Overview
- UNCTAD reported Tuesday that Mexico attracted $41 billion in foreign direct investment for 2025, moving up from 11th to 10th place among global FDI recipients.
- Most of the increase came from reinvested earnings and expansions of existing operations rather than new greenfield projects, with announced new‑plant investment in Mexico falling from about $44 billion to $24 billion.
- Global FDI rose about 6% to $1.6 trillion in 2025 but the recovery was concentrated in roughly 20 economies and driven by a few large projects such as AI data centers, semiconductors and oil and gas.
- UNCTAD warned that higher financing costs, trade and geopolitical tensions and intensified technological competition could keep investors cautious and that Mexico must strengthen local suppliers, skills and transport and energy infrastructure to attract more new projects.
- Mexican officials have highlighted the UNCTAD figures as evidence of progress while analysts say converting headline inflows into broader job creation and productive capacity will require targeted policy steps and improved logistics and human capital.