Mexican Prints at the Vanguard is on display now through January 2025 at The Met in New York City. (Christopher Landau/X)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City is showcasing the exhibit Mexican Prints at the Vanguard, an exploration of Mexico’s rich tradition of printmaking, or estampado.
On display through January 2025, the exhibit features over 130 works, including woodcuts, lithographs and screen prints by artists such as José Guadalupe Posada (creator of the “Catrina”), Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and Leopoldo Méndez.
A print from the exhibit featuring U.S. president Abraham Lincoln alongside Mexican president Benito Juárez that says “Good neighbors, good friends.” (Christopher Landau/X)
“The exhibition explores how prints were central to the artistic identity and practice in Mexico and highlights their effectiveness in addressing social and political issues, a role of the graphic arts that continues today,” The Met said in a press release.
Most of The Met’s collection of Mexican prints came from the French-born artist Jean Charlot, who spent decades in Mexico. Charlot donated many of his own prints and works by other artists to The Met, and in the mid-1940s acted on behalf of the museum to acquire over 2,000 prints in Mexico.
The collection reflects The Met’s pioneering recognition of Mexico’s artistic renaissance, well before the movement captured global attention.
Printmaking has been central to Mexican art and culture since the Spanish conquistadors arrived with religious woodcuts in the 1500s. Following the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920), artists turned to printmaking to address social and political unrest, voicing resistance to a range of issues such as the rise of fascism around the world. They also used printmaking to reproduce Mexican murals, announce upcoming art exhibitions and conferences, create prints for the press and document Mexican dress and customs.
Mexican Prints at the Vanguard features prints made between the late 19th century, when Posada introduced the Catrina, Mexico’s iconic cartoonish skeleton, and the early 20th century. (Christopher Landau/X)
“This remarkable exhibition evokes the continued resonance of the graphic arts in Mexico and illuminates treasures of The Met collection—many of which have never been exhibited before,” Max Hollein, The Met’s director and Chief Executive Officer said in a statement.
The prints range from an 18th-century Virgin of Guadalupe on white silk to a number of colorful silk-screens by the Guatemalan-born artist Carlos Mérida that document regional costumes and dances. But the largest share of the exhibition pertains to two main periods — the late 19th century, when Posada introduced the Catrina, Mexico’s iconic cartoonish skeleton, and the early 20th century, when artists like Rivera worked for El Machete, a Communist Party-aligned newspaper.
Mexican Prints at the Vanguard is curated in six chronologically organized sections across three galleries. One is entirely dedicated to Posada, regarded by many as the father of printmaking in Mexico, and his contemporaries.
Printmaking remains a popular and widely practiced art form in Mexico today.
John made landfall twice in late September, bringing days of torrential rain to coastal Guerrero. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)
The federal government has announced over 400 million dollars in reconstruction and rehabilitation funds for homes in Guerrero and Oaxaca that were devastated by the recent passage of Hurricane John.
According to a census by the Welfare Ministry, more than 40,000 homes were damaged by the storm, impacting approximately 153,000 people.
Acapulco, Guerrero saw nearly one meter of accumulated rainfall from Hurricane John, causing severe flooding around the resort city. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)
On Oct. 27, President Sheinbaum visited Acapulco, where she declared the state of emergency in Guerrero following Hurricane John concluded.
“Today we can say that the emergency is over and we are moving on to the next stage. This does not mean that we are done here. There is the clean-up aid, and then, depending on the results of the census, we will give subsequent financial support and even more support for housing,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference.
The president reported that 7.7 billion pesos (US $384 million) have been invested in disaster aid throughout 66 municipalities in Guerrero and Oaxaca. Of these resources, 6.7 billion pesos have been destined for Guerrero — with 51 municipalities affected — and 1 billion pesos to Oaxaca, with 15 municipalities damaged by the storm.
Aid of 8,000 pesos (US $400) was given to all homes in these states for clean-up. Additional support will be given to homes with minor or medium damage, which will receive 15,000 pesos (US $747); homeowners with major damages will receive 35,000 pesos (US $1,745); while those homes that suffered total losses will receive 60,000 pesos (US $3,000).
“Today we can say that the emergency is over and we are moving on to the next stage. This does not mean that we are done here,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference in Acapulco, Guerrero, on Oct. 27. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
With an additional investment of 300 million pesos (US $15 million), the National Workers Housing Fund (Infonavit) announced its plans to begin reconstruction activities in the El Coloso and Alta Progreso neighborhoods of Acapulco, both of which suffered severe landslides and flooding due to the impacts of John. This funding is expected to support the rehabilitation of 6,000 housing units.
