Nearshoring in Mexico 2025: How to Assess Risks and Make Smart Decisions

As nearshoring reshapes global manufacturing, Mexico has positioned itself as a strategic hub for industrial operations. In 2025, the challenge is no longer entering the market—but knowing where, how, and under what conditions to do so.

Companies now face a critical question: how to maximize the model's advantages without compromising operational certainty, talent access, or infrastructure capacity? From the automotive to the pharmaceutical sector—and including state governments, industrial brokers, and HR leaders—many stakeholders are reassessing their expansion strategies in a new landscape.

How can companies operate in Mexico sustainably, profitably, and flexibly in a shifting environment?

Key Trends Shaping Nearshoring in Mexico in 2025

According to a Forbes Business Council analysis, the following factors will determine the success—or failure—of nearshoring strategies in the short and medium term:

1. Selective Relocation
2. Pressure on Infrastructure
3. Transformation of the Talent Pool

1. Selective Relocation

Companies investing in nearshoring are not relocating entire operations but rather their most strategic segments. This leads to a modular model in which:

Initial production or assembly takes place in Mexico, leveraging lower costs and specialized labor.
Meanwhile, final assembly, warehousing, or distribution remain in the U.S. to meet tight delivery schedules and compliance requirements.

This hybrid strategy requires high-quality industrial infrastructure with logistical integration (airports, highways, customs), as well as the availability of just-in-time-ready space. Choosing a regionally connected park is no longer optional—it's essential.

2. Pressure on Infrastructure

The surge in new industrial projects is putting increasing pressure on infrastructure in key regions:

Electricity supply, where transmission capacity doesn't always match rising industrial demand.
Water availability, particularly in northern and central Mexico, which are already under stress.
Transport networks, such as roads and logistics nodes, experience peak-hour saturation and delays at border crossings.

Selecting locations with robust infrastructure, immediate utility availability, and access to alternative energy solutions (e.g., solar generation, self-supply contracts) is a strategic priority.

3. Transformation of the Talent Pool

Mexico's shift toward advanced and automated manufacturing is raising the bar for workforce profiles. Today's operations require:

Specialized technicians in robotics, mechatronics, quality control, automation, and digital logistics.
Line supervisors and plant managers with agile methodologies, Lean Manufacturing, and safety culture experience.
Staff trained under international standards, such as FDA, ISO 13485, or IATF 16949, depending on the sector.

For this reason, choosing parks near technical training centers, dual-education universities, or industrial clusters is key to attracting and retaining talent.

Risks Companies Should Anticipate When Investing in Nearshoring in Mexico

Risk	Strategic Implication
Uneven tax incentives	Evaluate local policies before selecting an investment location.
Saturation in key regions	Choose parks with proven occupancy and signed anchor tenants.
Regulatory and political shifts	Secure legal flexibility and up-to-date advisory through 2024–2025.

According to Solili, some northern industrial corridors are already operating above 95% occupancy, reducing immediate availability for new nearshoring projects in 2025.

🏗️ Recommended read: Nearshoring to Mexico and incentives boost industrial demand >

Industrial Hotspots for Nearshoring in Mexico

Given nearshoring's current evolution and emerging challenges, selecting the right partner is just as critical as choosing the correct location. At Frontier Industrial, we offer high-standard infrastructure tailored to shifting market needs.

Frontier Park	Key Sector	Logistics Access	Additional Advantages
Escobedo (NL)	Logistics & Manufacturing	• Access via Monterrey–Colombia Highway (La Gloria-Colombia) • 50 min to Mariano Escobedo Int'l Airport	• 1,091.9 km of railways and two international airports connect NL to major North American markets • 17,422 hotel rooms and 726 healthcare units support corporate operations
PILBA (Gto)	Automotive	• Highways to CDMX, Guadalajara, and Texas border crossings (via SLP & Monterrey) • 25 min to BJX Airport	• AAA infrastructure at the heart of Mexico's automotive cluster • Manufacturing and shipping in one location
PLATAH (Hgo)	Chemical & Food	• Access to central, Bajío, and Gulf routes (Arco Norte, Mex–Querétaro, Mex–Tuxpan) • 1 hr to CDMX airport	• Ideal for agri-food and pharma sectors due to proximity to consumption hubs • Reduced storage and logistics costs
Logistik (SLP)	Multisector	• 40 min to SLP International Airport	• Plug & Play infrastructure for immediate buildout • Build to Suit project availability
Arco 57 (Edomex)	Retail & Logistics	• Mexico–Querétaro Highway, CEM, and Bajío connection • 1 hr to AIFA, 1.5 hr to AICM	• Strategic for retail and food sectors due to urban proximity • Shorter delivery times to CDMX and Bajío

Is Your Company Considering Establishing Operations in Mexico?

Today's nearshoring environment demands well-grounded decisions, especially in areas such as infrastructure, workforce, and regulatory certainty. The evolution of this model is fueling a growing demand for strategically located, sector-adapted industrial spaces.

To meet these needs, Frontier Industrial offers: