Mexico reaches a new high in foreign direct investment in 2024: 36.872 billion dollars

Foreign direct investment in Mexico in 2024 reached a new milestone despite uncertainty over Donald Trump 's trade policies. At the end of last year, the country attracted a record $36.872 billion in foreign disbursements, which implies an increase of 1.1% compared to the previous year and the highest amount since official records began. In the breakdown of the data, some $28.710 billion correspond to reinvestments, $3.159 billion to new investments and $3.169 billion to transfers between companies.

Although the overall figure points to marginal growth, internally, new foreign direct investment flows fell by 39% compared to 2023, from $5.217 billion to $3.169 billion at the end of 2024, their lowest level in three decades. In its balance of payments report, the Bank of Mexico detailed that in the fourth quarter of 2024, $676 million of foreign direct investment entered Mexico, a 45% drop compared to the same period in 2023, taking into account revised figures.

Despite Trump's tariff threats, the United States remains Mexico's main investment partner, with 16,513 million dollars, representing 45% of the disbursement in 2024. In second place was Japan with 4,285 million dollars; Germany with 3,788 million and Canada with 3,216 million dollars, according to the report of the Ministry of Economy. As in previous years, Mexico City was the main recipient of this investment with more than 14,000 million dollars, followed by the State of Mexico (2,642 million) and Baja California with 2,479 million dollars. By sector, 54% of foreign disbursements were destined for the manufacturing sector, especially transportation equipment, with half; followed by beverages and tobacco, computer equipment, chemicals and basic metals.

The investment figure achieved, by the minimum, a new annual growth. However, it was lower than the estimates of the Center for Public Finance Studies, which predicted an attraction of more than 38 billion dollars. For 2025, the body dependent on the Chamber of Deputies predicts that 39,324 million dollars will be reached. Foreign Direct Investment represents 2.6% of GDP in 2024, showing a growth of 0.08 percentage points compared to 2023.