Infonavit will work with the housing non-profit Fundación Hogares to improve housing complexes and public spaces. The planned improvements include the construction of markets, as well as sports and recreational spaces aimed at boosting social interaction in the neighborhoods. The works are expected to take around one year and a half to complete and will benefit around 24,000 residents.
In Acapulco, Fundación Hogares will replicate the rehabilitation project it carried out in Jojutla in Oaxaca state following the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck central Mexico on September 19, 2017.
“Our focus is to use endemic materials for reforestation and replanting of areas, which guarantees that the rehabilitated spaces are sustainable in the long term,” said Madeleine Cortés Cravio, general director of Fundación Hogares.
Cortés Cravio emphasized that one of the lessons learned from recent natural disasters is the need to develop resilient infrastructure that can withstand future climate events.
Fall is a time for new skills, so why not check out Mexico City's litany of amazing workshops and classes? (Poga)
The winter doldrums seem to be creeping in these days in CDMX. Crisp air, cloudy skies, and the early sunsets are an invitation to hibernate. Before you get too comfortable working in pajamas all day, how about beefing up that to-do list? Not the boring one of pending paperwork and menial chores, but rather a list of fun, unique activities to enjoy in your very own neighborhood. There are no shortage of craft workshops in Mexico City, so why not take the time to pick up a new skill?
CDMX is an overflowing cauldron of things to do. Within a five block radius, you can unleash your artistic side, learn a new skill, or whip up your own culinary delights. Wake up one Saturday your normal self, and go to sleep that very night as an expert cake decorator. Whatever gets you going, the capital’s got you covered.
Whichever of Vainila Bar’s two locations you choose, there’s no doubt you’ll be rewarded with a good time. In between bites of waffles, chilaquiles, and sandwiches and sips of bubble tea and coffee, create something everlasting. Bring a picture of your dog that you can turn into a portrait and hang in your living room. Everything is included in the cost, which includes paints, ceramics, pencils, and canvases.
Locations: Insurgentes Sur 615, Col. Nápoles; Universidad 133, Col. Narvarte
Tufting workshop
Knitting is so last year, as the creative team at Arenera are aware. With temperatures in CDMX dropping faster than a lead balloon, there’s no time like the present to focus your energy on learning the art of tufting. What is tufting, you ask? It’s a textile technique where threads are inserted loosely into a base material to create raised loops for a cushiony texture. Design your own fluffy rug or warm throw in this four-hour workshop that includes all necessary materials, plus a mocktail.
Location: Av. José Martí 118e, Col. Escandón I Secc
Channel your inner Demi Moore (but stay clothed) in a ceramic workshop. Create and paint mugs, vases, dishware, even jewelry in just a few hours. Departamento Barro, located in San Rafael, offers technique and a tipple, like mimosas or coffee. Luaa Estudio in Roma Norte includes beer as part of its popular and highly-rated cerámica y chelas class.
Locations: Departamento Barro: Manuel María Contreras 86-int. 1, Col. San Rafael; Luaa Estudio: Jose Alvarado 30, Col. Roma Norte
Cooking classes
There are so many opportunities to make your own culinary masterpiece, it’s hard to know where to start. Consider the renowned Casa Jacaranda in Juárez or family-run Aura Cocina Mexicana in Roma Norte. Regardless of the company you decide to go with, an authentic Mexican cooking class will teach you far more than technique – you’ll also learn the history, the stories, and the psychology behind Mexican culture through its food.
Want something a little more international? Sobremesa offers French, Asian, and Italian cooking classes while Flor de Loto specializes in online courses of popular vegan dishes.
Locations: Casa Jacaranda – C. Milan 41-int A, Col. Juárez; Aura Cocina Mexicana – Medellín 191A, Col. Roma Norte; Sobremesa – various
Mixology experiences
(Mezcal Mixology)
Craft three mezcal-based cocktails in the dark and moody Salón Rosario, hidden behind a barber shop on Calle Puebla. Start with a quick tasting and explanation of mezcal’s fundamental ingredients. With an expert bartender, you’ll mix up various flavors to make a personalized cocktail that you can recreate later to wow your friends.
Location: Puebla 71-int 1, Col. Roma Norte
Books and writing
Apart from a bountiful list of writer talks and feminist-leaning discussions, U-Tópicas Bookshop in Coyoacán offers monthly workshops. The themes are wide ranging – beautify a new journal for daily scribbles, create Day of the Dead-inspired collages, read and dissect passages from Latin American authors. Enjoy a coffee from the onsite cafe while you design.
