The Italian ambassador to Mexico, Alessandro Modiano, highlighted that Mexico is the first destination for Italian exports in all of America, with the exception of the United States. He recalled that the Export Action Plan, presented after the Mexico-Italy Business Forum last May, includes the country among the priority partners for Italian economic diplomacy. The modernization of the Global Agreement between the European Union and Mexico will allow 99% of industrial and agricultural products to be traded without tariffs, which will open a new stage for bilateral exchange.
The INGENIUM report, prepared by the Centro Studi Confindustria and the Fondazione Manlio Masi, delves into this relationship. Mexico leads the Latin American destinations for ACT machinery, an acronym for the Automation, Creativity and Technology sectors. This segment brings together high precision machinery, innovation and advanced design.
Mexico surpasses Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru thanks to its solid manufacturing base, supported by industries such as automotive, aerospace, food and beverages, plastics and pharmaceuticals.
Italy ranks sixth in the world in manufacturing exports and maintains a firm leadership in automation, custom design, solutions with artificial intelligence and the industrial Internet of Things. This technological capacity has turned its manufacturers into natural allies of the Mexican industry.
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. Mexico absorbs 45% of these shipments, which places it at the head of the region and profiles it as a key partner in the Italian industrial strategy.
The report identifies three lines of action to strengthen cooperation. The first is to promote joint investments that expand productive capacity and promote innovation. The second is to take advantage of the modernized trade agreement between the European Union and Mexico to increase exports. The third focuses on technology transfer and training in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and sustainability.
For the Mexican industry, this relationship offers a clear opportunity. Each new Italian machine that enters the country integrates innovation and efficiency in the production chains. For the Italian industry, Mexico represents a strategic point within the global reconfiguration of value chains and the rise of nearshoring.
The vice president of Confindustria, Barbara Cimmino, pointed out that Italian exports of ACT machinery have an additional growth potential of 6.5 billion euros, in the region, with Mexico as a natural destination. The combination of economic openness, industrial diversification and proximity to the North American market explains why the country has become indispensable for Italian manufacturers.
The alliance between both countries is not limited to commercial transactions. It includes promotional programs such as Machines Italia, which connects Italian manufacturers with end users in Mexico, the United States and Canada. It also seeks to strengthen industrial and technological chains to promote innovation, investment and joint growth.
