From automotive components to food packaging, Mexico's plastics industry is pumping out millions of tons of material annually, producing over 6.1 million tons in 2023 alone to power its economy and supply global markets.
Key Takeaways
- Mexico's plastics production capacity reached 8.5 million metric tons per year in 2023
- Polyethylene (PE) accounted for 42% of total plastics production in Mexico during 2022, totaling 2.2 million tons
- Polypropylene (PP) production in Mexico hit 1.8 million tons in 2023, driven by packaging demand
- The Mexican plastics market size was valued at USD 12.5 billion in 2023
- Plastics industry contributed 1.2% to Mexico's GDP in 2022, equating to MXN 250 billion
- Average annual growth rate of Mexico's plastics market projected at 5.8% through 2028
- Mexico's plastics exports totaled USD 4.2 billion in 2023
- Plastics imports into Mexico reached USD 6.8 billion in 2023, mainly resins
- Mexico exported 2.1 million tons of plastics products in 2023
- Mexico plastics industry employed 450,000 direct workers in 2023
- Indirect jobs in Mexico plastics supply chain totaled 1.2 million in 2023
- Average monthly wage in plastics manufacturing was MXN 12,500 in 2023
- Plastics industry recycling rate reached 25% of total waste in 2023 Mexico
- 1.2 million tons of post-consumer plastics recycled annually in Mexico 2023
- PET bottle recycling rate was 58% in Mexico, highest among plastics in 2023
Mexico's plastics industry is large, growing, and dominated by packaging production.
Employment and Labor
- Mexico plastics industry employed 450,000 direct workers in 2023
- Indirect jobs in Mexico plastics supply chain totaled 1.2 million in 2023
- Average monthly wage in plastics manufacturing was MXN 12,500 in 2023
- 65% of plastics workforce in Mexico had technical training in 2023 survey
- Women comprised 32% of Mexico's plastics industry employees in 2023
- Turnover rate in plastics plants averaged 18% annually in Mexico 2023
- 120,000 jobs added in plastics sector due to nearshoring in 2023 Mexico
- Automotive plastics subsector employed 95,000 workers in 2023
- Training programs reached 45,000 plastics workers via CONALEP in 2023
- Labor productivity in plastics grew 6.2% to MXN 450,000/worker in 2023
- 78% unionization rate in large plastics plants in Mexico 2023
- Youth employment (18-25) was 28% of plastics workforce in 2023
- Safety incidents per 100 workers dropped to 2.1 in plastics industry 2023
- R&D roles in plastics firms totaled 8,500 professionals in Mexico 2023
- Regional employment: Nuevo León had 110,000 plastics jobs in 2023
- Guanajuato plastics employment reached 85,000 workers in 2023
- Overtime hours averaged 12 per worker monthly in plastics 2023 Mexico
- Plastics recycling employed 35,000 direct workers in 2023 Mexico
- Benefits coverage: 92% of plastics workers had IMSS health insurance 2023
Employment and Labor Interpretation
While Mexico's plastics industry boasts a sprawling workforce of 1.65 million and growing nearshoring gains, it’s propped up by modest wages and high turnover, yet shows promising glimmers of productivity, safety, and technical skill that it desperately needs to mold into a more stable and equitable future.
Environmental and Sustainability
- Plastics industry recycling rate reached 25% of total waste in 2023 Mexico
- 1.2 million tons of post-consumer plastics recycled annually in Mexico 2023
- PET bottle recycling rate was 58% in Mexico, highest among plastics in 2023
- Bioplastics consumption grew to 35,000 tons with 12% market penetration in packaging 2023
- CO2 emissions from plastics production totaled 4.5 million tons in Mexico 2022
- 45% of plastics firms adopted circular economy practices by 2023 Mexico
- Mechanical recycling capacity expanded to 800,000 tons/year in 2023 Mexico
- Chemical recycling pilots processed 5,000 tons of plastics in Mexico 2023
- Plastics waste generation per capita was 18 kg/year in urban Mexico 2023
- 72% reduction target for single-use plastics by 2025 under NOM-237
- Energy efficiency improved 11% in plastics plants via green tech 2023
- Water usage in plastics manufacturing averaged 2.5 m3/ton produced in 2023
- 150 certifications for ISO 14001 environmental management in plastics firms 2023
- Ocean plastics from Mexico rivers estimated at 12,000 tons/year 2023 study
- Compostable plastics production hit 15,000 tons for agriculture in 2023
- Landfill diversion: 650,000 tons of plastics recycled instead in 2023 Mexico
- Carbon footprint labeling adopted by 20% of packaging producers 2023
- Renewable energy use in plastics plants reached 18% of total in 2023
Environmental and Sustainability Interpretation
While Mexico's plastics industry makes notable strides with a 25% recycling rate and growing circular practices, its 4.5 million tons of production CO2 emissions and 12,000 tons of annual ocean plastic leakage reveal a sector still very much cleaning up its own mess.