Location: Felipe Carrillo Puerto 60, Col. Coyoacán
If your dream is to whip up a leather bag in just three hours, you’re in luck. Distrito Marroquinero will provide you with the patterns, materials, and expert guidance needed to make a purse rivaling Louis Vuitton. Choose from different models, textures and colors, and walk out with the accessory of your dreams.
Location: Celaya 17, Col. Condesa
Decorate a cake
I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of many better ways to spend an afternoon than with coffee, a cookie, and a naked box cake waiting to be decorated. At Ramona Artesanal, each month showcases a new cake-decorating class with a unique theme like vintage, flowers, and holiday-inspired designs.
Location: Quintana Roo 49, Col. Roma Sur
Flower arranging classes
Every Sunday I go to the local tianguis to stock up on flowers for the week. I come home, throw on some Luis Miguel, and get to snipping and clipping. As I arrange and rearrange the colorful blossoms that lay before me, I make myself a half-hearted promise to switch jobs and dive headfirst into floristry. Sound familiar? Poga, Verbena, and Floristika (online) are here to fulfill that fantasy without the career change. Learn how to make impressive bouquets for any occasion, even if that occasion is simply a joyful Sunday afternoon.
Locations: POGA – 287, Interior POGA, Xicoténcatl, Col. Del Carmen; Verbena Flores – Eje 3 Pte 929, Col del Valle Centro
More Cuban than Mexican, does it really matter when you’re twirling on the dance floor? Conquer those salsa steps like you’ve always wanted, and make some friends while you do. There are a plethora of places to learn salsa and even more places to practice, with or without a minty mojito. Get whisked away to sunny Havana without leaving the boundaries of Mexico City at premier dance clubs like Roma Norte’s Flor del Son and Mama Rumba, or Cuauhtémoc’s Babalu Salón Ríos.
Locations: Flor del Son – Puebla 52, Roma Norte; Mama Rumba – C. Querétaro 230, Roma Norte; Babalu Salón Ríos – C. Río Lerma 218, Col. Cuauhtémoc
Folkloric dance lessons
Speaking of dance, if salsa doesn’t call you but traditional folkloric dancing does, check out the Saturday schedule at Amalia Hernandez’s dance school. No formal training is necessary, just an open mind and the will to move. There are classes for all age groups, and certain levels include the fundamentals of classic dance.
Location: Calle Violeta 31, Col. Guerrero
Textiles and weaving
Knit, crotchet, weave – the workshop schedule is packed at Del Valle’s coveted textile school, Taller Dos Coyotes. There’s simply no limit to the masterpieces you can make, so if you’re in the market for a new, colorful wall hanging or a Macramé stool, this is the place for you. Classes last up to five hours with lunch breaks, so come ready to dive in. For those who want to get their feet wet without a real commitment, sign up for an evening knitting or crochet class every Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Location: Calle Lic. Julián Grajales Robles no. 16, Col. Del Valle
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
Sail, board, fish and golf while taking in the arts on a pleasant stroll. Los Cabos has it all this November! (Fishing Cabo San Lucas)
There’s always something happening in Los Cabos in November, from holidays and arts-themed festivals and events to sporting competitions and one-of-a-kind outdoor adventures. The last big-money fishing tournament of the year happens in November, as does Los Cabos’ only PGA-sponsored golf tournament. Meaning, on any given day you can attend events celebrating athletics, cinema, cuisine, painting, sculpture, and yes, the dearly departed. Or enjoy ideal weather conditions for sailing, surfing, and windsports.
Día de Muertos – November 1-2
(Visit Los Cabos)
Día de Muertos means more in Los Cabos than simply an opportunity for souvenir shops to fill display windows with Catrinas and colorful calaveras. It’s also the de facto kickoff for Art Walk season in San José del Cabo. The high-season weekly event begins annually in November with many gallery owners often showcasing artistically designed ofrendas (altars) during the early part of the month. Day of the Dead is also notable as an inspiration for events at many regional bars, restaurants, and resorts.
