Understanding Nearshoring and Smartshoring
The concepts of nearshoring and smartshoring describe two approaches to business process or service outsourcing, each with different motivations and scopes.
Nearshoring aims to bring production closer to the consumer market by transferring operations to nearby countries, taking advantage of geographical proximity, cultural similarity, and easier communication.
According to Deloitte, between January 2021 and September 2023, six Mexican entities concentrated 85% of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) resulting from this strategy: Nuevo León (39%), Coahuila (12%), Ciudad de México (11%), Guanajuato (10%), Jalisco (9%), and Durango (4%).
Smartshoring, however, goes beyond physical proximity. It’s a strategy that transfers logistical, administrative, or business processes to countries with optimal conditions for execution, combining criteria such as technology, efficiency, and productive networks alongside the geopolitical context that determines stability, trade relations, and investment opportunities.
Mexico’s Strategic Position for Smartshoring
Thanks to its strategic location, integration with North America, and trade agreements like the T-MEC, Mexico has become a key destination for smartshoring. Its technological environment, skilled labor force, and connectivity favor secure, flexible, and long-term vision operations.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the country attracted $21.373 billion in FDI, according to the Secretaría de Economía. Nuevo León was the second state with the highest capture (12.5%).
Smartshoring in a Sustainable and Adaptable Global Environment
In a global environment where businesses prioritize sustainability, adaptability, and efficiency, smartshoring has solidified as a means to reduce costs without compromising quality or competitiveness.
BBVA México’s Role in Smartshoring
BBVA México has been instrumental in promoting this trend by developing financial solutions that accompany companies from the outset of their relocation process. This includes financial planning, currency coverage, national and foreign currency accounts, and financing for supply chains, logistics, and international distribution.
BBVA México’s platform, BBVA Pivot, integrates digital and sustainable tools, combining global reach with local context.
The bank also has a specialized team leading the strategy to support multinational companies in their relocation processes, coordinating with executives and product and commercial support areas. This structure ensures close and personalized accompaniment, aligning the bank’s global vision with each company’s specific needs.
In 2024, BBVA México launched a sustainable ESG credit line focused on companies adopting smartshoring, with metrics linked to energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction.
Beyond traditional supply chain models, BBVA México promotes collaborative ecosystems that amplify local economic impact and strengthen productive networks.
Mexico’s Unique Opportunity for Industrial Intelligence and Sustainability
Mexico faces a unique opportunity to surpass the traditional manufacturing model and position itself as an intelligent and sustainable industrial hub. Smartshoring offers a path that not only attracts investment but also proposes a new productive structure based on innovation, talent, and environmental responsibility.
