Tijuana is a big winner from global supply chain configuration with its established industrial base and proximity to the United States.
City Class Score
| Commercial Hubs | |
| Export Champions | |
| Mobility Connectors | |
| Climate Resilient |
Corporate HQs, MNC presence, branded outlets, hotels, manufacturing, start-up ecosystem, transport linkages, population, and income.
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Manufacturing, industrial parks, export share and share change by category, air and port infrastructure, freight time to market, trade agreements, and expert interviews.
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Passenger traffic, flight connectivity, air-cargo flights, port infrastructure, container ship sailings, and major road networks.
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Coastal and river flooding, extreme rain, extreme heat and humidity, cyclones, and water scarcity.
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Tijuana lies just a 19-mile drive from San Diego, and there’s plenty of reason for Americans to travel south, if only to indulge in the city’s famous street food. Taco stands serve up mouthwatering carne asada, al pastor, and fish tacos, with cooks moving in practiced precision, hands a blur as they grill meat and sprinkle cilantro and onions. While the city may not boast the colonial architecture of Zacatecas or Morelia, it has become a magnet for food lovers and, increasingly, foreign executives seeking new places to manufacture or source products as they navigate the tensions between the United States and key trade partners.
Mexico is home to a number of industrial cities that rank high on our export champions list. The country has enjoyed multidecade success in attracting American investments, especially after the North American Free Trade Agreement came into force in 1994. The pace picked up in the past five years due to the reconfiguration of global supply chains. Tijuana stands out as a major winner thanks to its robust industrial base and strong supply chain connectivity to the United States. Its continued success will depend on retaining its privileged access to its larger northern neighbor’s vast markets or, at the very least, maintaining cost competitiveness in the event of higher tariffs.
With more than 50 industrial parks housing established export-focused factories, or maquiladoras, and an experienced workforce, Tijuana ranks favorably alongside Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and far higher than other competitors that are just getting started. The city’s focus on electronics has attracted global players like Bose, Medtronic, Samsung, Foxconn, and Qualcomm. Apple supplier Foxconn’s presence illustrates Tijuana’s growing ties with leading Asian companies eager to maintain access to the US market. Mexico’s imports of component parts from China and other Asian technology giants have risen in turn.
Tijuana is also unique among our other export champions. It is one of the few cities with direct road access to its largest market, the United States, albeit border delays could increase in the coming years. However, it lacks major air or port cargo capabilities — everything is transported by road freight. Turkey’s industrial city Bursa may have similar land access to its primary market, but it also benefits from ocean freight options for shipping to both Europe and further afield to the United States. For Tijuana, the American market is everything, making investments in road infrastructure essential for ensuring the city retains its privileged access to this vital market.
