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What’s on in Mexico City in February?

By
Bethany Platanella
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Weird weddings and high art are just two amazing things you can do this month in Mexico City. (Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

Buckle up, culture vultures! If January was your Netflix-and-chill month, February is here to get you back out on the Mexico City social scene. The capital’s event calendar is overflowing with gatherings that are sure to light you up, spark your inner Brontë or pivot your career into a money-making tech machine. Leave the yoga pants at home, rummage for your fanciest threads and hit the illuminated streets beckoning you to come alive in the month of love and art.

LAMPS

(Jess Thornhill/Instagram)

To warm up for this year’s Art Week, ceramicist Jessica Thornhill is hosting an evening to showcase her brand new collection of ceramic lamps, alongside some of her most popular pieces from last year. London born, now based in Mexico City, her designs reflect her rich, mixed heritage, drawing on influences from India, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

For one intimate evening only, attendees can expect a live DJ, drinks and a lot of lamps. Follow the artist on Instagram and send a message with the word LAMPS for event entry.

Dates: Feb. 1
Location: Dolores 54, Historic Center
Cost: Free to enter, must be on guest list

Zona Maco 2025

(Zona Maco/Facebook)

Latin America’s most important contemporary art fair is back in Mexico City for its 21st year. Admire a diverse range of contemporary and modern art, design, photography and antiques in its 200 galleries hailing from 29 countries. The fair is divided into sections including Zona Maco Arte Contemporáneo, Diseño, Salón del Anticuario and Foto. Zona Maco also offers a program of activities for collectors and art professionals, so if you’re looking for networking events or curator-led guided tours, you’ll find a range of ways to enhance your creative experience here.

Dates: Feb. 5 to 9
Location: Centro Citibanamex, Ave. Del Conscripto 311, Lomas de Sotelo, Miguel Hidalgo
Cost: Tickets start at 450 pesos

BADA 2025

(BADA/Facebook)

In its fifth edition, BADA will showcase 300 emerging and established artists across various disciplines and techniques, from painting to photography. The event offers an exclusive opportunity to discover and purchase the art you like, directly from the artist. BADA aims to make art more accessible and more personal, with prices starting from 2,500 pesos. This year’s gathering will take place in the spacious garden at Restaurant Campo Marte. 

Dates: Feb. 6 to 9
Location: Restaurante Campo Marte, Campo Marte, Bosque de Chapultepec
Cost: Tickets start at 300 pesos

SACBE 

(SACBE/Instagram)

For a Tuluminati-esque celebration that blends art, music and community, don your favorite suede hat and white linen button down for a night of conscious socializing at SACBE. Get down with live performances on two stages, including acoustic sets and DJ performances from artists like Chambord, Heimlich Knüller, and Sinca. Fill up on bites from artisanal food vendors while moving with purpose at this unique experience that combines creativity, culture, and connection in a secret urban oasis, carrying the essence of their jungle roots into the heart of Mexico City.

Date: Feb. 6
Location: Undisclosed, San Angel
Cost: Tickets start at US $88

Material Art Fair

(Material Art Fair/Instagram)

Known for its vibrant atmosphere and focus on emerging talent, Material Art Fair’s 11th edition is set to wow with an impressive showcase of exceptional artists from Mexico and around the world. In addition to two floors of open galleries, the fair will also feature an exciting program of talks, screenings, performances and more.

Dates: Feb. 6 to 9
Location: Expo Reforma, Calle Morelos 67, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: 250 pesos per person

Salón ACME

(Salón ACME/Facebook)

ZonaMaco’s rebellious little sister is where emerging artists rub elbows with those long established in the industry. With sections like “Open Call” and “Bodega,” Salón ACME is a vibrant, unpretentious platform for beginners to find their place in the creative world. Not quite sure what abstract expressionism actually means but still like looking at art? Salon Acme is the place for you. The fair attracts art enthusiasts, collectors and industry professionals, fostering connections within the art community.

