Why Construction is Sustaining Jalisco's Industry in 2026

Jalisco’s industrial activity began 2026 with mixed signals. Although the state achieved 2.0% annual growth in January, the momentum was sustained almost exclusively by the construction sector, while manufacturing industries, mining, and the energy segment registered declines, reflecting an environment of productive slowdown and structural pressures for the state’s economy.

According to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity by Federative Entity (IMAIEF), published on May 12 by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Jalisco presented a seasonally adjusted monthly variation of -0.3% compared to December 2025, although it maintained an annual advance of 3.7% under this same methodology.

However, in original figures, the total annual growth of industrial activity was 2.0%, contributing 0.13 percentage points to the national performance.

Construction Drives Industrial Growth in Jalisco

The state’s primary economic engine during January was construction, which registered 22.1% annual growth, positioning itself among the country’s strongest performances in this sector.

This advance coincides with the development of strategic public and private infrastructure projects in the entity, particularly those linked to mobility, housing, logistics, and works related to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Construction alone contributed 1.07 percentage points to the state’s industrial growth, compensating for the declines observed in other productive activities.

Nationally, construction was also the most dynamic component of Mexican industry, with 4.1% growth, contrasting with the general retreat of national industrial activity at -1.1%.

Manufacturing and Energy Show Signs of Weakening

Despite the strong performance in construction, Jalisco’s manufacturing industries declined by -0.8% annually, reflecting a loss of dynamism in one of the most relevant sectors for the state’s economy.

Manufacturing barely subtracted -0.06 points from the total indicator; however, specialists warn that this behavior confirms a broader industrial slowdown linked to lower external demand, caution in private investment, and adjustments in global supply chains.

Meanwhile, the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy, water, and gas sector fell by -7.2%, with a negative contribution of -0.45 percentage points, while mining descended by -12.4%.

These results highlight a heterogeneous industrial environment, where only certain segments maintain expansion capacity.

Jalisco Maintains Moderate Growth Amidst National Context

The INEGI report shows that other federative entities registered considerably more accelerated industrial performances.

The states with the highest annual growth were:

• Colima with 14.8%
• Tamaulipas with 11.3%
• Chiapas with 10.3%
• Hidalgo with 9.3%

In contrast, the largest declines were observed in:

• Oaxaca with -14.0%
• Coahuila with -10.4%
• Campeche with -10.1%
• Quintana Roo with -9.5%

Within this panorama, Jalisco positioned itself in an intermediate position, maintaining relative stability, although far from the states with the greatest industrial expansion.

Infrastructure and the 2026 World Cup Sustain Dynamism

Economic analysts have pointed out that the construction growth in Jalisco is partly due to infrastructure projects linked to the

, as well as private investments in industrial and logistical developments.

Nevertheless, manufacturing performance continues to be a focus of attention for the state, particularly due to the weight that sectors such as electronics, auto parts, and food have in the regional Gross Domestic Product and in exports.

January’s performance also confirms a pattern observed since late 2025: a Jaliscan economy that is advancing moderately, sustained mainly by public works and construction, while the traditional industrial apparatus faces an environment of lower dynamism.

Pressure Persists on National Industry

At the country level, the INEGI report reflects that Mexican industry continues to face a complex scenario.

Although construction maintains a positive trend, national manufacturing registered a decline of -3.0% annually, evidencing weakness in one of the country’s main economic engines.

Specialists consider that factors such as global deceleration, trade uncertainty, and a slower pace of productive investment continue to limit industrial expansion capacity in various regions of Mexico.

For Jalisco, the challenge in the coming months will be to consolidate the momentum derived from infrastructure and, at the same time, recover manufacturing traction to avoid excessive dependence on the construction sector.

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