Mexico’s aluminum industry eyes 7.8% growth in 2026 as AI data centers and aerospace boost demand

Mexico’s aluminum industry is looking to capitalize on rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electric mobility, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace. Expanding technology investments and international market opportunities are expected to support sales growth, while the country’s reliance on imported aluminum highlights the importance of strengthening domestic processing capabilities.

Ramón Beltrán, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Aluminum Industry (Canalum), expects the country’s domestic and international aluminum sales to gain momentum in 2026, supported by demand from advanced technology applications and established manufacturing sectors.

“We expect to close out this year with growth of between 7.5% and 7.8% in domestic and international aluminum sales,” Beltrán said, citing demand from smart technologies, electromobility, the automotive industry, housing, and aerospace.

The expansion of AI data centers and cloud computing infrastructure is creating additional opportunities for Mexican aluminum manufacturers. Companies in the country supply materials to technology businesses and manufacturers of servers and supercomputers, opening up applications beyond conventional industrial markets.

SpaceX’s investments in Texas are also identified as a potential driver of demand, alongside the wider growth of aerospace-related manufacturing. These developments could create opportunities for Mexican suppliers serving North American industrial and technology supply chains.

Mexico’s aluminum trade is closely connected to the US market, with Europe and Latin America providing additional destinations for its products.

Join the fourth edition of webinar "Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours" by Jorge Dyszel.

According to figures from Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, the country exported aluminum worth US$3.3 billion to the United States in 2025, while sales to Europe and Latin America totaled US$1.1 billion.

These export markets give Mexican manufacturers access to customers across several industrial segments. Demand linked to automotive production, technology infrastructure, and aerospace applications could further support the country's role in regional manufacturing networks.

Despite its established downstream manufacturing base, Mexico does not produce primary aluminum from ore. Instead, its industry produces secondary aluminum, which is used in the manufacture of different alloys.

“We do not produce primary aluminum, which is the basic ingot obtained from the ore, but we do produce secondary aluminum, which is used in other alloys,” Beltrán explained.

The resulting materials serve a range of applications, including automotive wheels, server equipment, AI components, and aerospace products. This processing capability enables Mexican manufacturers to participate in value-added industrial supply chains, even as they depend on external sources for their raw material requirements.

Mexico’s dependence on imported metal and related materials remains an important feature of its aluminum supply chain. The Ministry of Economy projected that Mexican manufacturers would import 2.132 million metric tons of aluminum and related materials in 2025.

Showcase your brand, aluminium recycling initiatives and sustainability vision in our upcoming magazine: Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium’s Commitment 2026.

Mexico’s aluminum industry therefore faces an opportunity to build on its manufacturing expertise and international trade relationships. Sustained demand from emerging technology applications could support expansion, while the development of domestic processing and supply-chain capabilities will remain central to capturing greater value from the market.