Dates: Feb. 6 to 9
Location: Jardín Prim, Calle Gral. Prim 30, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Cost: Tickets start at 300 pesos per person

Get sorta-married at Torre Latino

(Andrea Murcia/Cuartoscuro)

For a Vegas-style wedding that doesn’t actually count (at least not according to the Civil Court), head to the Mirador at Torre Latino. Every year, on Feb. 13 and 14, the Torre Latino offers themed weddings on its observation deck. For 300 pesos per couple, you can participate in a symbolic ceremony that includes a photo souvenir, rings and a non-official marriage certificate. The experience takes place at 182 meters high, so you can celebrate your unshakable love with panoramic views of Mexico City.

Dates: Feb. 13 to 14
Location: Mirador at Torre Latino
Cost: 300 pesos per couple

Feria Internacional del Libro del Palacio de Minería

(FIL Palacio de Minería)

Bookworms, this one’s for you! One of Mexico’s largest literary events takes place beneath the dramatic archways inside the Palacio de Minería. More than a chance to add to your ever-growing pile of paperbacks, the fair showcases 700 book presentations, 100 talks and 71 workshops, as well as activities for the little ones. The FIL Minería’s 46th edition aims to promote reading and cultural exchange, offering visitors a diverse program of literary and cultural activities.

Dates: Feb. 21 to March 2
Location: Palacio de Minería, Calle Tacuba 5, Historic Center
Cost: Tickets start at 20 pesos per person

FinTech México Festival 2025

(Facebook)

February’s one-day FinTech festival Mexico is set to be the largest event of its kind in Latin America, bringing together over 2,000 experts from the financial and technological sectors. The event features four main stages: Main Stage for keynote speeches, Battle Arena for creative competitions, Shark’s Den for startup pitches and Serenity Dome for discussions on financial well-being. The festival aims to foster innovation, learning and collaboration in the fintech ecosystem

Dates: Feb. 27
Location: Papalote Museo del Niño
Cost: Entry TBD

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.

In case you missed it: Authorities find stolen vehicle exhibited in Mexico City museum

By
MND Staff
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A (possibly stolen) Jaguar valued at nearly 2 million pesos was seized from a Coyoacán museum earlier this month. (SSC CDMX)

Where would you look for a stolen vehicle? Probably not in an exhibition! In a surreal episode of Mexico City life, authorities found a stolen car displayed as part of the Automobile Museum in Coyoacán.

In a video shared by local authorities, various police officers and members of the Ministry of Citizen Security (SSC) are seen arriving at the museum on Jan. 20 and taking pictures of the car, a black Jaguar. Later, a tow truck is seen taking the black vehicle, valued at nearly 2 million pesos, away from the scene.

Reportedly, SSC officials arrived at the museum, located in the Plaza Punta Museo shopping mall in San Pablo Tepetlapa, following a report for the concealment of stolen goods.

The vehicle, which was found on the second floor of the building, has been handed over to a local prosecutor’s office to continue with the investigation.

But according to the legal representative of the Automobile Museum, Jorge Contreras, the museum was not involved in this bizarre incident. Contreras told news outlet Imagen Noticias that the part of the building where the car was found is space that belongs not to the museum but to its neighbor, a car dealership called Futurautos.

“There’s a lease contract between the Promotora Mobiliaria S.A. de C.V. (Futurautos), in which the museum leases Futurautos a perfectly demarcated area in the building,” Contreras said. “The Automobile Museum has no commercial ties with Futurautos,” he stressed.

The stolen Jaguar. (SSC CDMX)

To complicate matters more, news outlet Infobae Mexico found a potential contradiction in the SSC’s claims. 

According to Infobae, when it sought additional details regarding the vehicle’s license plate number, official records showed that the vehicle had no reports of being stolen, which would apparently contradict the claims made by the SSC. Infobae tried to obtain more details about the vehicle from sources close to the capital’s prosecutor’s office, but there was no immediate response. 

Unfortunately, this story leaves behind more questions than answers. How did the stolen car get to a Mexico City museum? Who submitted the complaint to the SSC letting them know of the car? What if there are more stolen vehicles there?

It may be a long time before we get answers to these questions — if we ever do.

With reports from Imagen Noticias, Excélsior and Infobae

Misinformation about Americans at risk of being deported from Mexico: A perspective from our CEO

By
Travis Bembenek
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Over the past two weeks, there has been an increasing number of Facebook posts from people in expat groups across the country asking if U.S. residents living in Mexico could be at risk of being deported.
Over the past two weeks, there has been an increasing number of Facebook posts from people in expat groups across the country asking if U.S. residents living in Mexico could be at risk of being deported. (Facebook)

It started about a week ago with a single Facebook post suggesting that United States residents living in Mexico could be at risk of deportation in retaliation for what the Trump administration has pledged to do to Mexicans living illegally in the U.S.

