In spite of dismal prognostications about how the state’s economic performance would be affected by a Trump presidency, the vigor of Jalisco’s export sector is showing no signs of diminution, growing by 12.37 percent in the first half of 2017 from the same period last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).
Leading the pack by several lengths was the electronics industry with 55.8 percent of total exports, about 16.7 billion dollars. Following on that sector’s heels was the auto parts industry with 16.3 percent of the total, representing 4.9 billion dollars. Third place was taken by by the food/agriculture industry with 1.6 billion, approximately 5.5 percent of the total.
The electronics industry also saw the biggest increase from the same time last year, with a whopping 23.9 percent uptick in exports.
Furthermore, 84 percent of exports went to just four countries: 65.1 percent to the United States, 15.4 percent to the Netherlands, 2 percent to Canada and 1.6 percent to the United Kingdom.
“In spite of what was said, exports continue rising, and not only in electronics, auto parts and the food and agriculture industries,” said Miguel Angel Landeros, president of the Mexican Council of Foreign Trade.
Landers also noted that the percentage of the state’s exports to the United States was 10 percent lower compared with last year and had increased elsewhere, indicating a welcome diversification in foreign markets and a decreased dependency on the increasingly unpredictable U.S. market.