Mexico began 2026 with its highest first-quarter foreign direct investment figure on record, according to the Economy Ministry. The headline number shows continued foreign capital inflows, but the details point to a narrower story: most of the increase came from companies already operating in the country. New investment also rose, while sector data showed gains in financial services, vehicle manufacturing, mining, and construction. The report arrives as Mexico faces weaker growth and trade-policy uncertainty ahead.
Mexico reports record foreign direct investment for first quarter of 2026
Mexico reported $23.591 billion in foreign direct investment during the first quarter of 2026, the highest figure recorded for a comparable period, according to federal economy officials on Monday. The total represented a 10.4% increase from the same period of 2025, according to figures presented by Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and reported by La Jornada.
Reinvested earnings carried most of the increase
Reinvested earnings accounted for most of the reported inflow. That category rose to $22.222 billion in the first three months of 2026, up from $16.647 billion during the same period last year. New investment also increased to $1.705 billion, up from $1.586 billion in the first quarter of 2025.
The figures suggest that foreign companies already operating in Mexico continued to retain earnings in the country, while fresh investment also rose. Ebrard said the data showed a 10.4% annual increase in total foreign direct investment, despite expectations that trade uncertainty could slow investment decisions.
Financial services, vehicles and mining led sector gains
Sector data showed the largest amounts in financial services, vehicle manufacturing, mining, and construction. Financial services and insurance rose from $5.321 billion to $6.851 billion, while vehicle manufacturing increased from $3.351 billion to $4.033 billion. Mining climbed from $2.171 billion to $3.034 billion, and construction rose from $742 million to $1.456 billion.
Officials also identified investment tied to automotive production, autoparts, electromobility, medical devices, road projects, data centers, and electronics. The reported projects were spread across several states, including Guanajuato, Estado de México, Querétaro, Nuevo León, Chihuahua, Mexico City, and Puebla.
United States remained the top source of investment
The United States was the largest source of FDI in Mexico during the quarter, with $10.210 billion reported from U.S. investors. Spain followed with $3.804 billion, ahead of Australia with $1.446 billion, Japan with $985 million, and Canada with $894 million.
Mexico City received the largest share of investment, followed by Nuevo León, Estado de México, Baja California, and Jalisco, according to reporting based on Economy Ministry data.
The investment report came days after data showed Mexico’s economy contracted 0.6% in the first quarter from the previous three-month period. Vallarta Daily previously reported that Mexico’s GDP fell 0.6% in Q1, with agriculture, industry, and services all weakening from late 2025.