It then turned into an increasing number of Facebook posts from people writing in expat groups asking if they thought U.S. residents living in Mexico could be at risk of being deported. Being social media, most comments made in response to the questions served only to further confuse and scare people. Facts were not shared, but rather opinions, rumors, and mostly hateful comments.

An example of an alarmist statement posted in a Facebook group for expats in Mexico.
An example of an alarmist statement posted in a Facebook group for expats in Mexico. (Facebook)

Over this past weekend, the steady flow of Facebook posts and comments turned into a flood, with both Mexican and expat friends beginning to ask me if I had seen the rumors, if I thought any of it was true and if I was concerned that I could be deported from Mexico.

The rumors and comments were then further enflamed by a variety of posts sharing supposed quotes of President Sheinbaum saying things like “an eye for an eye…we will deport an American for every Mexican deported” or a fake headline of “Sheinbaum announces plan to begin deporting American immigrants back to the U.S.” that went viral. Today I also saw an AI-generated picture of Sheinbaum wearing a red baseball cap that reads “Make America Mexicana Again.”

To give you two more recent examples, one friend sent me a message suggesting he is concerned that violence could break out against expats by Mexicans angry over the U.S. deportations. Another friend suggested to me that the Mexican cartels might retaliate against expats for any actions taken by the US government. These opinions, when shared out of context or on social media, can easily be misinterpreted, take on a life of their own and result in a lot of misplaced fear and anxiety.

Oftentimes, opinions shared on social media end up being interpreted as facts. That is in part what is causing so many people to have stress and anxiety and so many others to completely tune out any news. It is a time for each of us to be calm, increase our fact checks and be cognizant of the potential impact of misinformation.

Fact check: Does Mexico’s president really plan to deport US citizens?

Social media is great for many things, but I personally believe that it can be extremely confusing/disturbing/unhelpful when it comes to trying to make sense of the news. Voices from respected media outlets can get drowned out by people simply trying to stir the pot and make a name for themselves by creating chaos and confusion with their opinions.  Social media might feel like the best place to get the latest breaking news headlines, but it is also a source of what is likely a significant amount of opinions and incorrect or misleading information.

Even respected media outlets are increasingly publishing sensationalist and very misleading headlines. I saw examples over the weekend of “ICE agents raiding a school in Chicago” (turned out to be not true) and “Mexico refuses to accept a U.S. deportation flight” (the article went on to say it was “temporary” and that Mexico in fact “accepted a record 4 deportation flights in one day”). Both news outlets should be ashamed for deliberately publishing clickbait-type articles.

Tammy Bruce is the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State led by Secretary Marco Rubio.

The news business is not an easy one, and especially these days given the torrent at which news is coming at us.  The team at Mexico News Daily is totally committed to getting every story right, each and every day.

We will not publish stories for which we do not yet have the facts, and we will not mislead you with our headlines. We will not get it perfect every time, but it’s important that you know our values.

It’s equally important to remember to keep calm, fact-check, cross-check and not fall into the fear-mongering trap.  Artificial intelligence will likely make this even more important going forward as confusing and misleading news and information will only become more prevalent.

Thank you for reading MND and for putting your trust in our team.

Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for nearly 30 years.

How to whistle like a true Mexican: learning the intricate art form from scratch

By
Sarah DeVries
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A man whistling
Learning how to whistle in Mexico takes time and patience, like any other art form. (Canva)

I have known no jealously like the jealousy I feel when I hear Mexicans’ elaborate category of effortless whistles.

Okay fine, they’re not effortless. They just sound that way, because they learned how to do it when they were kids. You know, like speaking Spanish.

A child whistling
People in Mexico learn how to whistle from an early age. (Canva)

Indeed, whistling is part of the language in some meaningful ways. There are specific whistles used for getting people’s attention. There are whistles for saying “Hey buddy, what’s up?” from across the street. There are whistles for saying, “But of course, my horse” — okay, maybe not exactly that, but a kind of “You know it!” with that adorable tone. There are whistles to say, “Wowza, nice butt, strange woman I don’t know!” There are whistles that say, “Okay, back up your car now, a little more, a little more, a little more, stop!” There are even whistles to tell people where they can stuff it. Careful with those.