Market and Economic Data
- The Mexican plastics market size was valued at USD 12.5 billion in 2023
- Plastics industry contributed 1.2% to Mexico's GDP in 2022, equating to MXN 250 billion
- Average annual growth rate of Mexico's plastics market projected at 5.8% through 2028
- Packaging segment holds 38% market share in Mexican plastics at USD 4.7 billion in 2023
- Automotive plastics market in Mexico reached USD 2.8 billion in 2023
- Construction plastics market value stood at USD 1.9 billion in Mexico 2022
- Consumer goods plastics segment valued at USD 2.1 billion in 2023 Mexico
- Electrical & electronics plastics market size USD 1.4 billion in Mexico 2023
- Average plastics product price in Mexico was MXN 45/kg in 2023
- Investment in plastics sector totaled USD 1.2 billion FDI in Mexico 2023
- Domestic consumption of plastics reached 7.1 million tons in Mexico 2022
- Per capita plastics consumption in Mexico was 52 kg in 2023
- Market concentration: Top 5 firms control 45% of Mexico's plastics sales in 2023
- Inflation impact: Plastics prices rose 8.5% in Mexico 2023
- E-commerce packaging drove 12% growth in flexible plastics market to USD 1.1B in 2023
- Rigid packaging plastics market valued at USD 2.3 billion in Mexico 2023
- Sustainable plastics market segment grew to USD 450 million in 2023 Mexico
- Nearshoring boosted plastics market by 9% to USD 13.7 billion projection for 2024
Market and Economic Data Interpretation
Fueled by nearshoring and a relentless packaging habit, Mexico's plastics industry is a $12.5 billion giant growing at a brisk clip, proving that while sustainability is gaining a $450 million foothold, the traditional business of wrapping, building, and driving things remains firmly molded in its favor.
Production Statistics
- Mexico's plastics production capacity reached 8.5 million metric tons per year in 2023
- Polyethylene (PE) accounted for 42% of total plastics production in Mexico during 2022, totaling 2.2 million tons
- Polypropylene (PP) production in Mexico hit 1.8 million tons in 2023, driven by packaging demand
- PVC production volume in the Mexican plastics industry was 1.1 million metric tons in 2022
- PET resin production for bottles reached 650,000 tons annually in Mexico by end of 2023
- Expanded polystyrene (EPS) production capacity in Mexico stands at 120,000 tons per year as of 2024
- Mexico produced 450,000 tons of ABS plastics in 2023 for automotive applications
- Polystyrene (PS) output from Mexican plants totaled 380,000 metric tons in 2022
- Engineering plastics production grew by 15% to 250,000 tons in Mexico in 2023
- Biodegradable plastics production in Mexico reached 25,000 tons in 2023
- HDPE blow molding capacity in Mexico is 1.2 million tons/year as per 2024 data
- Injection molding plastics output was 3.1 million tons in Mexican facilities in 2023
- Extrusion-grade plastics production hit 2.9 million tons in Mexico 2022
- Mexico's top 10 plastics producers accounted for 65% of national output at 3.4 million tons in 2023
- New petrochemical plants added 500,000 tons to Mexico's plastics capacity in 2023
- Capacity utilization in Mexican plastics plants averaged 82% in 2023
- Recycled plastics production reached 180,000 tons in Mexico's primary facilities in 2023
- Mexico's plastics industry produced 5.8 million tons of finished products in 2022
- Automotive plastics production volume was 750,000 tons in Mexico 2023
- Packaging plastics output dominated with 3.2 million tons in Mexico 2023
- Construction sector plastics production totaled 1.4 million tons in Mexico 2022
- Household goods plastics output was 850,000 tons from Mexican plants in 2023
- Medical plastics production reached 120,000 tons amid pandemic recovery in 2023
- Agricultural films plastics production hit 280,000 tons in Mexico 2023
- Electrical/electronics plastics output was 420,000 tons in 2022 Mexico data
- Toys and leisure plastics production totaled 95,000 tons in Mexico 2023
- Furniture plastics components production reached 210,000 tons in 2023
- Mexico's plastics production grew 7.2% YoY to 6.1 million tons in 2023
- Regional production: Bajío region contributed 28% or 1.7 million tons in 2023
- Northeastern Mexico plastics output was 2.3 million tons in 2023
Production Statistics Interpretation
While Mexico's plastics industry stands as a mighty 8.5-million-ton testament to modern manufacturing, its overwhelming focus on packaging and persistent polymers reveals a country caught between economic pragmatism and the pressing need for a more sustainable material future.
Trade (Exports/Imports)
- Mexico's plastics exports totaled USD 4.2 billion in 2023
- Plastics imports into Mexico reached USD 6.8 billion in 2023, mainly resins
- Mexico exported 2.1 million tons of plastics products in 2023
- Top export destination: USA received 85% of Mexico's plastics exports worth USD 3.6B in 2023
- PE resins exports from Mexico hit 850,000 tons valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2023
- Automotive plastics exports grew 14% to USD 1.5 billion in 2023
- Mexico imported 3.4 million tons of plastic resins in 2023
- Trade balance for plastics was negative USD 2.6 billion for Mexico in 2023
- PP exports volume increased 11% to 620,000 tons in 2023 Mexico
- PVC imports from USA totaled USD 1.2 billion in Mexican market 2023
- Bottles and containers exports reached USD 950 million from Mexico 2023
- Recycled plastics exports grew 22% to 45,000 tons in 2023
- Films and sheets plastics exports valued at USD 780 million in 2023 Mexico
- China supplied 28% of Mexico's plastics imports at USD 1.9B in 2023
- USMCA facilitated 92% of Mexico-US plastics trade volume in 2023
- Pipes and fittings plastics exports hit USD 620 million in 2023
- Mexico's plastics export growth rate was 8.7% YoY in 2023
- Import tariffs on plastics averaged 4.2% in Mexico 2023 policy
- Flexible packaging exports to Canada reached USD 210 million in 2023
- Engineering plastics imports totaled 180,000 tons valued USD 890M in 2023
Trade (Exports/Imports) Interpretation
Mexico's plastic industry craftily molds its success by shipping out high-value finished goods, particularly to its voracious northern neighbor, while still being fundamentally shaped—and outspent—by the raw resin it must import to feed its production lines.
Sources & References
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