Baja California
Medical device manufacturing leader; $19.3B electronics exports (2024); 600+ Tijuana maquiladoras; $2.4B FDI (72% manufacturing).
Baja California is the undisputed center of North American medical device manufacturing—Tijuana alone exports more medical devices than any other city in Mexico. The state's 600+ maquiladoras employ workers across automotive, aerospace, electronics, and consumer products, but medical technology defines its competitive edge. In 2024, Baja California generated $19.3 billion in electronics exports, with the sector projected to grow 35% over the next two years.
The maquiladora model began here: foreign companies import components duty-free, assemble products using Mexican labor, and re-export to North America. Between January 2024 and January 2025, IMMEX program revenues rose from 3.4 trillion to 4.5 trillion pesos nationally, with Baja California leading. The state received $2.4 billion in FDI in 2024, with 72% directed to manufacturing. Over 50 universities produce thousands of engineers annually, feeding a qualified workforce of 1.8 million.
By 2026, Baja California will test whether nearshoring can survive tariff uncertainty. Ensenada's port throughput dropped 14% in early 2025 as US trade tensions affected cargo flows. If USMCA negotiations stabilize and companies continue relocating supply chains from Asia, the state could capture additional high-value manufacturing. If tariffs disrupt cross-border logistics, the border model that made Tijuana may need reinvention.