The funniest book ever written about the Baja California peninsula and its colorful residents was the work of a Western Outdoor News columnist and all-around fine writer named Fred Hoctor. The book, called Baja Haha, was published in 1984 and has been something of a cult classic among gringo expats ever since. Sadly, Señor Hoctor is no longer with us. But his title lives on thanks to Baja Ha-Ha, a fun-filled 750-mile cruiser rally from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Calendar-wise the last of Los Cabos’ million-dollar-plus fishing tournaments, the Cabo Tuna Jackpot is also noteworthy as the world’s richest tuna-focused competition (the prize pool was US $1.47 million in 2023). It’s got a great motto, too: Fish hard, party harder! Base entry is US $1,000 per team, which seems small enough price to ante up (teams can include up to six anglers, meaning the entry is only $166.66 each) given last year’s winning team, Sneak Attack, held up an over-sized check for $585,775 after bagging a 284-pound yellowfin.
The historic Art District in San José del Cabo takes center stage each Thursday evening from 5 pm to 9 pm during high tourist season, November through June, when residents and visitors alike are invited to stroll its cobblestone streets and peruse the many eclectic fine arts galleries. Nearby bars and restaurants (of which there are many of superb quality) also benefit, since the event finishes around dinner time.
Want to see the world’s best golfers tackle one of Los Cabos’ best golf courses? The Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal Course at Diamante hosts the area’s only PGA-sponsored event: the World Wide Technology Championship. Last year’s winner, Erik van Roos won dramatically with an eagle on the final hole – and in recent years a who’s who of PGA stars have participated, including major champions Scottie Sheffler, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas. Tickets are affordable ($35 to $45 per day), food and drink options are abundant, and free shuttles will run from downtown Cabo San Lucas.
You can’t tee it up at the PGA World Wide Technology Championship. But you can at the fifth iteration of the Swinging for Scholarships Golf Tournament, which helps fund educational opportunities for children of employees at Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection. You might win some cool stuff, too. More than $30,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs, along with the opportunity to play the picturesque Tom Weiskop-designed Desert Course at Cabo del Sol. The entry fee is $400, or what you’d pay to play golf at just about any Los Cabos course — without the good cause attached.
There’s seemingly nothing Los Cabos luxury resorts like more than bringing top chefs from the U.S. and Mexico to prepare world-class cuisine for their guests. That’s certainly the case at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, which as part of its Festival of Flavors this year has hosted culinary weekends headlined by several great chefs. November’s kitchen star-in-residence is Claudette Zepeda, a former Iron Chef contestant and San Diego-based founder of Chispa Hospitality and acclaimed Mexican-themed restaurants such as El Jardín and VAGA.
This annual showcase for Mexican and Latin American films was founded in 2004, meaning this year the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. As always, short films and features will primarily be shown at historic Teatro-Cine Manuel Márquez de León, a landmark 80-year-old movie theater that overlooks the town square in Todos Santos. However, select films will also be screened in Los Cabos and La Paz. No schedule has been released yet, nor have any special guests been announced, although it bears noting that Mexican actors such as Diego Luna and Tenoch Huerta have appeared at past festivals.
Surf Season on the Pacific Coast – November to March
(CONADE)
Summer may be the best time to find great waves off Los Cabos’ Sea of Cortés-facing beaches. But beginning in November the surf scene is centered around Pacific Coast beaches like Cerritos, La Pastora, and San Pedrito. Surfing is indeed good year-round in this part of Los Cabos (La Paz municipality, to be exact). However, conditions are at their peak from November to March, thanks to seasonally bigger and more consistent swells. Several local activities companies offer lessons for those who need to brush up on their wave-riding skills. Or learn some.
Windsports Season in Los Cabos – November to March
(Velas Resorts)
While the Pacific Coast is Los Cabos’ wintertime surf mecca, windsports enthusiasts flock to the East Cape. Why? From November to March each year, strong El Norte winds blow hundreds of miles down the Sea of Cortés, creating optimal wind and kite surfing conditions in small East Cape communities like Los Barriles and La Ventana. The wonderfully named Lord of the Wind Competition may be a thing of the past, but the East Cape is the place to be if you love kiteboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, or similar pursuits. Lessons, camps, and special accommodations are available.
Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.
Security footage captured the moment the car plowed into a crowd of protesters in downtown Guadalajara. (Escudo Urbano C5 Jalisco)
Sixteen people were injured on Saturday when a vehicle plowed into a crowd gathered outside the Guadalajara Cathedral in the historic center of the Jalisco capital.
Video footage shows an allegedly stolen SUV ramming into people in front of the cathedral on Saturday night.
Most if not all of the injured were pro-life activists who had just completed a walk through the streets of Guadalajara and were about to start a prayer session.
The Guadalajara government said on social media that police arrested the man “allegedly responsible” for injuring the 16 people, among whom were children. According to Guadalajara Government Secretary Manuel Romo, the man, reportedly aged in his 30s, was under the influence of drugs.
In the video footage, two people are seen chasing the vehicle, one of whom is apparently the owner. A child was in the stolen vehicle as it hit the people gathered outside the cathedral, Romo said Saturday.
The Guadalajara government said that an individual allegedly stole the vehicle near the Corona Market in the center of Guadalajara and ran over the people outside the cathedral as he attempted to escape. He possibly panicked when he became aware that there was a child in the vehicle.
MOMENTO EXACTO en el que un hombre que conducía una camioneta atropelló a varias personas afuera de la Catedral de Guadalajara. El conductor fue detenido y no hay vidas qué lamentar. Video: C5 pic.twitter.com/lOaHQB8wUy
The Guadalajara government said that “thanks to the quick reaction of our police, the alleged thief was arrested … at the scene.”
It added that the officers assisted those injured, who were taken to hospital for treatment.
Guadalajara Mayor Verónica Delgadillo said Sunday that she was certain that the Jalisco Attorney General’s Office would do its job and that “there will be justice in this case.”
The alleged driver of the vehicle was beaten by people outside the cathedral before he was arrested, according to the president of the National Front for the Family, which organized Saturday’s pro-life walk.
“Even though the crowd was hitting him, we protected him until the police [came],” said Jaime Cedillo.
He initially said that he didn’t believe that the driver had planned to run people over.
“We just spoke to the owner of the SUV and everything seems to indicate that it was a theft,” Cedillo said on Saturday.
Jaime Cedillo, president of the the organization that led Saturday’s pro-life walk, said the incident didn’t appear to be a malicious attack. (Screenshot)
However, on Monday he said that authorities need to thoroughly investigate whether the driver had in fact planned an attack on pro-life activists.
“We ask for transparency and speed in this investigation. We urge authorities to carry out a transparent and diligent investigation. … Citizens deserve clarity and respect, certainty about what happened,” Cedillo said.
“… It’s essential that steps are taken to compensate the victims and all their families for all the physical, emotional and material damage they suffered. Compensation is a matter of justice and respect for those affected here, at the doors of the cathedral,” he added.
Delgadillo said Sunday that three of four people who remained in hospital were expected to be discharged on Monday, while the fourth patient would “remain under observation.”
Some of the injured suffered broken bones, according to reports. A 14-year-old girl was reportedly trapped under one of the SUV’s wheels for a period, and was only freed when citizens were able to lift the vehicle up.
The Guadalajara government expressed its “solidarity” with all those injured and committed to providing them with all the assistance they need.
Mayor Delagadillo said that steps would be taken to “strengthen road safety” in the historic center of Guadalajara.
“… In the coming days we’ll provide more information about the operations to strengthen security in the historic center,” she said.
Companies that recently relocated to Mexico contributed about US $3.58 billion in goods and services in 2023. (Gobierno de México)
Multinational companies that have relocated to Mexico amid the nearshoring trend only generate around 0.2% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the World Bank’s top official in Mexico.
Mark Thomas, the World Bank’s country director for Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela, cited the figure in an interview with the El Economista newspaper during last week’s annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C.
For her part, the Latin America head of S&P Global Ratings, María Consuelo Pérez, pointed out earlier this year that the “new” investment component of the total foreign direct investment ($36 billion) received by Mexico last year accounted for less than 0.3% of Mexico’s GDP.
Therefore, based on the estimate given by Thomas, the annual value of goods produced and services provided by companies that have recently relocated to Mexico is around $3.58 billion.
The World Bank official told El Economista that foreign companies’ impact on the economy is greater at the local level in places such as Monterrey, Nuevo León, as well as the northern border region and certain parts of the Bajío, a region that encompasses all or parts of several states including Querétaro, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes and Jalisco.
Mark Thomas, World Bank’s country director for Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela, said that northern border states and the Bajío region have benefited more from nearshoring than other parts of the country. (World Bank)
El Economista described those parts of the country as the “big winners” when it comes to the relocation of foreign companies. The new federal government is aiming to spread the benefits of foreign investment more evenly across Mexico via a plan to create 10 “specialized” industrial corridors spanning all 32 federal entities.
Thomas expressed his support for that plan.
To attract more foreign companies to Mexico, the World Bank official said that issues such as water availability, energy supply and the cost of land need to be addressed. Insecurity, government policies and constitutional reforms such as the recently enacted judicial reform are among the other concerns of current and potential investors in Mexico.
