Author: Animal Político Editorial Staff. Published: June 12, 2026. A combination of record exports, industrial growth, and tourism marked the beginning of 2026 for Mexico, as highlighted by President Claudia Sheinbaum when presenting INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography) indicators showing positive performance in key sectors of the national economy.
President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted that Mexico reached a record $709 billion in exports, registered 2.1% growth in industrial activity during April, and reported record highs in tourism during the first four months of 2026, based on indicators released by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
The statements were made during the morning press conference she led this Friday, where the government presented economic and tourism data that she described as positive for the country, emphasizing the performance of exports, the recovery of industrial activity, and the flow of international visitors.
Referring to the performance of national industry, Sheinbaum noted that the sector showed significant progress during April. “Industrial activity increased very significantly. Look at industrial activity: in April it grew 2.1%. A very important part of the increase in industrial activity is the construction industry, which grew by more than 6%, I think 7%. A very good number, indeed. Good news.”
According to the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity (IMAI) published by INEGI on June 11, the country's industrial production registered real growth of 2.1% in April compared to the previous month, with seasonally adjusted figures. Compared to April 2015, the indicator showed an increase of 1.8%.
The main boost came from the construction sector, which advanced 7.6% month-on-month and 10.2% year-on-year. Within this sector, building construction registered growth of 13.7% in original figures.
Mexico Reaches Record $709 Billion in Exports and Consolidates Industrial and Tourism Growth
Manufacturing industries also contributed to the positive result, growing 1.2% compared to March, although they maintained a 0.0% year-on-year change. In contrast, mining showed a monthly decrease of 0.7%, while activities related to electricity, water supply, and natural gas declined 0.3% in the same period.
During the conference, the president also highlighted the performance of Mexican foreign trade. “Second, exports: exports in Mexico, a record $709 billion,” she stated.
According to the president, this figure represents the highest level recorded for Mexican exports up to April of this year.
Sheinbaum added that tourism indicators also reflected record results during the first four months of 2026. According to data cited by the head of the Executive branch, 34.5 million foreign visitors were recorded during that period, while 3.81 million international tourists entered the country in April alone.
International tourism maintained an upward trend during the first four months of 2026, according to data from INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography).
The results of the International Travelers Survey (EVI), published by INEGI on Thursday, show that 8,289,421 international travelers entered Mexico during April, representing an annual increase of 8.1%.
Of the total visitors, 46% were international tourists who stayed at least one night in the country, a segment that registered annual growth of 1.8%. The remaining 54 percent consisted of international day-trippers.
Within the tourism sector, a 15.1% increase in border tourists stood out, while non-border tourists registered a 7.5% decrease. Among the latter, 61.9% came from the United States, and 72.5% indicated that the main reason for their trip was vacation, recreation, or leisure.
In terms of foreign exchange earnings, total spending by international visitors amounted to US$2.9724 billion during April, a figure 2.3% lower than that recorded in the same month of 2015. The average expenditure per visitor was US$358.6, representing a year-on-year decrease of 9.6%.
On the other hand, INEGI reported that 6,889,700 Mexican residents traveled abroad during April, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%. Total spending by Mexican travelers abroad reached $1,265.4 million, equivalent to an increase of 15.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.
https://grupoanimal.mx/economia/mexico-709-mil-mdd-exportaciones-crecimiento-industrial-turistico
