Greenfield investment monitor fDi Markets has tracked a steady increase of capital expenditure from Japanese companies investing in Mexico, between January 2009 and December 2013. A total of 160 such FDI projects have been recorded in the period, representing total capital investment of $11.15bn. Data shows the companies responsible for the greatest number of FDI projects included Nissan, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co.

There were 126 new projects, 28 expansion projects and six co-location projects, which when combined created 53,282 new jobs between January 2009 and December 2013. In 2009, there were 14 projects recorded, with the data showing a continual upward trend over the recorded years, reaching a peak when 64 projects were recorded in 2013. Increased inward investment within the automotive components and metals sectors was predominantly responsible for the higher levels of FDI recorded in 2012 and 2013.

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Between January 2009 and December 2013, the Japanese companies that invested in Mexico and identified the markets they were targeting, mainly planned to serve the domestic market, with 53.6% focusing on Mexico and 40.5% serving the regional market. Most of the investment into the country was into the Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Federal District and Nuevo Leon states. States with the least amount of investment include Mexico (State), Hidalgo, Sinaloa and Sonora.

Between 2009 and 2010, jobs created as a result of inward FDI from Japan increased by 71.52%, a further increase of 18.06% was recorded between 2010 and 2011. Although there was an increase of FDI in 2012 compared to 2011, jobs created declined from 12,903 to 8335. The number of jobs created did recover from the 2012 dip, rising to 14,743 in 2013, the highest it has been since 2009. 

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