During this mission, on the occasion of the second edition of the National Made in Italy Day, the Ingenium Report, prepared by the Confindustria Study Center, was presented. The report underscores the growing relevance of Latin America, and particularly Mexico, as a strategic market for "Made in Italy" technology.
Mexico: A Critical Market for Italian Exports
The data from the Ingenium Report confirmed Mexico's importance to Italy's export strategy, as the country is the main market for Italian industrial machinery in Latin America. In fact, with a 45% share of Italian exports of machinery for Automation, Creativity, and Technology (ACT) in the region, Mexico is one of the global destinations with the highest potential.
Between 2018 and 2023, Italian machinery exports to Latin America grew at an average annual rate of 6.7%, compared to 2.2% recorded in the rest of the world. This makes the countries in this geographical area key partners in the Italian industrial strategy: just in 2024 alone, Mexico imported 1.1 billion euros worth of Italian machinery. This result reflects the mutual trust and complementarity between the two production systems: Italian technology and expertise meet a rapidly booming Mexican manufacturing sector. Mexico is currently the 13th largest global economy, with a trade surplus composed of 90% manufactured goods.
The country leads among Latin American destinations for ACT machinery—a segment that includes high-precision, innovative, and advanced design machinery—surpassing Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. This is thanks to Mexico's solid manufacturing base, driven by industries such as automotive, aerospace, food and beverage, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.
Italy, the sixth largest manufacturing exporter globally, maintains strong leadership in automation, customized design, Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This technological capability has transformed its producers into natural allies of Mexican industry.
Strategic and Diplomatic Importance
The Ambassador of Italy to Mexico, Alessandro Modiano, highlighted that Mexico is the main destination for Italian exports in all of the Americas, excluding the United States. He also emphasized that the Export Action Plan identifies Mexico as a priority partner for Italian economic diplomacy.
The INGENIUM Report, prepared by the Confindustria Study Center and the Manlio Masi Foundation, details this relationship by proposing three lines of action to strengthen cooperation:
Promote joint investments to expand productive capacity and foster innovation.
Leverage the modernized trade agreement between the European Union and Mexico to increase exports.
Encourage technology transfer and training in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability.
The modernization of the Global Agreement between the European Union and Mexico is set to facilitate a new phase in bilateral exchanges, allowing for duty-free trade of 99% of industrial and agricultural products.
Mutual Opportunities and Future Outlook
For Mexican industry, this relationship represents a clear opportunity, as every new Italian machine introduces innovation and efficiency into its production chains. For Italian industry, Mexico is a strategic point in the global reconfiguration of value chains and nearshoring.
Barbara Cimmino, Vice President of Confindustria, stated that Italian ACT machinery exports have an additional growth potential of 6.5 billion euros in the region, with Mexico as the natural destination. The combination of economic openness, industrial diversification, and proximity to the North American market explains why the country is of fundamental importance to Italian producers.
The alliance between the two countries transcends commercial transactions, including promotion programs like Machines Italia, which connects Italian producers with end-users in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. It also aims to strengthen industrial and technological chains to promote innovation, investment, and joint growth.
Source: https://machinesitalia.org/