And I am going to learn them all.

Well, I’m going to try. It’s my New Year’s resolution! Forget turning my health or finances around; it’s too big a task. I need something I actually stand a chance at being able to bite off. Even though the prospect of practicing them takes me back to the deep humiliation I felt trying to string a four-word sentence together in Spanish while the three-year-old next to me rattled off deep complex sentence after deep complete sentence, I’m committed. I did it once, and I can do it again!

I won’t necessarily use them all, or use them frequently. In fact, I’m fairly certain that men whistle much more than women around here, anyway. Like cursing, it falls into a decidedly “male” category of behavior, and is seen as somewhat crass and unladylike.

Indigenous Whistle Language In Mexico

I’ve also noticed that whistling is more prevalent among lower socio-economic classes than among the more well-to-do. Part of this is simply cultural habit, growing out of the need to communicate at great distances. It’s more pleasant sounding, and clearer, than shouting. If you’re willing to do some digging, there are actually some fascinating examples of whistles-as-language. Here’s a cool short video about it!

But I don’t need to be communicating over great distances in the Oaxaca countryside. I just want to have some fun.

And I don’t want to go too fast, but I’m also an eager learner. This video is pretty cute, by the way, as an introduction to the meanings of different whistles.

Here are the specific ones that I want to learn:

Learning how to whistle in Mexico (in different styles, for different purposes) 

The whistle to get someone’s attention

A woman whistling
Learning how to whistle in Mexico works wonders if you want to call for someone’s attention. (Canva)

Say you’re walking along a busy street and you need to get someone’s attention. Maybe it’s a vendor, or maybe a taxi that didn’t notice you! This whistle is perfect for it. It’s also important for me personally, because my voice does not carry at all. My loudest is not very loud, and the strain on my voice physically hurts! This can either be a quick low-high sound, or the more universally recognized high-low-slightly higher.

The “you can count on me, buddy” whistle 

I mostly want to learn this one because I think it’s both hilarious and adorable. My partner does this one sometimes, and even though it’s kind of a joke, I am 100% charmed.

“Hey, friend on the other side of the street!”

Finally, I’ve just got to learn this whistle. It’s short and sweet, and I don’t care that I’ve hardly ever heard it from a woman’s lips.

So those are the three goals. Three distinct whistles — I can kind of do a “pucker” whistle now, but not very well — should be manageable in a year, right?

In the meantime, I’m dying to know: can you whistle? Can you do any specifically Mexican whistles? I especially want to know how many women out there can — please let me know in the comments!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

‘We’re working every day to build peace in Sinaloa’: Monday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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President Claudia Sheinbaum leaves the stage after her Monday morning press conference
President Sheinbaum gave her usual daily press conference from the National Palace on Monday. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that just over 4,000 immigrants have been deported to Mexico from the United States since U.S. President Donald Trump took office a week ago. (Read MND’s report here.)

She also spoke about ongoing violence in Sinaloa, her administration’s desire to reach an agreement with the United States to avert Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Mexican exports and secondary laws that will support the energy reform approved by federal Congress last year.

‘We’re working in Sinaloa’ to combat violence, Sheinbaum says 

A reporter noted that citizens protested in Culiacán, Sinaloa, again on Sunday to demand peace in the northern state and the resignation of Governor Rubén Rocha, who has faced criticism for his government’s response to the rampant violence.

“We’re working in Sinaloa,” Sheinbaum responded when asked to give her opinion on the situation in the violence-plagued state.

“We have to say and remember the reasons why the terrible wave of violence in Sinaloa erupted,” she said.

Fighting between the “Los Mayos” and “Los Chapitos” factions of the Sinaloa Cartel intensified after alleged cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was arrested in the United States last July. Zambada accused Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and one of the leaders  of the “Los Chapitos” faction — or former leaders given that he too is in U.S. custody — of kidnapping him and forcing him onto a U.S.-bound private plane prior to his arrest.

