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Information collected from media reports over the past month:

• Glass: Mexican glass manufacturer Grupo Millet reported plans to construct a new production plant in the southeastern state of Yucatan. The US$70 million site will produce architectural glass for export to the United States and elsewhere in Latin America. (El Financiero, January 25, 2017)
• Casual dining: Mexico’s leading casual dining franchise operator Alsea plans investment of approximately US$190 million to open a record number of new locations across its portfolio in 2017, the company reported. Plans include some 250 new stores, in formats such as Starbucks, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Chili’s and others. (Reforma, January 24, 2017)
• Technology: U.S.-based Deloitte Consulting inaugurated a regional service delivery center in the central Mexican state of Querétaro. The US$10 million center is planned to provide development, testing, support and maintenance services for the firm’s application maintenance, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and IT consulting clients throughout the Americas. (El Economista, January 25, 2017)
• Natural gas: Mexican fuel distribution company Grupo Energéticos (Energex) plans to build four service stations to offer vehicular natural gas in the country this year, the company reported. The US$4 million project will provide compressed natural gas for vehicular use as an alternative to conventional gasoline, which has risen sharply in price during the current year. (Reforma, January 23, 2017)
• Energy: Spanish energy infrastructure developer Iberdrola will invest approximately US$600 million to construct an electricity generation plant in the northeastern state of Nuevo León, the company reported. The combined cycle plant is planned to be powered by natural gas. (Mundo Ejecutivo, January 19, 2017)
• Food processing: Mexican beverage bottler Arca Continental’s Bokados snacks division reported plans to construct a new production plant in the central state of Querétaro. The US$14 million facility is expected to produce savory snacks such as crisps for the regional market. (Reforma, January 19, 2017)
• Natural gas: Spanish natural gas utility Gas Natural Fenosa is planning a major expansion to its natural gas distribution network in Mexico over the next two years, the company reported. Approximately US$73 million will support extension of service to a projected 190,000 new customers in the area. (El Financiero, January 17, 2017)
• Brewing: Belgian-Brazilian-owned brewer Grupo Modelo reported plans to expand the capacity of its brewery currently under construction in the southeastern state of Yucatan. The approximately US$70 million expansion is planned to increase the production capability of the plant to 7 million hectoliters annually. (El Financiero, January 16, 2017)
• Plastics: U.S. plastic injection molder Premold has established manufacturing operations at a site in the northeastern state of Nuevo León, the company reported. The new 20,000 square foot plant will produce high-cosmetic molded plastic enclosures for specialty equipment, according to company officials. (Plastics News, January 16, 2017)
• Natural gas: IEnova, the Mexican subsidiary of U.S. natural gas utility Sempra Energy, reported US$800 in planned investment for 2017. Projects include an underwater natural gas pipeline between Texas and Mexico through the Gulf of Mexico. (El Economista, January 16, 2017)
• Steel: Nucor-JFE Steel, a Japanese-U.S. joint venture, will establish a processing plant in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, the Mexican government reported. The US$270 million plant is planned to produce galvanized steel sheeting for the automotive industry. (Milenio, January 13, 2017)
• Software: U.S. industrial conglomerate Honeywell inaugurated a new research and development research center in Mexico City. The US$5 million site is planned to develop software for applications such as climate control, aerospace navigation, security systems, energy and construction, among other industries. (Milenio, January 6, 2017)
• HVAC: U.S. industrial air conditioning equipment manufacturer Alliance Air Products inaugurated a new production plant in the northern border state of Baja California. Total investment was not specified for the new site, which is planned to double the company’s manufacturing capacity in the area. (Siglo 21 Periódico Industrial, January 9 – 22, 2017)
• Retail: Mexican grocery and general merchandise retailer Chedraui reported plans to open 25 new stores in the country in 2017. Total investment was not specified for the chain’s expansion plans, which also include two new locations for its El Super format stores in the United States. (Reforma, January 12, 2017)
• Beverage: Mexican Coca Cola bottler Arca Continental announced it will invest approximately US$190 million this year in Mexico operations. Resources will support expansion and upgrade of the company’s production, distribution and sales capacity. (El Financiero, January 12, 2017)
• Chemicals: Dutch chemicals giant AkzoNobel invested approximately US$23 million to expand its production plant in the Mexico City metropolitan area, the company reported. The upgrade will allow the facility to produce 50% more organic peroxides under the brands Laurox and Perkadox, which are used to manufacture plastics and elastomers. (El Financiero, January 11, 2017)
• Telecommunications: Mexican mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Her Mobile plans investment of approximately US$ 1.8 million to enter the Mexican mobile communications services market, the company reported. The company’s services specifically target female customers with the goal of incorporating them into empowerment networks via the WhatsApp application. (El Financiero, January 10, 2017)
• Automotive: Japanese auto parts manufacturer Nidec Sankyo plans to build a new production plant in the northeastern state of San Luís Potosí, the company reported. The projected US$15 million site will be located near the site of the company’s existing Mexico plant, which produces high precision control valves for automatic transmissions. (Bolsamanía, January 9, 2017)
• Glass: U.S. glass tile maker Oceanside Glasstile will move production of recently acquired glass manufacturer Uroboros to its manufacturing facility in Tijuana, in the northwestern state of Baja California, the company reported. The amount of investment was not disclosed for the operation, which will produce colored and textured artistic glass for construction and decorative applications. (Floor Trends, January 3, 2017)