On Tuesday, Mexico's Automobile Industry Association (AMIA) reported that auto exports from the country climbed 25 percent year-on-year in February to 194,640 vehicles while automobile production was up 24 percent to 242,317 units. Local car sales totaled 74,703 units last month--up 12 percent. Mexico's car industry could have a record year this year, according to the AMIA, as production levels in February were the highest ever for any February.
For the first two months of this year, auto production is up a total of 13 percent compared to 2011, and exports increased 10 percent; local sales were up 11 percent. The US receives the bulk of Mexican auto exports, but exports to South America are rapidly increasing as well.
Meanwhile, Mexico's national statistics agency, Inegi, reported that increased manufacturing and construction activity in January spurred an overall increase in Mexico's industrial production. Year-on-year in January, Mexican industrial production increased 4.2 percent. January's production also increased 0.83 percent compared to December 2011. Manufacturing output jumped 5.6 percent in January; construction climbed 4.8 percent; but mining activity fell 1.3 percent.