El Mayo Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López
Sinaloa Cartel kingpin “El Mayo” Zambada (left) alleged that Los Chapitos leader Joaquín Guzmán López (right) kidnapped him and delivered him to U.S. authorities. (Archive)

Sheinbaum, like her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has suggested that the United States government conducted a negotiation with Guzmán López that resulted in the delivery of Zambada to U.S. law enforcement authorities at a New Mexico airport near El Paso, Texas.

The president said Monday that once the new U.S. government is settled in and “we have a more fluid relationship” with it, “we’re going to continue insisting on an explanation as to how this … [alleged abduction] occurred in our country.”

“That is the origin of this wave of violence,” she said.

“I say to the people of Sinaloa that we’re working every day, that we’re aware of and regret the situation they’re going through,” Sheinbaum added.

Sinaloa state police officer in black militarized uniform guarding a crime scene on a street in Culiacan, Sinaloa, that is cordoned off with yellow caution tape. In the background is a forensic van with and yellow evidence marker cones on the street.
The origin of Sinaloa’s current wave of violence was the alleged kidnapping of Zambada, Sheinbaum said. (Cuartoscuro)

“… More reinforcement has arrived in Sinaloa and we’re working every day to build peace in Sinaloa,” she said.

“… Our job as the federal government is to help protect the families of Sinaloa,” Sheinbaum said before rejecting calls published in “some” newspaper columns for her to dismiss Rocha as governor.

“That is not the job of the federal government,” she said. “The job of the federal government is to support families across the entire country by building peace.”

President says there will be dialogue with US over Trump’s proposed tariffs 

A journalist noted that The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump, according to a senior U.S. government official, “views tariffs as an ‘effective negotiating tool’ and ‘effective punishment’ for nations that don’t hew to his agenda.”

The Journal also reported that “momentum is growing among President Trump’s advisers to place 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada as soon as Saturday,” as the U.S. president said last week his administration could do.

“We’re going to have conversations [with the U.S. government] on all issues,” Sheinbaum said Monday.

Donald Trump onstage at one of his rallies, looking on with a closemouthed smile as a male guest in a suit speaks in a microphone nearby.
Sheinbaum promised conversations “on all issues” with the Trump administration, as Mexico faces tariff threats. (Donald Trump/Truth Social)

“… Obviously on the trade issue we have an agreement,” she said, referring to the USMCA free trade pact.

“… What are we looking for? To reach agreement on all issues within the framework of our sovereignty, respect and respect for our compatriots,” Sheinbaum said.

The president has expressed confidence that her government will reach an agreement to ward off the proposed 25% tariff, but time to reach a deal — if such a duty were to be imposed this Saturday — is running out.

Secondary energy laws coming soon 

Sheinbaum said that the federal government will present secondary laws on Wednesday to support the energy reform approved by Congress in October.

The reform and the secondary laws are “very transcendent for the strengthening of Pemex and the CFE,” she said, referring to Mexico’s state-owned oil and electricity companies.

The secondary laws, Sheinbaum added, will “establish very clearly where there can be private participation” in the energy sector and “how” private sector investment can occur.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Gordon Ramsay’s F1 Garage is coming to the Mexico City Grand Prix

By
MND Staff
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A portrait of Gordon Ramsay superimposed on a Formula 1 race car image
Ramsay's F1 Garage experience will come to 10 Grands Prix this year, including Mexico City. (Gordon Ramsay/Facebook)

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and the fast-action sport of Formula 1 have joined forces to bring a gourmet dining experience to 10 Grands Prix during the 2025 season — including Mexico City in October.

Known as F1 Garage, the premium hospitality package blended Ramsay’s culinary prowess with intense car-racing action when it made its debut at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

It was such a success that Ramsay — a culinary icon famous for TV shows such as “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef” and “Kitchen Nightmares” — and the Formula 1 organization are bringing it back for the 2025 season, which will begin March 16 with the Australian Grand Prix.

This year, the Mexico City Grand Prix is scheduled as race number 20 in a season featuring a record 24 races. The 305-kilometer race will be contested on Oct. 26 at the Hermanos Rodríguez Autodrome in the CDMX borough of Iztacalco.

The event will also include three practices and a qualifying session on Oct. 25 and 26, as well as the big race on Sunday, Oct. 27.

