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ECONOMIC BRIEFINGS
Information provided by the
Mexico Trade Commission-Bancomext’s New York Office.
Trade between Mexico and
the USA up 25% in January
Trade between Mexico and the United States had a 25%
increase. in the first month of the year, when
compared to January 2006 and stays with a balance
positive for Mexican economy, the Department of
Commerce informed.
The press release states that the United States and
Mexico had trade exchange for US$26.072 billion last
January, a 24.8% increase when compared to the US$20.889
billion in the first month of 2006.
The exchange was the result of Mexican sales in the
US market for US$15.327 billion and exports from the
United States to Mexico for US$10.746 billion, with
a balance surplus for Mexico in the amount of US$4.582
billion.
However, Mexico stays displaced to the third place
as the US trade partner due to the increase in
exports made by China, which has been second after
Canada since October 2006, according to official
figures.
Gross fixed investment
grows 10% in 2006
Last year, gross fixed capital investment in Mexico
grew at a 3,3% rate. With these results during all
of 2006 the indicator was increased by 10%,
according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of
the Treasury
(Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público – SHCP).
Data shows that the raise in this indicator during
2006, the highest in the last 6 years, was
influenced by increases in expenses made in
machinery and equipment, as well as expenses in
construction industry.
The Ministry said that during the above-mentioned
term, expenses in machinery and equipment went up
12.5%, with an increase in imported equipment of
16.1% and 5.1% for Mexican equipment, when compared
to 2005.
Gross fixed investment in construction industry had
a 6.9% annual expansion.
Industry maximizes use of
facilities
During 2006 the use of industrial facilities reached
a record level for one year.
The installed capacity averaged, in the 12 months of
2006, an 83.3% use, an increase of almost 5% since
2001, according to data from the Mexican Statistics
Agency, INEGI.
Two industries stood out for the use of installed
facilities, namely basic metal industries that used
87.4%, and non-metal minerals with 85.5%, a 2%
increase when compared to 2005.
Wood and textile industries showed a drop in the use
of facilities.
Manufacturing up in 14
states
Last November, from the 17 states considered for
Regional Manufacturing Production Indicators, 14
registered increases, as shown by figures disclosed
by the Mexican statistics agency, Instituto Nacional
de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (INEGI).
According to information previously disclosed by
INEGI, manufacturing production in Mexico during
November 2006 had a 4.5% annual increase.
In the information provided by INEGI stand out some
states for the increase they showed, namely
Aguascalientes with 24.5%, Sonora with 19.5% and
Baja California with 18.3%.
The figures were influenced by a the larger activity
shown by metal products and machinery and equipment,
In addition, the increase in food and beverage and
tobacco industries had an influence over the growth
in Aguascalientes, and basic metal industries was
significant for the growth in Sonora.
Aeronautics school created
in Mexico. - The third of its kind in the world
The first school in Mexico to train aeronautics
industry’s technical staff. will be built in
Queretaro International Airport, so that in the
future they can work, either abroad or in Mexico,
for any airplanes manufacturer.
According to Patrick Rider, President of The Everest
Group, a company that identifies business
opportunities in Canada, Mexico and the United
States, this will be the third school of its kind in
the world; one is located in Québec, Canada and the
other one in Toulouse, France. “We are talking about
a high level education center to train Mexicans to
work for any airplanes manufacturer”, Rider said.
This school, to be located inside Queretaro’s
airport, will offer courses that allow students
learning the theory on how structure and electric
systems work in an airplane, so that they can
manufacture an aircraft and maintain it in perfect
conditions.
“One of the main factors to build a school of this
kind is that President Felipe Calderon has a clear
vision of what aerospace industry may mean to Mexico,
and he is familiar with the subject because he was
very much involved during the past Administration”,
Mr. Rider.
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