Background and Relevance of the Mold Industry in Querétaro
Querétaro, Mexico – The mold and tooling industry has faced a challenging year in 2025 due to reduced requirements from the automotive sector. However, industry experts highlight that this sector has been diversifying to develop projects in other industries such as appliances, packaging, medical, and more. Mexico currently imports nearly 90% of the molds it uses, making domestic production crucial. Querétaro contributes 25% to Mexico’s mold and tooling production, as mentioned during the announcement of Meximol 2025.
Automotive Sector’s Impact on the Mold Industry
Miguel Ángel Aguirre, General Director of the Plastics Cluster of Querétaro, explained that automotive brands have faced the US tariff situation and competition from cars assembled and manufactured in China. The development of projects for other industries has provided stability in states like Querétaro due to its productive diversity.
Growth Opportunities in Mexico
Despite the challenges, the industry sees growth opportunities within Mexico, especially with the nearshoring trend and China’s need to transfer production. This creates opportunities for companies operating in the entity.
Current State of the Industry
Aguirre acknowledged that it has been a difficult year and will continue to be so, with constant negotiations. He mentioned that US companies importing from China now face higher costs, pushing them towards Mexico. However, there’s a challenge: Mexico hasn’t been developed to meet this demand.
Daniela Calderón, General Director at Hasco México and Latinoamérica, shared that through her clients, she has observed the automotive sector’s decline. There are many idle machines in Querétaro due to lower auto demand. To utilize this capacity, companies are seeking projects in cosmetics, medical sectors, and beyond.
International Interest in Mexico’s Mold Industry
Calderón also noted that there is interest from foreign companies, both European and Asian, to produce molds in Mexico. She remains optimistic about the industry’s performance in the coming year, expecting it to remain stable compared to 2025.
Strengthening Women’s Participation
Natalia Ortega, Content Director of Meximol 2025, highlighted the challenges in increasing women’s participation in leadership roles within the industry, despite their presence in operational bases.
Upcoming Meximold Event
In response to the industry’s growth needs, the sixth edition of Meximold was announced. This event aims to connect the Mexican injection molding industry with the latest solutions in molds, tooling, and high-precision manufacturing.
The Querétaro Convention Center (QCC) will host the event on October 22-23, expecting 3,000 attendees, over 300 B2B meetings, and 6,000 square meters of exhibition space.
Key Questions and Answers
- What challenges is the mold industry facing? The industry has faced reduced demand from the automotive sector due to US tariffs and Chinese competition. However, it has been diversifying into other sectors like appliances, packaging, and medical.
- What growth opportunities exist for the Mexican mold industry? There are opportunities due to the nearshoring trend and China’s need to transfer production to Mexico.
- What is the current state of the mold industry in Querétaro? Despite challenges, Querétaro contributes 25% to Mexico’s mold and tooling production. The industry is adapting by seeking projects in various sectors to maintain stability.
- What are the challenges for women’s participation in the mold industry? Although women are present in operational roles, their inclusion in leadership positions remains low.
- What is the upcoming Meximold event about? The sixth edition of Meximold aims to connect the Mexican injection molding industry with the latest solutions in molds, tooling, and high-precision manufacturing. It will take place at the Querétaro Convention Center on October 22-23.