The “unmatched immersive experience,” according to The Paddock Magazine, will offer fans VIP tours of the paddock, gourmet food, an open bar, and access to podium celebrations and up-close viewing areas — including one right next to pit row.

Chef Gordon Ramsay stands in front of a table full of food
Besides being a Michelin-star chef, Ramsay is also known for his love of high-end sports cars and racing. (Formula 1)

According to Formula 1, Ramsay and his team of executive chefs “will curate a menu of gourmet dishes inspired by that weekend’s Grand Prix and infused with locally sourced ingredients.” Also, site-specific signature cocktails will be prepared by “expert mixologists.”

Last year’s F1 Garage in Las Vegas included live cooking stations from guest chefs and a pop-up of Ramsay’s upscale Lucky Cat restaurant in London.

In Mexico City, all of the above privileges will come at a cost: US $27,945 per person, or approximately 578,947 pesos depending on the exchange rate at time of purchase, according to the newspaper El Universal.

The F1 Garage hospital package is available from F1 Experiences, while other packages can be seen here.

The F1 Garage will make its first appearance at the Miami Grand Prix from May 2-4 and then will be held at Monte Carlo, Monaco; Montreal; Silverstone, U.K.; Monza, Italy; Austin, Texas; Mexico City; and Las Vegas. The last two will be Nov. 28-30 in Qatar and Dec. 5-7 in Abu Dhabi.

Ramsay is a lifelong F1 fan who grew up near the famous Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, England. The home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone is often referred to as the birthplace of F1, as it hosted the first-ever Formula 1 world championship race in1950.

The 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix was won by Spaniard Carlos Sainz, with favored son Sergio “Checo” Pérez finishing in last place. It was part of a hugely disappointing 2024 season for the 35-year-old Guadalajara native, who announced his departure from Red Bull Racing in December and won’t be racing in 2025.

With reports from El Universal, The Manual and Formula1.com

Mexico’s 2024 exports beat expectations with over US $600 billion in revenue

By
MND Staff
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0
Shipping containers filled with export and import goods at Lázaro Cárdenas port in Michoacán, Mexico
Export revenue grew over 4% in 2024, surpassing experts' expectations. (Cuartoscuro)

The value of Mexico’s exports hit a record high in 2024, increasing 4.1% annually to more than US $617 billion, the national statistics agency INEGI reported Monday.

Data published by INEGI showed that Mexico’s export revenue was $617.09 billion last year, $24 billion higher than the $593 billion in earnings in 2023.

Volkswagen factory workers in Puebla, Mexico assembling a white car frame on an assembly line
Auto manufacturing grew more slowly than other types of manufacturing, but still brought in nearly US $200 billion in revenue in 2024. (Volkswagen de México)

The 4.1% year-over-year growth in export revenue was well above both the 3% prediction of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology, and the 2.6% annual increase recorded in 2023.

The publication of the 2024 export data comes ahead of the possible implementation of tariffs on Mexican goods sent to the United States, which receives more than 80% of all Mexican exports. United States President Donald Trump said last Monday that his administration could impose a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods on Feb. 1.

INEGI also reported that the value of Mexico’s imports increased 4.5% in 2024 to $625.31 billion. Mexico thus recorded a trade deficit of $8.21 billion last year, a 50.1% increase compared to 2023.

Manufactured goods brought in almost 90% of export revenue

INEGI’s data shows that manufactured goods brought in $554.44 billion in export revenue last year, accounting for 89.8% of Mexico’s total export earnings. Export revenue from manufactured goods increased 4.8% compared to 2023.

A huge lot full of cars ready for export in Mexico
Automotive exports accounted for almost a third of all export revenue in 2024. (Shutterstock)

Auto sector exports were worth $193.9 billion, or 31.4% of Mexico’s total export revenue, while manufactured goods made in sectors other than the auto industry brought in $360.53 billion, or 58.4% of the total. The value of the former increased 2.7% compared to 2023, while revenue generated by the latter rose 6.1%.

The other exports that contributed to Mexico’s overall revenue in 2024 were:

  • Oil: $28.42 billion, a 14.4% decrease compared to 2023.
  • Agricultural products: $23.35 billion, a 7.1% annual increase.
  • Mining sector exports: $10.87 billion, an 18.6% year-over-year increase.

