406 Businesses Close in Ciudad Juárez in One Year, Anierm Cites Mexico-USMCA Uncertainty
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico – January 9, 2026 – Ciudad Juárez experienced the closure of 406 businesses between December 2024 and December 2025, as reported by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). This includes 77 closures in December alone, bringing the total number of employer registrations down to 11,287 from 11,693 in December 2024.
Marcelo Vázquez, delegate of the National Association of Importers and Exporters of the Mexican Republic (Anierm), described this figure as a historic loss of employer registrations, signaling a crisis for employment and businesses in the border city.
Unprecedented Business Closures
“Not even during the pandemic were so many companies lost. During the pandemic, only 27 employer registrations were lost. In 2024, 301 companies were lost, and this year another 406 were lost. Juárez has been losing employer registrations since October 2023, when it had 12,005 registrations; now there are 11,287, meaning we have lost 718 companies… it is a serious setback,” Vázquez stated.
Vázquez attributed these closures to the ongoing uncertainty stemming from both the Mexican and United States governments, which has led businesses to downsize or cease operations entirely.
Economic Stagnation and Future Outlook
“The same number of companies are no longer arriving in the city, and on the contrary, many are moving production lines to other parts of the country where it is much cheaper to produce; additionally, others have streamlined their processes with automation and inventory management,” the business leader commented.
Vázquez predicted that 2026 would continue to present uncertainty, at least until the terms of the Mexico, United States, and Canada Agreement (USMCA) are clarified, with negotiations expected to begin mid-year. “Until then, what we can foresee is stagnation,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Vázquez emphasized the resilience of Ciudad Juárez, noting that the city has always found ways to strengthen its economy. He recalled the 2008 crisis and the pandemic, highlighting that the capacity of its people and its geographical position have consistently been factors in the city’s economic growth.
Source: https://netnoticias.mx/juarez/cierran-en-un-ano-mas-de-400-empresas-en-ciudad-juarez
