Jalisco Enters Top 5 for FDI in Mexico

Jalisco closed the first half of 2026 with a significant economic indicator: it attracted $1.406 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This amount not only represents a growth of over 50% compared to the $933 million recorded during the same period in 2025, but also surpasses the $1.2526 billion accumulated throughout the entire previous year in just six months.

This result once again places Jalisco among the leading destinations for foreign capital in Mexico. The state ranked fifth nationally in FDI attraction, accounting for 4.0% of the total flow registered in the country during the first semester. Above Jalisco were Mexico City, Nuevo León, State of Mexico, and Baja California.

The data becomes even more significant when observing the state’s performance within the national ranking. According to information released by the Secretariat of Economic Development, Jalisco has maintained its fifth position for two consecutive quarters, a ranking it had not held since 2023.

Jalisco Gains Ground on the National Investment Map

At the beginning of the current state administration, Jalisco ranked ninth nationally in FDI attraction. It now occupies the fifth position, signifying an advance of four places in the rankings, according to data presented by the Government of Jalisco.

The comparison also highlights the pace of growth. The $1.406 billion attracted between January and June represents approximately $153.4 million more than the $1.2526 billion received throughout all of 2025. Compared to the first half of last year, when Jalisco registered $933 million, the increase amounts to approximately $473 million. In percentage terms, the growth is around 50.7%.

Indicator	2025	2026	Variation
FDI January-June	US$933 million	US$1,406 million	+50.7%
Full-year FDI	US$1,252.6 million	—	—
2026 already exceeds 2025 total
National Position	—	5th place	+4 positions from the start of the administration
National Share	—	4.0%	—

Jalisco’s Data Emerges During a Record Semester for Mexico

Mexico received $34.968 billion in FDI during the first half of 2026, a figure representing 2.1% growth compared to the same period last year and the highest level recorded for a first semester. However, territorial distribution remains highly concentrated.

Mexico City received $16.862 billion, equivalent to 48.2% of the national total; Nuevo León attracted $3.712 billion; the State of Mexico, $2.114 billion; Baja California, $1.743 billion; and Jalisco, $1.406 billion. Collectively, these five entities accounted for 73.9% of all FDI received by Mexico during the first six months of the year.

For Jalisco, this means the state not only maintains a competitive position against other industrial entities but also remains within the select group of territories that concentrate the largest share of international capital flows.

Where is the Capital Coming From?

Nationally, the United States remained the primary source of FDI, with $16.871 billion, equivalent to 48.2% of the total. Spain followed with $4.954 billion; Canada, with $1.741 billion; Australia, with $1.698 billion; and Germany, with $1.647 billion. Collectively, these five economies represented 77% of the FDI flow received by Mexico during the first half of 2026. The United States and Canada, on their own, accounted for 53.2%, a proportion reflecting the weight of North American productive integration.

In the specific case of Jalisco, the information consulted for this report does not break down the distribution of the $1.406 billion by country of origin in the provided material. Therefore, it is not advisable to attribute the state’s growth to a specific country without the corresponding breakdown.

Manufacturing Maintains Prominence in Mexico

The manufacturing industry was the main recipient of FDI in Mexico during the first half of 2026, with $13.482 billion, equivalent to 38.6% of the total and 9.3% annual growth. Within this sector, investments related to the manufacturing of computer, communication, and electronic components, as well as basic metal industries and the manufacturing of machinery and equipment, stood out.

Financial and insurance services ranked second, with $10.150 billion, while transportation, postal services, and warehousing received $2.650 billion, a 287% increase compared to the same period last year. This context is particularly relevant for Jalisco due to the significant role of electronics, advanced manufacturing, information technologies, and other sectors linked to global supply chains within its productive structure. However, the national sectoral data should not be confused with the specific sectoral distribution of Jalisco’s FDI, which requires a corresponding state-level breakdown.

More Investment Doesn’t Automatically Mean More Jobs

The constitutes a positive signal for the economy, but its impact depends on how the resources materialize. Jalisco’s own Secretariat of Economic Development has stated that the objective is for investment to translate into employment, strengthening of local supply chains, and increased export opportunities.

“Our goal is for this investment to translate into more jobs, local supply chains, and export opportunities,” stated Cindy Blanco Ochoa, head of Sedeco. This point is particularly important for local businesses. A new plant or the expansion of a foreign operation can generate effects beyond the initial capital if it successfully incorporates regional suppliers, hires specialized talent, increases exportable production, and develops new technological capabilities.

Therefore, the next relevant indicator for Jalisco will not only be how much capital it manages to attract but also how much economic value it manages to retain and multiply within the state.

The entry appears first on Líder Empresarial.