Nuevo León defies uncertainty: its industry drives the economy

While the national economy shows signs of weakness, Nuevo León's productive activity, driven by its industry, outpaces the rest of the country, according to Coparmex. Discover the key factors.

In a national landscape of growing economic uncertainty, Nuevo León is emerging as a bastion of strength. According to the latest Coparmex economic outlook, the state's productive activity, driven by its powerful industrial sector, outperformed the rest of the country during the first quarter of the year.

While national economic analyses warn of a possible decline in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the impact of political and trade uncertainty, a report by the Employers' Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex) in Nuevo León paints a very different picture for the Monterrey economy.

The business center's June 2025 report highlights that the state not only demonstrates resilience, but also a dynamism that places it above the national average, thanks to the robustness of its secondary activities, primarily manufacturing and construction.

Industry as an Engine of Growth

The key to Monterrey's success, according to Coparmex's analysis, lies in its industrial sector. Unlike the national trend, where productive activity, especially in manufacturing and construction, shows signs of decline, in Nuevo León these areas continue to be the main driving force of the economy.

This industrial dynamism translates into a greater capacity to attract investment, generate jobs, and maintain an active supply chain. The nearshoring phenomenon has particularly benefited industrialized border states like Nuevo León, which has positioned itself as a key destination for companies seeking to relocate their operations close to the U.S. market.

Contrasts with the National Panorama

Coparmex's April report already warned of a decline in productive activity nationwide, attributed primarily to the "prevailing uncertainty in the environment and the new U.S. trade policy." This view contrasts with the strength displayed by Nuevo León, suggesting that the state's economy has solid foundations that allow it to better navigate the turbulent waters of the global and domestic environment.

However, not everything is immune to challenges. The same business organization has strongly condemned the US tariff increase on Mexican steel and aluminum, a measure that puts jobs and investments at risk in a crucial sector for Nuevo León's industry.

"New León's productive activity could have surpassed that of the rest of the country in the first quarter of the year, driven primarily by industrial activity." – Coparmex Business Outlook, June 2025.

Labor Migration: An Indicator of Dynamism

Another fact that underscores the region's economic strength is the increase in worker migration. In the first quarter of the year, the flow of people migrating within Mexico to find or keep a job grew by 35.5% annually nationwide, surpassing one million workers for the first time. Industrial centers like Monterrey are natural recipients of this influx of talent, seeking opportunities they cannot find in their places of origin.

The case of Nuevo León offers a case study of how a solid industrial base and an export-oriented approach can generate a resilient microeconomy, capable of standing out even when the national landscape becomes more complex.