12/03/2026
While nearshoring focuses on proximity to major markets, smartshoring prioritizes spaces that help companies operate more efficiently, with lower risk and better conditions for growth.
In recent years, industrial relocation in Mexico has followed a more comprehensive approach, in which location is complemented by long-term strategic factors such as resources, talent, and top-tier infrastructure.
Location remains an important factor, but today companies are analyzing more rigorously the ability of industrial parks in Mexico to support their operations, scale efficiently, and adapt to new market demands.
This evolution has given rise to smartshoring.
What is smartshoring?
Smartshoring is an evolution of nearshoring that expands location criteria to optimize the entire value chain, beyond geographic proximity to certain markets.
This means the decision is no longer focused solely on being close to the customer or the border, but on establishing operations in environments that offer reliable infrastructure, access to talent, technological support, and the real conditions needed to scale.
Mexico is a key player in smartshoring
Mexico has strong fundamentals to capitalize on smartshoring thanks to its strategic location, integration with North America, preferential market access through the USMCA, skilled technical talent, and an increasingly specialized industrial base.
In addition, the country continues to be an attractive destination for the expansion of manufacturing and logistics operations:
According to Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, by the end of 2025 the country recorded a historic inflow of $40.871 billion in foreign direct investment, equivalent to annual growth of 10.8%
The composition of industrial tenants also confirms this: according to AMPIP, 74% of tenants in industrial parks in Mexico are foreign companies, while 26% are domestic.
This shows that Mexico’s industrial market is no longer driven solely by local demand, but now operates as a strategic platform for global companies looking to manufacture, distribute, and grow from Mexico.
How can companies take advantage of smartshoring?
Companies need supply chains that are more agile, resilient, and flexible, which is why they are making much more deliberate decisions about where to establish their operations. In this context, the quality of industrial space has become a decisive factor.
As Vianey Macías, Head of Market Research at Spot2.mx, told El Economista, market activity is shifting toward higher-quality properties, since a better-equipped property can reduce costs over the long term.
That is why, rather than looking only for availability, companies are evaluating spaces with quality infrastructure, flexibility, and room for expansion.
What does “quality” mean in industrial space today?
The quality of an industrial space is not defined solely by its construction or location. It also means having the right Class A infrastructure in place.
At Frontier Industrial, we are ready to respond to these trends with industrial parks in Mexico that are connected to the country’s main logistics corridors and designed to support companies as they grow
Our expansion strategy is moving in the same direction, with industrial buildings for lease and development projects that integrate the infrastructure required for the operations of the future.
Rather than simply offering square footage, we aim to provide environments designed to grow, scale, and compete in an increasingly demanding market.
Contact us to explore our portfolio of industrial parks in Mexico.