The annual increase in the value of Mexico’s exports last year easily outstripped economic growth. Final data for 2024 is not yet in, but indications are that the Mexican economy grew by well under 2% in annual terms last year.

Import data in detail 

The 4.5% increase in the value of Mexico’s imports last year came after a 1% decline in 2023.

Spending on intermediate goods — partly finished goods used as inputs in the manufacture of final goods — accounted for 75.6% of Mexico’s total expenditure on imports. The value of those imported goods increased 4.4% compared to 2023.

Steel rods and tubes for building construction sitting on shelving, on display for sale.
Three quarters of import spending went towards products or materials used in manufacturing, known as intermediate goods. (Shutterstock)

The total outlay on imported consumer goods was $90.9 billion in 2024, up 3.6% from a year earlier, while expenditure on capital goods was $61.57 billion, a 6.4% year-over-year increase.

Non-oil imports (including non-oil consumer goods and non-oil intermediate goods) were worth $586.84 billion, up 7.3% compared to 2023, while oil-imports (including oil-based consumer goods and oil-based intermediate goods) were worth $38.47 billion, down 25.7% compared to a year earlier.

INEGI didn’t provide a breakdown on where Mexico’s imports came from last year. However, the United States and China are, in that order, the top exporters of goods to Mexico.

The federal government is aiming to reduce reliance on imports from China and other Asian countries by increasing production in Mexico.

With reports from El Economista, Expansión and El Financiero

Yucatán named 2025 Ibero-American Capital of Gastronomy

By
MND Staff
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1
Yucatán cochinita pibil tacos
Yucatán's drool-worthy cochinita pibil, panuchos and other delicious Maya dishes won the state recognition at this year's International Tourism Fair. (Shutterstock)

On Wednesday, Yucatán state was named Ibero-American Capital of Gastronomy 2025 at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid.

The designation “will allow us to introduce one of our country’s best cuisines to all of Mexico and the whole world,” Yucatán Gov. Joaquín Díaz Mena said.

Yucatán Gov. Joaquín Díaz Mena displays Yucatán's gastronomy award in a photo with International Tourism Fair officials
Yucatán Gov. Joaquín Díaz Mena (center right) displays Yucatán’s gastronomy award in Madrid. (Huacho Díaz Mena/Facebook)

The southeastern Mexican state, home to the famed Chichén Itzá pyramid, was recognized for its wide range of culinary offerings and invited to share the state’s cultural, historical, natural and gastronomic attractions with those attending the event.

A team of more than 40 representatives from Yucatán, including state officials and business leaders, attended the 45th edition of FITUR in Madrid, Spain. Gov. Díaz Mena and federal Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora cut the ribbon at the inauguration of the event’s Yucatán pavilion.

The recognition of Yucatán at the tourism fair was not an isolated achievement, but rather “the fruits of the joint work of a government committed to bringing the greatness of Yucatan to the world, and of a people who demonstrate every day that the true driving force of our land is its history, its culture and its people,” stressed Díaz Mena.

The Yucatecan delegation offered a tour of the state’s beaches, cenotes, archaeological sites and gastronomy at its stand. The theme, “Mayan Renaissance,” aimed to combine Yucatán’s cultural roots with innovation and sustainable development.

“We took Yucatán to the world and returned with great benefits for our people: international agreements, investment attraction, financial inclusion and the pride of being named Ibero-American Capital of Gastronomic Culture 2025,” Díaz Mena wrote on the social media site X.

“We continue to promote the Mayan Renaissance with more opportunities, development and global recognition for our state.”

With reports from Forbes México and La Jornada

Mexican duo’s breakthrough in regenerative medicine earns MIT recognition

By
MND Staff
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Enrique González and Lizette Minjares
Enrique González and Lizette Minjares were honored by MIT for their achievements as inventors, specifically their groundbreaking work in regenerative medicine at their company, Nanoblast. (UDLAP)

Two Mexicans were among the young people recognized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with its Innovators under 35 LATAM program.

Enrique González and Lizette Minjares were honored by MIT for their achievements as inventors, specifically their groundbreaking work in regenerative medicine at their company, Nanoblast. 

González and Minjares, both graduates with degrees in molecular engineering from the University of the Americas in Puebla (UDLAP), founded Nanoblast in 2014 in Jalisco. The company is committed to making regenerative medicine accessible through nanotechnology and the circular economy. 

