Guadalajara: the fastest-growing industrial city in the Bajío

Guadalajara had a gross industrial absorption of 1.45 million square feet during the second quarter of 2022, making it the city with the highest absorption in Mexico's Bajio region, according to Marcos Álvarez, CEO of Market Analisis.

"The city's metropolitan area has been leading a boom in recent years in the establishment of automotive, electronics, e-commerce and supply chain manufacturing companies. Seventy-five percent of the companies in Jalisco are based in this area, thus placing it at the center of the state's economic activities," the executive said.

During the second quarter of 2022, there was industrial growth of 2.51%, and the construction of 905,453 SF in speculative buildings and 312,995 SF BTS. El Salto was the main submarket, with 10 transactions representing 1,312,205 SF; Zapopan, Lopez Mateos and Periferico Sur recorded one transaction each of 60,708 SF, 53,282 SF, and 28,337 SF, respectively.

Representative transactions were carried out by Sanmina, for 229,669 SF in Kampus Industrial Park (manufacturing); Shenzhen Miniglida, for 146,138 SF in Prologis Park El Salto (manufacturing); Ricolino, for 140,211 SF in Pologis Park Arrayanes (logistics); Yazaki, for 130,000 SF in Al San Jorge (manufacturing); and a confidential company in San Jorge Industrial Park, with a BTS construction of 312,995 SF.

Marcos Álvarez pointed out that Guadalajara is located 531 kilometers from Mexico City, and has a strong road network that provides access to the Mexican domestic market; therefore, industrial properties and warehouses comprise a vital component of the city's economic infrastructure.

The leading sectors in the city' s metropolitan area absorption were automotive (27 percent), electrical-electronics (25 percent), supply chain (20 percent), and food and beverage (18 percent). Most of the countries with the highest absorption were the United States (42%), followed by Mexico (34%), China (13%) and Japan (11%). American Industries, Alveo Capital, Roca Desarrollos and Prologis stood out among the developers with operations in the state.

Finally, the CEO of Market Analysis stated that Guadalajara's historical economic potential ranks it second in the country in trade and one of the largest in industrial production volume.