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Information collected from media reports over the past month:

• Solar energy: British solar power developer Solarcentury plans to build two solar electricity generation plants in the western Mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit, the company reported. The cost of the sites was not specified, but the firm reported a fund of approximately US$500 million earmarked to develop this type of project. (El Financiero, November 21, 2014)
• Building materials: Chilean compressed wood materials manufacturer Masisa has initiated construction on a plant to produce medium density fiberboard (MDF) in the northern state of Durango. The US$132 million facility is projected to have output capacity of 7.8 million cubic feet of board per year. (Reforma, November 28, 2014)
• Ports: Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT) announced approximately US$1 billion in planned port investment in anticipation of new capacity demand generated by the administration’s energy reform. Ports at Matamoros, Ciudad del Carmen and Progreso, among others, will receive upgrades such as high-specification docking facilities to receive latest generation ships. (Mexican Business Web, November 24, 2014)
• Waste management: Mexican waste management services provider Red Ambiental plans construction of a new operations base in the northeastern state of Nuevo León at a cost of approximately US$6 million. The site will provide maintenance services for the waste collection fleets and equipment of the city of Monterrey and three neighboring municipalities. (Reforma, November 18, 2014)
• Automotive: Korean auto parts manufacturer Yura Corporation announced it will invest US$53 million to establish a production facility in the northern state of Coahuila. The plant, expected to produce electrical components for ignition systems, is targeted to begin operations in 2016. (Milenio, November 13, 2014)
• Steel: TenarisTamsa, the Mexican subsidiary of Luxembourg-based pipe maker Tenaris, plans investment of approximately US$350 million in Mexico operations over the next two years, the company reported. Outlays are intended to boost capacity for production of steel drilling pipe in the face of an expected increase in deep-water petroleum drilling in Mexico in the coming years. (Reforma, November 11, 2014)
• Energy: Mexican steel wire producer Deacero plans to build a a 250 MW combined cycle electricity generation plant in the central state of Guanajuato in 2015, the company reported. The US$250 million project will be fueled by natural gas and provide power for the company’s own manufacturing operations and potentially for sale to third parties. (Reforma, November 12, 2014)
• Steel: Mexican steel manufacturers expect to invest approximately US$3 billion in projects related to the energy and automotive industries over the next two years, the Latin American Steel Association (Alacero) reported. Anticipated infrastructure activities requiring steel products include gas pipeline construction, drilling and electricity generation. Alacero projects 3.5% growth in demand for steel in Mexico in 2015. (Reforma, November 11, 2014)
• Logistics: German freight shipper DHL Express carried out an expansion of its domestic air freight hub in the central state of Querétaro at a cost of approximately US$14.5 million. The project expanded capacity at the distribution center by 250% to meet growing demand driven by the area’s aerospace and automotive industries. (El Financiero, October 31, 2014)
• Construction: Mexican real estate developer Mira Companies plans investment of approximately US$1.1 billion over the next three years in Mexico. Projects include middle income housing, an office building and a hotel, among others. (Reforma, November 7, 2014)
• Metal casting: Chinese metal caster IKD Auto Products and Mexican zinc and aluminum alloy specialists Faeza Alloyers are teaming up to establish a new process plant in the central state of Guanajuato. The US$9 million first stage of the operation is planned to produce small cast parts for automotive OEMs. (Reforma, November 7, 2014)
• Solar energy: Spanish renewable energy developer Eosol Energy plans approximately US$426 million in investment in photovoltaic power projects in Mexico, the company reported. Plans include seven solar energy generation sites totaling 122 MW of capacity. (Reforma, November 7, 2014)
• Electronics: Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Lite-On will invest US$12 million to establish a production plant in the western state of Jalisco, the Jalisco state government reported. The plant is expected to produce components for vehicle navigation systems. (El Economista, November 3, 2014)
• Automotive: Brazilian iron casting services provider Tupy plans expansion of its production plant in the northern state of Coahuila at a cost of approximately US$10 million. The advanced technology upgrade, intended to support production of engine blocks, will be implemented through 2017. (El Financiero, October 30, 2014)
• Wind power: Italian renewable energy developer Enel Green Power completed construction of a new wind power generation facility in the northeastern state of San Luís Potosí. The US$196 million site reportedly has installed capacity of 100 MW. (El Economista, October 28, 2014)
• Automotive: Austrian automotive lights manufacturer ZKW has investment of US$40 million underway to build a production plant in the central state of Guanajuato. The site is expected to provide lighting systems for regional OEMs such as Volkswagen, General Motors, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volvo and Audi. (Mexican Business Web, October 21, 2014)
• Refining: UK-based engineering multinational Foster Wheeler will carry out a US$500 million upgrade to an oil refinery owned and operated by Mexico’s national oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex). The project will focus on producing ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) at the site. (Chemicals Technology, October 16, 2014)
• Telecommunications: Mexican wireless services provider Maxcomm Telecomunicaciones projects investment of approximately US$67 million in 2015, the company reported. Projects are expected to include modernization of the company’s wireless technologies across service offerings. (El Financiero, October 28, 2014)