The invention for which they were recognized has to do with the treatment of chronic ulcers via agave residues, according to UDLAP. The treatment has also proven effective for slow-healing scars in diabetics, a solution that can prevent the need for amputations.

According to the company website, Nanoblast focuses on skin regeneration technologies and offers advanced wound-healing technology.

The company’s main goal is to develop innovative technologies that “improve quality of life through elegant and simple solutions.” The company emphasizes research that combines a deep knowledge of its clients with state-of-the-art technology and broad experience in research and development.

Enrique González holding a Nanoblast product.
Enrique González holding a Nanoblast product. (@udlap/X)

González has extensive global research experience in health, environment and advanced materials. His LinkedIn page says he has focused on regenerative medicine and has developed and patented advanced nanomaterials targeting two key sectors: tissue regeneration and sustainable solutions for environmental remediation.

González also founded Ceiba, a company that strives to eliminate the use of plastics in personal care products.

Minjares’ role at Nanoblast focuses on product development. She has research experience in the area of skin cancer with an emphasis on non-invasive diagnosis. Her LinkedIn page also describes her as a cosmetic chemist and a clean beauty specialist.

In addition to Nanoblast, Minjares also co-founded the company Zero Waste Skincare in Jalisco. The philosophy from which the company’s name was borrowed aims to reduce waste and limit the environmental impact of the cosmetic industry by eliminating the use of single-use products and excessive packaging, and by utilizing more sustainable materials. 

The Innovators under 35 LATAM awards are presented annually by MIT Technology Review magazine, which began the program in 2012 as part of a talent search in Latin American countries. The magazine seeks to identify innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing new technologies and shaping their fields with revolutionary projects and ideas that will transform people’s lives through technology.

Thousands of applications are submitted each year and a jury formed by experts in technology and innovation select laureates in the categories of Inventors, Pioneers, Entrepreneurs, Visionaries and Humanitarians.

With reports from La Jornada, Nanoblast and The UDLAP Blog

Sheinbaum: Mexico received over 4,000 deportees last week

By
MND Staff
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Deportees in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico in January 2025
Over 38,000 Mexicans have been deported since the beginning of Donald Trump's second term. (Carlos Sánchez Colunga/Cuartoscuro)

More than 4,000 migrants have been deported to Mexico from the United States in the past week, but the totals are not dissimilar to the number of weekly deportations in the past, according to Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Despite headlines about the possibility of mass deportations flooding Mexican border cities, Sheinbaum insists that fears of a mass influx of migrants are so far unfounded, telling reporters at her Monday morning press conference that there has been regular communication between the governments of Mexico and the U.S.

Mexico accepted 4,094 deportees between Jan. 20-26, Sheinbaum said. In addition to those who have been deported at border crossings, the U.S. also sent four deportation flights to Mexico using civilian aircraft.

Sheinbaum also mentioned that Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week. There have also been regular meetings between U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials and Mexico’s assistant secretary for human rights, she said.

During her update, Sheinbaum also revealed that Mexico has received non-Mexican deportees from the United States in the past week, though the majority of deportees received between Jan. 20 and 26 were Mexican.

The president had been on record saying that her administration would not agree to the restart of the “Remain in Mexico” program, a so-called migrant protection protocol that requires that non-Mexican migrants remain in Mexico while their asylum requests are processed by the United States. 

The program was originally implemented by the first Trump administration in January 2019, but was then partially shut down by the Biden administration in 2022. In February 2023, Mexico rejected U.S. plans to reactivate the “Remain in Mexico” policy.

Since Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president on Jan. 20, there has not been a “substantial” increase in deportees received by Mexico, Sheinbaum said.

Similar stories were heard along the Mexico-U.S. border.

Officials in the border state of Chihuahua told the newspaper La Jornada that the 136 people deported on Friday represented a typical day at the Ciudad Juárez border crossing.

Enrique Serrano, coordinator of Chihuahua’s Population Council, told La Jornada that, if excessive deportations are imminent, the U.S. government has agreed to alert Mexico’s Consulate in El Paso — across the border from Ciudad Juárez — as well as Mexico’s National Immigration Institute.

With reports from Reuters, La Jornada and Infobae

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