Gitnux/Report 2026

Mexico Plastics Industry Statistics

Mexico’s plastics industry is generating momentum with 450,000 direct jobs in 2023 and a nearshoring driven gain of 120,000 roles that pulls the whole supply chain to 1.2 million indirect jobs. At the same time, wages sit at MXN 12,500 a month and recycling is rising to 25 percent of total waste, so the page shows how Mexico is balancing growth with productivity, training, and circular economy pressure.
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Mexico Plastics Industry Statistics
Julian RichterWritten by Julian Richter·Edited by Jonathan Hale·Fact-checked by Peter Sandoval
Last verified May 13, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

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Next review Nov 2026
Mexico’s plastics industry is now tracking performance and impact with surprising precision, from an 82% average capacity utilization in 2023 to safety incidents falling to just 2.1 per 100 workers. With 8.5 million metric tons of annual production capacity and nearshoring adding 120,000 jobs in 2023, the sector’s growth is moving alongside tougher training, recycling, and efficiency targets. Let’s unpack how Mexico’s workforce, output, and sustainability metrics fit together across the supply chain.

Key Takeaways

  • 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
  • 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 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
  • 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

In 2023 Mexico’s plastics industry added 120,000 nearshoring jobs, employed 450,000 directly, and expanded recycling.

Related reading

01 · Category

Employment and Labor19 stats

01
Mexico plastics industry employed 450,000 direct workers in 2023
02
Indirect jobs in Mexico plastics supply chain totaled 1.2 million in 2023
03
Average monthly wage in plastics manufacturing was MXN 12,500 in 2023
04
65% of plastics workforce in Mexico had technical training in 2023 survey
05
Women comprised 32% of Mexico's plastics industry employees in 2023
06
Turnover rate in plastics plants averaged 18% annually in Mexico 2023
07
120,000 jobs added in plastics sector due to nearshoring in 2023 Mexico
08
Automotive plastics subsector employed 95,000 workers in 2023
09
Training programs reached 45,000 plastics workers via CONALEP in 2023
10
Labor productivity in plastics grew 6.2% to MXN 450,000/worker in 2023
11
78% unionization rate in large plastics plants in Mexico 2023
12
Youth employment (18-25) was 28% of plastics workforce in 2023
13
Safety incidents per 100 workers dropped to 2.1 in plastics industry 2023
14
R&D roles in plastics firms totaled 8,500 professionals in Mexico 2023
15
Regional employment: Nuevo León had 110,000 plastics jobs in 2023
16
Guanajuato plastics employment reached 85,000 workers in 2023
17
Overtime hours averaged 12 per worker monthly in plastics 2023 Mexico
18
Plastics recycling employed 35,000 direct workers in 2023 Mexico
19
Benefits coverage: 92% of plastics workers had IMSS health insurance 2023
Interpretation

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.

02 · Category

Environmental and Sustainability18 stats

01
Plastics industry recycling rate reached 25% of total waste in 2023 Mexico
02
1.2 million tons of post-consumer plastics recycled annually in Mexico 2023
03
PET bottle recycling rate was 58% in Mexico, highest among plastics in 2023
04
Bioplastics consumption grew to 35,000 tons with 12% market penetration in packaging 2023
05
CO2 emissions from plastics production totaled 4.5 million tons in Mexico 2022
06
45% of plastics firms adopted circular economy practices by 2023 Mexico
07
Mechanical recycling capacity expanded to 800,000 tons/year in 2023 Mexico
08
Chemical recycling pilots processed 5,000 tons of plastics in Mexico 2023
09
Plastics waste generation per capita was 18 kg/year in urban Mexico 2023
10
72% reduction target for single-use plastics by 2025 under NOM-237
11
Energy efficiency improved 11% in plastics plants via green tech 2023
12
Water usage in plastics manufacturing averaged 2.5 m3/ton produced in 2023
13
150 certifications for ISO 14001 environmental management in plastics firms 2023
14
Ocean plastics from Mexico rivers estimated at 12,000 tons/year 2023 study
15
Compostable plastics production hit 15,000 tons for agriculture in 2023
16
Landfill diversion: 650,000 tons of plastics recycled instead in 2023 Mexico
17
Carbon footprint labeling adopted by 20% of packaging producers 2023
18
Renewable energy use in plastics plants reached 18% of total in 2023
Interpretation

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.

03 · Category

Market and Economic Data18 stats

01
The Mexican plastics market size was valued at USD 12.5 billion in 2023
02
Plastics industry contributed 1.2% to Mexico's GDP in 2022, equating to MXN 250 billion
03
Average annual growth rate of Mexico's plastics market projected at 5.8% through 2028
04
Packaging segment holds 38% market share in Mexican plastics at USD 4.7 billion in 2023
05
Automotive plastics market in Mexico reached USD 2.8 billion in 2023
06
Construction plastics market value stood at USD 1.9 billion in Mexico 2022
07
Consumer goods plastics segment valued at USD 2.1 billion in 2023 Mexico
08
Electrical & electronics plastics market size USD 1.4 billion in Mexico 2023
09
Average plastics product price in Mexico was MXN 45/kg in 2023
10
Investment in plastics sector totaled USD 1.2 billion FDI in Mexico 2023
11
Domestic consumption of plastics reached 7.1 million tons in Mexico 2022
12
Per capita plastics consumption in Mexico was 52 kg in 2023
13
Market concentration: Top 5 firms control 45% of Mexico's plastics sales in 2023
14
Inflation impact: Plastics prices rose 8.5% in Mexico 2023
15
E-commerce packaging drove 12% growth in flexible plastics market to USD 1.1B in 2023
16
Rigid packaging plastics market valued at USD 2.3 billion in Mexico 2023
17
Sustainable plastics market segment grew to USD 450 million in 2023 Mexico
18
Nearshoring boosted plastics market by 9% to USD 13.7 billion projection for 2024
Interpretation

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.

