To revitalize a sector that has long been a cornerstone of the country’s industrial base, the Mexican Government plans to boost its textile production capacity by over $5 billion in the coming years.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Mexico’s textile and apparel industry reached 488 billion pesos in 2024.

To support this growth, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has rolled out a three-phase strategy to recover over 80,000 jobs lost in the textile sector. The first phase targeted the seizure of illegally imported goods. The second involved revoking the IMMEX program benefits from companies found to be misusing it. The third phase is focused on creating direct connections between buyers and sellers through B2B meetings.

At a B2B networking event in Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard, Economy Secretary said, the government aims to continue building on this effort. It will sustain and refine these initiatives to grow its production capacity by more than $5 billion.

Emphasizing on the historical importance of the textile industry in Mexico’s industrial development, Ebrard emphasizes, founded in 19th century, the first Mexican industry was a textile company - Constancia Mexicana. Much of Mexico’s industrialization was built around textiles, and the future is tied to this sector as well.

In 2024, the GDP for textile input and finishing manufacturing in Mexico totaled 131 billion pesos. The production of textiles (excluding garments) was valued at 78 billion pesos, while garment manufacturing reached 279 billion pesos.

The sector is deeply connected to employment, investment, and commerce- it’s an integral part of Mexico’s broader economy, Ebrard adds.