Introduction
Querétaro, Qro. The first half of the year has been challenging for the commerce sector, which has registered growth levels below expectations. Moreover, businesses that supply industrial companies face extended credit terms, with some cases extending from 30 to 180 days.
Economic Growth and Challenges
As the first half of the year comes to a close, Querétaro’s local commerce has accumulated an economic growth of between 2.3% and 2.7%. These variations are below the previous year, yet they surpass the national trend, according to Lorena Muñoz Altamira, President of the Cámara de Comercio de Querétaro.
The first quarter of the year was particularly difficult due to uncertainty caused by the change in government in the United States and the course of Mexico’s tariff policies. This impacted businesses’ projections.
Challenges and Improvements
Muñoz Altamira explained, “This first semester has been complex. We knew since the end of last year that President Trump’s inauguration would generate significant macroeconomic and international economy movements. The first three months were very tough, with much economic suspension and little sales mobility. All the business projections we had started to turn towards a much more cautious scenario.”
By the second quarter, sales have increased, though the situation remains challenging. “We started to see some mobility regarding sales generation, with better movement in the second quarter; however, national economic conditions remain complex. The national growth is estimated between 0.3% and 0.7%, which is essentially zero, indicating that there’s still much uncertainty in the commercial market,” she analyzed.
Inflation Pressure
Adding to these challenges is the pressure from rising inflation: in May, it increased by 0.28% compared to the previous month, resulting in a general annual inflation of 4.42% at the national level, according to data from Inegi.
Delayed Credit Terms
The commerce and service sector also suffers from delayed credit periods, which are typically agreed upon through contracts with industrial companies. Due to the current global situation and instability, these companies have started extending periods from 30 days to 60 days, up to 120 or 180 days. This condition mainly affects small businesses, with around 600 members of the chamber facing these circumstances.
“Small and medium-sized enterprises usually work with credit from larger companies, not necessarily transnational ones; there are also national companies. It’s an unspoken practice that the commerce sector offers 30 days of credit to many companies and their clients. However, due to this market instability, many transnational companies have started extending these credits,” Muñoz Altamira explained.
Call for Beneficial Credit Terms
In response, the President of the Cámara de Comercio de Querétaro urged companies to agree on credit terms with beneficial periods for the entire business ecosystem.
Open Day Event
To support local businesses, the chamber announced the first edition of Open Day, a business meeting on June 26. The event will feature networking sessions and financial offers to capitalize on opportunities.
Key Questions and Answers
- What challenges is Querétaro’s commerce sector facing? The sector has experienced slower-than-expected growth and extended credit terms from industrial companies, impacting local businesses.
- How has the first half of 2025 affected Querétaro’s economic growth? The growth rate is between 2.3% and 2.7%, which is below the previous year but above the national trend.
- What are the main concerns regarding inflation? Inflation has increased by 0.28% in May, resulting in a general annual inflation of 4.42% at the national level.
- How are delayed credit terms affecting small businesses? Approximately 600 chamber members face challenges due to extended credit periods from 30 to 180 days, mainly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises.
- What initiatives is the Cámara de Comercio de Querétaro implementing to support local businesses? The chamber is organizing the Open Day event on June 26, featuring networking sessions and financial offers to help businesses capitalize on opportunities.