Although he outlined some deterrents to foreign investment, Thomas characterized Mexico as the best nearshoring destination in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Monterrey, Nuevo León, has been a top destination for nearshoring-style investment. (David Liceaga/Unsplash)
In addition to its proximity to the United States, Mexico is considered an attractive place to invest by foreign companies because it is party to the USMCA free trade pact and has affordable labor costs, among other reasons.
Thomas said that Mexico’s true competitors for foreign investment are located in Asia, namely the countries of Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea.
Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s current environment minister and former foreign affairs minister, warned in late 2023 that Vietnam could position itself as a more attractive option than Mexico for companies that are seeking to relocate, especially from China.
Which companies have recently relocated to Mexico?
El Economista didn’t quote Thomas as referring to any specific foreign companies or time period when he spoke about nearshoring’s impact on Mexico’s GDP.
A number of major foreign companies, including automakers Tesla (U.S.) and BYD (China), tech company Google (U.S.), and Lingong Machinery Group (China), have announced significant investment plans for Mexico, but their proposed projects have not yet come to fruition.
If the majority of the announced projects go ahead — of which there is no certainty — the contribution that foreign companies make to Mexico’s GDP could increase substantially in coming years.
Automotive exports accounted for almost a third of all export revenue in 2024. (Shutterstock)
Mexico remains on track to have a record-breaking year for export revenue in 2024, despite stagnant earnings in September compared to last year.
Mexican exports were worth US $455.71 billion in the first nine months of the year, according to preliminary data published on Monday, a 3.2% increase compared to the same period of 2023.
Mexico exported goods worth US $455.71 billion in the first nine months of the 2024. (Shutterstock)
Between January and September of 2024, Mexico earned an average of $50.63 billion in export revenue per month, putting it on track to exceed an annual total of $600 billion for the first time ever.
Mexico’s expenditure on imports also increased in the first nine months of 2024, and at a slightly higher pace than the year-over-year growth in export revenue.
Mexico’s deficit with its trade partners around the word increased 11% in annual terms between January and September to reach just over $11 billion.
Manufacturing sector generated almost 90% of export revenue
INEGI data shows that manufacturing sector exports were worth $408.38 billion in the first nine months of 2024, a 4% increase compared to the same period of last year.
That figure represents 89.6% of Mexico’s total export earnings between January and September.
Mexico exports a wide range of manufactured goods, including vehicles, auto parts, machinery, televisions, computers, medical devices and clothes.
The federal government and others are aiming to further bolster Mexico’s manufacturing sector by attracting foreign companies to nearshore here.
Manufacturing exports from plants like this one in Celaya, Guanajuato, made up nearly 90% of Mexico’s 2024 export revenue. (Together with Entrada Group)
The full sector-by-sector export data for the first nine months of the year is as follows:
Automotive exports increased 3.7% to $144.1 billion (31.6% of total revenue).
Non-auto sector manufacturing exports increased 4.2% to $264.73 billion (58% of total revenue).
Oil exports declined 14.1% to $21.48 billion (4.7% of total).
Agricultural exports increased 7.2% to $17.69 billion (3.9% of total).
Mining exports increased 8.2% to $7.7 billion (1.7% of total).
A stagnant September
Mexico’s exports were worth $49.62 billion in September, representing 0.0% growth compared to the same month of last year, INEGI reported.
On a month-over-month basis, export revenue fell just under 1%.
The El Economista newspaper partially attributed the lack of growth to stagnation in the manufacturing sector in the United States, which is easily Mexico’s largest export market.
Revenue from oil exports slumped 44.9% in September compared to the same month last year, while earnings from automotive sector exports declined 7.4% annually.
A drop in oil exports coupled with a slow manufacturing sector left September export revenue at a similar level to 2023 earnings. (Refinería Olmeca-Dos Bocas/X)
The decline in automotive exports coincided with a 0.5% contraction in secondary sector output in September, as reported by INEGI last week.
Despite the decline in earnings from auto exports, revenue from the manufacturing sector as a whole increased 2.6% compared to September 2023.
As detailed above, the value of oil sector exports fell 14.1% in the first nine months of the year, in part due to Mexico keeping more crude at home as it seeks to reach self-sufficiency for fuel. Lower oil prices in September were another factor in the sharp year-over-year decline in oil revenue last month.
The full sector-by-sector data for exports in September is as follows:
Automotive exports declined 7.4% to $15.42 billion (31.1% of total revenue).
Non-auto sector manufacturing exports increased 8.7% to $29.83 billion (60.1% of total revenue).
Oil exports declined 44.9% to $1.88 billion (3.8% of total).
Agricultural exports increased 12.5% to $1.51 billion (3% of total).
