The Life Sciences Industry in Mexico
In this industry, Mexico is distinguished by its specialized human
resources, competitive costs, quality and large domestic market.
According
to Business Monitor, the value of the health sector in Mexico 2008
reached US$13.48 billion, placing it as the second most
important market in Latin America.
The Life sciences industry
is made up of the pharmaceutical, medical devices and biotechnology
sectors.
In 2008
-
Mexico was the 11º global exporter of medical equipment.
-
Mexican medical devices exports reached US$4.84 billion. The main
export destinations were the United States, the Netherlands and
France.¹
-
Mexico was the main supplier to the US and the 6th global exporter of
medical instruments and apparatus, with total exports
of US$3.91 billion.²
-
The country was the top exporter of pharmaceutical products in
Latin America, with total sales abroad of US$1.31 billion.³
1 Subject to the HS Codes included between 9018 and 9022. Source: Global
Trade Atlas.
2 Subject to the HS Code 9018. Source: Global Trade
Atlas.
3 Subject to the HS Codes included between 3001 and 3006.
Source: Global Trade Atlas.
Companies Established in Mexico
Around 200 registered pharmaceutical companies operate in Mexico,
providing employment to 40,000 workers.
A number of associations and national chambers strengthen the sector,
the most prominent being:
Foreign Direct Investment
Foreign direct investment in the Mexican pharmaceutical industry totaled
US$11 billion between 1999 and 2008.
The main origin of the
investments is the United States, followed by the Netherlands, Spain,
Luxembourg and Germany.
Mexican life sciences industry’s strengths
-
A country with low operation costs
-
Mexico has the lowest operating costs for manufacturing
products sold in the US compared to competitors such as
China, Brazil and India, according to Alix Partners.
-
KPMG´s "Competitive Alternatives Guide to International
Business Location 2008 Edition" study shows that Mexico
offers the lowest operating costs for projects, compared to
leading industrial nations, in a wide variety of activities,
such as medical equipment, pharmaceutical manufacturing and
clinical trials.
-
A country with qualified labor
-
Many leading universities have world-class research programs and
institutes related to this field, such as the National Autonomous
University of Mexico’s Institute of Biotechnology.
-
There are over 750,000 engineering and technology students.
-
Over 90,000 new engineers and technology students graduate each
year from Mexican universities.
Protection for intellectual property
Our country fosters creativity, development and innovation. It protects
intellectual property and pursues all actions that go against this right.
In addition to this, Mexico has an agency that encourages the
registration of patents and trademarks, called the Mexican Institute of
Industrial Property.
The Taylor Wessing Global Intellectual Property Index, which compares
the IP regimes of 24 nations, placed Mexico above leading emerging
market economies such as Brazil, India, China, Turkey and Russia.
