Mexico & LatAm: Import or Make in Thailand? (2026)
Mexican and Latin American buyers usually weigh Thailand against China on landed cost, but the deciding factors are often regulatory: NOM certification, Spanish labelling and importer registration take longer than the factory work.
Three routes
| Model | Best for | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|---|
| Import Thai stock goods | Market testing, distributor catalogues | 200–500 units |
| Private label existing product | Own brand without tooling risk | 1,000–3,000 units |
| Contract manufacture to spec | IMMEX programmes, protected design | 3,000–10,000 units |
If you feed a Mexican assembly operation, tooled Thai production can qualify as an input under an IMMEX programme — worth modelling alongside straight imports.
Compliance to settle before tooling
- NOM standards: mandatory certification for electrical goods, appliances, toys and textiles, verified at the border
- Spanish labelling: NOM-050 style content including importer, origin and warnings, applied before export
- Padrón de Importadores: your company must be registered to act as importer of record in Mexico
- COFEPRIS for food, cosmetics, supplements and medical devices
- Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru each have their own certification bodies — confirm per market, not per region
Duty and freight
Thailand has no FTA with Mexico or Mercosur, so goods clear at general tariff rates and duty can be a meaningful share of landed cost. Laem Chabang to Manzanillo is roughly 25–30 days, to Santos closer to 40–45. Build both into the landed cost formula.
Break-even in practice
With tooling, NOM certification and Spanish artwork at USD 28,000 and a USD 3.50/unit saving, break-even is about 8,000 units. Distributors covering several LatAm markets reach this faster than single-country importers. Check yours with the break-even model.
FAQ
Does Mexico have a trade agreement with Thailand?
No FTA is in force, so general tariff rates apply. Verify your HS code, because rates vary widely by category.
How long does NOM certification take?
Typically six to twelve weeks with samples and lab testing, and it must be complete before goods reach the border. Start it in parallel with tooling, never after.
Can Spanish labelling be applied in Mexico instead of Thailand?
Some products can be labelled in a bonded warehouse, but border verification is simpler when labels are applied at the factory. Approve artwork before production.
Is one certification valid across Latin America?
No. Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru run separate schemes. Plan per destination market and reuse only the underlying test reports where accepted.
What payment terms do Thai factories offer LatAm buyers?
Usually 30% deposit and balance against documents for new accounts. Terms improve after several clean orders — see the payment terms guide.