Nearshoring and manufacturing in Mexico

Maquiladora

A maquiladora is a factory in Mexico that imports materials duty-free, manufactures or assembles them and exports the result, today usually under the IMMEX program.

Maquiladoras started along the US border in the 1960s and are still concentrated in cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, Reynosa and Matamoros. Some are owned by foreign companies, others are Mexican contract manufacturers. For a buyer the important question is not the label but what the plant can make, which certifications it holds and how it handles customs paperwork.

General information, not legal or customs advice. Rules and tariffs change; confirm details for your product with your customs broker.