from 100 to 120 km/h in Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango; 80 to 100 km/h in Zacatecas, and 70 to 80 km/hin Sonora and Aguascalientes.

The western coast of the Baja California Peninsula may see waves of 2 to 3 meters high.

sunny weather — While the north cools off, the heat in central and southern Mexico will be intense this week. (File photo)

Hot weather to continue in the rest of the country

Meanwhile, the government of Mexico City has issued a yellow alert due to the forecast of high temperatures ranging between 29 to 31 degrees Celsius.

The yellow alert was issued for the boroughs of Álvaro Obregón, Azcapotzalco, Benito Juárez, Coyoacán, Cuauhtémoc, Gustavo A. Madero, Iztacalco, Iztapalapa, Miguel Hidalgo, Tláhuac, Venustiano Carranza and Xochimilco.

Scorching temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius are also expected in Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Morelos (south), Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche and Yucatán.

The states of Coahuila, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, State of Mexico (southwest), Puebla (southwest) and Quintana Roo will also see temperatures reach a maximum of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Despite the heat, most of the country is expected to have cloudy to partly cloudy skies.

Due to the high temperatures, the population is advised to take preventive measures such as staying hydrated and closely monitoring chronically ill people, children, and older adults. Authorities also recommend avoiding eating street food as the heat will increase the risk of foodborne illness.

With reports from El Universal

López Obrador chimes in on Mazatlán’s banda music battle

By

MND Staff

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April 1, 2024

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Banda musicians play for tourists on the beach in Mazatlán. (Máscara Roja/X)

President López Obrador on Monday expressed his support for musicians in Mazatlán who took to the streets last week to defend their right to play on the beaches in the Sinaloa resort city.

The banda sinaloense musicians have “every right” to protest, López Obrador told reporters at his morning press conference.

The musicians protested after Mazatlán hoteliers called for live music to be banned or heavily restricted on the city’s beaches.

One hotel owner, Ernesto Coppel, said he had received hundreds of complaints from American tourists about excessive noise.

He asserted that loud music is causing “tremendous damage” to Mazatlán, but many locals pointed out that banda has been played in the city — and on its beaches — for generations. They also noted that the genre is an important part of local culture.

The Mazatlán mayor said late last week that local authorities had issued more than 50 permits authorizing bands to play on the beaches, and announced that musicians had agreed to not perform late at night or early in the morning.

The president commented on the controversy at his Monday morning press conference. (Lopezobrador.org.mx)

Asked about the issue on Monday, López Obrador said that “the people are very aware and are defending their rights.”

“They wanted to ban … the bands and the musicians objected,” he said.

“I believe they objected because they live from … [their music] and also because it has been a tradition for a long time — centuries. That’s why they mobilized,” López Obrador said.

The president noted that a group of hoteliers — who banded together in an “anti-noise alliance” — called for live music to be prohibited on Mazatlán’s beaches. “Perhaps” municipal authorities didn’t respond quickly enough to their request to put the issue to bed, he said.

“And it became a very peculiar protest of bands. There was music for three or four days in Mazatlán. That’s the way people are — very aware. What’s not good is violence,” López Obrador said, apparently acknowledging that there were clashes between protesters and police.

“But the bands of Sinaloa or the musicians from the bands of Sinaloa protest have every right to protest,” he said.

Mexico News Daily

Foreign direct investment worth US $31.5B announced for Mexico so far in 2024

By

MND Staff

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April 1, 2024

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Mercado Libre warehouse workers on the job. — Mercado Libre is one of the companies planning multi-billion-dollar investments in Mexico in coming years. (@ML_Mexico/Twitter)

Foreign direct investment (FDI) of more than US $30 billion is in the pipeline based on announcements made by private companies so far this year.

In the first 2 1/2 months of 2024, private firms announced their intention to invest $31.51 billion in Mexico, according to the Economy Ministry (SE).

The figure is $5.67 billion higher than that reported previously by the SE for the first two months of the year. The ministry said in a statement that the investment announced between Jan. 1 and March 15 is expected to show up in official FDI data in the next two to four years.

Private companies made a total of 73 investment announcements in the period and their projects are expected to generate 39,192 jobs, the SE said.

Well over half of the total investment — 57% — will come from the United States, Mexico’s largest trade partner and source of FDI. Mexico’s next biggest investors based on announcements made so far this year are Germany (17% of the total), Argentina (14%) and China (6%).

The lion’s share of the money — 54% — will go to the manufacturing sector, while the mass media, commercial and transport sectors are set to get 16%, 15% and 14%, respectively.

Automotive factory worker — The majority of the promised investment is destined for the manufacturing sector (Gob MX)

The SE highlighted that 18% of the new investment will go to Querétaro, 14% to México state, 10% to Nuevo León and 5% to Puebla. The other 53% will be divided between other states.

The ministry also highlighted five “main” investment announcements in early 2024. The companies that made them were:

E-commerce company Mercado Libre ($2.45 billion)
Retailer Walmart ($2.13 billion)
Auto parts manufacturer IKD ($178 million)
Auto parts maker Minth Group ($173 million)
Pharmaceutical company Carnot ($142 million).

Earlier this year, the SE said that investments announced by Coca-Cola bottler and convenience store owner FEMSA ($9.96 billion); Amazon Web Services ($4.96 billion); and DHL Supply Chain ($4 billion) were the three largest in 2024.

They remain the top three investment announcements of 2024, while Mercado Libre and Walmart occupy fourth and fifth place, respectively.

The FDI announced in the first 2 1/2 months of the year is only $4.55 billion less than the total investment recorded in 2023. FDI in Mexico was $36.06 billion last year, according to preliminary SE data, although investment announcements totaled well over $100 billion.

While Mexico is benefiting now from the growing nearshoring trend, it can expect to see more concrete benefits in coming years as the investment recently announced by foreign companies begins to flow into the country.

Scores of companies — including automakers Tesla and Kia, steelmaker Ternium and energy firms Mexico Pacific Limited and Woodside — made multi-billion-dollar investment announcements last year.

Mexico News Daily