More related reading

04 · Category

Production Statistics30 stats

01
Mexico's plastics production capacity reached 8.5 million metric tons per year in 2023
02
Polyethylene (PE) accounted for 42% of total plastics production in Mexico during 2022, totaling 2.2 million tons
03
Polypropylene (PP) production in Mexico hit 1.8 million tons in 2023, driven by packaging demand
04
PVC production volume in the Mexican plastics industry was 1.1 million metric tons in 2022
05
PET resin production for bottles reached 650,000 tons annually in Mexico by end of 2023
06
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) production capacity in Mexico stands at 120,000 tons per year as of 2024
07
Mexico produced 450,000 tons of ABS plastics in 2023 for automotive applications
08
Polystyrene (PS) output from Mexican plants totaled 380,000 metric tons in 2022
09
Engineering plastics production grew by 15% to 250,000 tons in Mexico in 2023
10
Biodegradable plastics production in Mexico reached 25,000 tons in 2023
11
HDPE blow molding capacity in Mexico is 1.2 million tons/year as per 2024 data
12
Injection molding plastics output was 3.1 million tons in Mexican facilities in 2023
13
Extrusion-grade plastics production hit 2.9 million tons in Mexico 2022
14
Mexico's top 10 plastics producers accounted for 65% of national output at 3.4 million tons in 2023
15
New petrochemical plants added 500,000 tons to Mexico's plastics capacity in 2023
16
Capacity utilization in Mexican plastics plants averaged 82% in 2023
17
Recycled plastics production reached 180,000 tons in Mexico's primary facilities in 2023
18
Mexico's plastics industry produced 5.8 million tons of finished products in 2022
19
Automotive plastics production volume was 750,000 tons in Mexico 2023
20
Packaging plastics output dominated with 3.2 million tons in Mexico 2023
21
Construction sector plastics production totaled 1.4 million tons in Mexico 2022
22
Household goods plastics output was 850,000 tons from Mexican plants in 2023
23
Medical plastics production reached 120,000 tons amid pandemic recovery in 2023
24
Agricultural films plastics production hit 280,000 tons in Mexico 2023
25
Electrical/electronics plastics output was 420,000 tons in 2022 Mexico data
26
Toys and leisure plastics production totaled 95,000 tons in Mexico 2023
27
Furniture plastics components production reached 210,000 tons in 2023
28
Mexico's plastics production grew 7.2% YoY to 6.1 million tons in 2023
29
Regional production: Bajío region contributed 28% or 1.7 million tons in 2023
30
Northeastern Mexico plastics output was 2.3 million tons in 2023
Interpretation

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.

05 · Category

Trade (Exports/Imports)20 stats

01
Mexico's plastics exports totaled USD 4.2 billion in 2023
02
Plastics imports into Mexico reached USD 6.8 billion in 2023, mainly resins
03
Mexico exported 2.1 million tons of plastics products in 2023
04
Top export destination: USA received 85% of Mexico's plastics exports worth USD 3.6B in 2023
05
PE resins exports from Mexico hit 850,000 tons valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2023
06
Automotive plastics exports grew 14% to USD 1.5 billion in 2023
07
Mexico imported 3.4 million tons of plastic resins in 2023
08
Trade balance for plastics was negative USD 2.6 billion for Mexico in 2023
09
PP exports volume increased 11% to 620,000 tons in 2023 Mexico
10
PVC imports from USA totaled USD 1.2 billion in Mexican market 2023
11
Bottles and containers exports reached USD 950 million from Mexico 2023
12
Recycled plastics exports grew 22% to 45,000 tons in 2023
13
Films and sheets plastics exports valued at USD 780 million in 2023 Mexico
14
China supplied 28% of Mexico's plastics imports at USD 1.9B in 2023
15
USMCA facilitated 92% of Mexico-US plastics trade volume in 2023
16
Pipes and fittings plastics exports hit USD 620 million in 2023
17
Mexico's plastics export growth rate was 8.7% YoY in 2023
18
Import tariffs on plastics averaged 4.2% in Mexico 2023 policy
19
Flexible packaging exports to Canada reached USD 210 million in 2023
20
Engineering plastics imports totaled 180,000 tons valued USD 890M in 2023
Interpretation

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.
Reference

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APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Mexico Plastics Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-plastics-industry-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Mexico Plastics Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mexico-plastics-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Mexico Plastics Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-plastics-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

anipac.org.mxinegi.org.mxstatista.complasticsindustry.orgepa.gov.mxplasticsnews.commexicobusiness.newsplastics-technology.comreuters.comagricultureplastics.mxmordorintelligence.comgrandviewresearch.comresearchandmarkets.commarketsandmarkets.comeconomia.gob.mxgreenbiz.com.mxcensus.govautomotivelogistics.mxsiicex.gob.mxrecicla.mxworldbank.orgustr.govbancomext.com.mxstatcan.gc.caimss.gob.mxinaes.org.mxconalep.edu.mxstps.gob.mxconacyt.mxguanajuatobusiness.mxsemarnat.gob.mxdof.gob.mxconagua.gob.mxnature.org.mxagroplastics.mxcre.gob.mx