Mining exports increased 26.4% to $966.8 million (1.9% of total).
Spending on imports increased 3.4% between January and September
INEGI reported that Mexico spent $466.73 billion on imports in the first nine months of the year, a 3.4% annual increase. Almost 94% of expenditure was on non-oil products, while just over 6% was on oil goods, including gasoline.
The full breakdown is as follows:
Imports of intermediate goods increased 2.7% to $352.87 billion (75.6% of total expenditure). Almost 94% of that expenditure was on non-oil intermediate goods.
Imports of consumer goods increased 4.4% to $68.05 billion (14.6% of total). Almost 89% of that spending was on non-oil consumer goods.
Imports of capital goods (factory machinery, for example) increased 7.2% to $45.79 billion (9.8% of total).
Mexico has a trade surplus with the US, but a global deficit
However, Mexico recorded an overall trade deficit of $11.01 billion in the first nine months of the year, a 11% increase compared to the same period of 2023.
In September, Mexico’s spending on imports declined 1.8% to $50.2 billion, leaving it with a trade deficit of $578.9 million. That figure represents a 61.4% decline compared to Mexico’s deficit in September 2023.
The bus was approaching mile marker 74 on the Zacatecas-Aguascalientes highway when it collided with the back of a trailer carrying corn that had come loose from the tractor truck. (Alfonso Vladimir/Cuartoscuro)
Nineteen people were killed and six others were injured when a bus crashed into a detached semi-trailer on a highway in the central state of Zacatecas, Mexico.
The passenger bus was traveling from the Pacific coast state of Nayarit to the northern border city of Ciudad Juárez when the accident occurred early on Saturday morning.
There were only six survivors of the bus crash, which was caused by a runaway trailer on the Zacatecas-Aguascalientes highway. (ContrapropuestaMX/X)
The bus, operated by Omnibus de México, was approaching mile marker 74 on the Zacatecas-Aguascalientes highway when it collided with the back of a trailer carrying corn that had come loose from the tractor truck.
The bus careened off the highway and rolled down a ravine, as seen in images shared on social media.
First responders and security personnel — including soldiers and members of the National Guard — arrived on the scene and sifted through the wreckage looking for survivors, but the damage to the bus was considerable.
The six injured passengers were being treated at hospitals in the city of Zacatecas on Monday.
🚨 Tragedia en Zacatecas
Autobús cae a barranco tras choque con tractocamión, dejando al momento 24 muertos y varios heridos. Las autoridades trabajan para restablecer el tránsito en la autopista Zacatecas-Aguascalientes. #Zacatecas#Aguascalientespic.twitter.com/h56OvNWUgZ
In a post to social media, Zacatecas Governor David Monreal said he ordered the local Health Ministry, Public Works Ministry and Public Security Ministry to attend to the matter “on a permanent basis.”
Monreal said his administration had established two hotlines to manage information about the injured and the deceased, while also declaring that the state Attorney General’s Office (FGJE) had opened a criminal investigation into the accident.
According to Reuters, the FGJE said it was “carrying out investigations to arrest the driver” of the tractor-trailer.
State authorities reported an initial death toll of 24 on Saturday before revising the final count to 19. By Sunday afternoon, authorities had confirmed the identities of 17 of the 19 victims, according to the newspaper Express Zacatecas, matching the names on the bus’s passenger list. The Zacatecas State Commission for Victims’ Assistance was lending attention to the families of the dead and injured.
Express Zacatecas also reported that experts with the National Guard had confirmed that the wayward tractor-trailer had caused the accident, coinciding with the conclusions of the initial forensics investigation.
Zacatecas authorities are working with officials in neighboring states to identify the driver and the owner of the tractor-trailer involved in the accident.
More than half of Mexico’s 32 states will see temperatures drop to between -5 and 5 degrees Celsius this week with the arrival of cold front No. 6. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)
More than half of Mexico’s 32 states will see freezing temperatures on Monday and Tuesday as cold front No. 6 enters Mexico from the northwest.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) warned that residents, particularly of Mexico’s northwest region, can expect significant drops in temperature throughout the week. The weather system will bring powerful wind gusts between 60 to 80 kilometers per hour, kicking up dust storms (known locally as “tolvaneras”) across Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Chihuahua and Coahuila.
Snow and sleet are possible in high peaks including the Popocatépetl, Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba volcanoes. (Wikimedia Commons)
Beginning Monday, mountainous areas of Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, México state, Tlaxcala and Puebla can expect temperatures between -5 and 0 degrees Celsius.
The following states can expect temperatures between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius:
Sonora
Coahuila
Nuevo León
Zacatecas
San Luis Potosi
Aguascalientes
Jalisco
Michoacan
Guanajuato
Queretaro
Hidalgo
Mexico City
Veracruz
Oaxaca
Snow and sleet are also possible in high peaks including the Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl and Pico de Orizaba volcanoes.
Meanwhile, a new tropical wave will approach the coast of Quintana Roo on Thursday, interacting with a low-pressure channel in Mexico’s southeast and Yucatán Peninsula. These conditions will lead to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in the region.
The SMN has warned that rainfall may lead to reduced visibility, landslides and flooding of rivers and streams. The weather agency urged residents to follow the recommendations of Civil Protection authorities, as strong winds may knock down trees and advertisements.
Se prevé esta mañana, ambiente fresco y bancos de #Niebla en zonas altas que rodean al #ValleDeMéxico.
At least half of the country will see rainfall today. Here’s the forecast:
Heavy to very heavy rainfall (50 to 75 millimeters): Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco and Quintana Roo.
Showers and intervals of heavy rainfall (25 to 50 millimeters): Guerrero, Campeche and Yucatán.
Showers (5 to 25 millimeters): Baja California, Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala, State of Mexico, Mexico City, Morelos and Michoacán.
Temperature forecast by region
Despite the cold front, some regions in Mexico will still experience high temperatures during on Monday. Here is the forecast for today:
Maximum temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius: Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit.
Maximum temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius: Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Durango, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
“This has been a complicated week. My worst Mexican Grand Prix ever,” Pérez said after the race. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Mexican Formula 1 racer Sergio “Checo” Pérez had a rough weekend in Mexico City.
The Guadalajara native finished dead last among the 17 cars that completed Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix, adding to rumors about his future on the Red Bull Racing team.
Pérez’s poor performance at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday saw Red Bull drop to third place in the Constructors Standings. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
According to the racing website Planet F1, Pérez blamed brake problems for the poor pace during qualifying, setting him up to start Sunday’s race in 18th place. “This has been a complicated week. My worst Mexican Grand Prix ever,” Pérez said after the race. “I’ve always said my dream is to win in Mexico and I’ll be back to try again next year.”
Though Pérez wants to return to the Hermanos Rodríguez track next year, he might have to find a new team.
Despite the awful qualifying session that saw him start 18th on the grid, Pérez began the race in promising fashion, overcoming a 5-second penalty for a false start before moving into 11th place. Then disaster struck on the 18th lap of the 71-lap race.
As the fast-charging Mexican battled to pass New Zealand rookie Liam Lawson, driving for Red Bull’s sister outfit Racing Bulls, for 10th place, Lawson cut off his attempt to zip by on the inside at Turn 4. Pérez maneuvered around him on the outside of Turn 5, but Lawson made contact with Checo’s car, damaging the bodywork and knocking him out of contention.
Pérez’s poor performance saw Red Bull drop to third place in the Constructors Standings.
Lawson apologizes for inappropriate gesture
After the side-by-side battle on the 18th lap that left Checo’s car damaged, Lawson — tipped to replace Pérez at Red Bull Racing next year — flipped his middle finger at the Mexican as he surged ahead.
Liam Lawson — tipped to replace Pérez at Red Bull Racing next year — flipped his middle finger at Pérez during the race. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
After the race, the Racing Bulls pilot apologized, saying his gesture came in the heat of the moment.
“It wasn’t my intention [to have an incident], but I did try and leave space in Turn 4,” Lawson said. “I would have thought he would leave me space in Turn 5, but obviously not.”
In response, Pérez called Lawson, who finished in 16th place, “an idiot.”
Checo’s future at Red Bull hangs in the balance
Despite finishing third in the 2021 and 2022 Drivers championship, Red Bull boss Christian Horner and team advisor Helmut Marko have been disappointed with Checo’s performance this season. Pérez currently sits in eighth place and his poor form this season is the major reason Red Bull has tumbled in the Constructors Standings.
Last week, Marko said Checo’s position with Red Bull was secure, but Sunday’s result has stirred up the rumor mill once again. Pundit Ralf Schumacher told Planet F1 he believes Red Bull will drop Pérez from the team before the end of the season.
Horner was not so forgiving. “Checo again has had a horrible weekend,” Horner said, according to the news site Motorsport Week. “He knows Formula 1 is a results-based business.”
According to Motorsport Week, Horner would not guarantee that Pérez’s spot on the team was safe.
