Rehau, the German company specializing in polymer solutions for the construction, automotive, and furniture industries, recently opened its third facility in Apaseo El Grande, in Celaya’s industrial real estate submarket, Guanajuato. With a whopping $25 million investment, the company aims to strengthen its capacity to export edge bands and "T" moldings to the United States and Canada.

According to data from SiiLA and the company itself, Rehau now occupies over 25,000 square meters in Guanajuato's industrial market. Since entering Mexico in 1993, the company has steadily expanded its presence in Apaseo El Grande. This expansion journey began in 2011 with a more than 1,200-square-meter addition. In 2017, Rehau opened its second 10,000-square-meter plant in the region, and this year, they've added 13,500 square meters.

Apart from its three plants in Guanajuato, Rehau has a Monterrey factory. Over the years, the company has worked diligently to solidify its presence in the Bajio and Northern Mexico regions to meet the growing demand from key clients such as Ford, Herman Miller, Ikea, Mabe, Mobel, Volkswagen, and Whirlpool, among others.

This substantial investment by Rehau underscores the economic dynamism of Guanajuato, which has attracted over $885 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first six months of 2023. While FDI in the region this year has been slightly lower than the same period in the previous two years, over the last decade, FDI in the region has seen a yearly average growth rate of 16% at constant 2023 prices, according to data from the Economy Secretariat and the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics (INEGI).

Celaya: A Strategic Hub for the Manufacturing Sector

Apaseo El Grande is part of Celaya's industrial real estate submarket. Celaya ranks as the second-largest submarket in Guanajuato, boasting over two million square meters of industrial space. So far this year, Celaya's industrial area has grown by nearly 7%, with the addition of six warehouses ranging from 2,000 to 45,000 square meters, depending on the case. Four of these warehouses were pre-leased and already have tenants like Beta Procesos, Hiho Metal, and Metalsa.

With a record level of deliveries, strong tenant retention, and few speculative warehouses, Celaya's vacancy rate has been downward since SiiLA started recording data, reaching historic lows throughout 2023, with a quarterly average of 5.6%.

Located in the southeast of Guanajuato, Celaya stands out as a strategic hub for the manufacturing industry in Mexico due to its central geographic position, excellent logistical infrastructure, abundant and skilled workforce, as well as government support policies. These factors combined attract investments and streamline the supply chain's efficiency.

According to SiiLA, over 85% of the industrial space in Celaya is occupied by manufacturing companies, mainly in the automotive and parts sector, including industry giants like Honda, Toyota, and Rehau.

The expansion of companies like Rehau in Celaya underscores the region's significance in Mexico's manufacturing industry and its allure as a destination for foreign direct investment. If you want to learn more about this and other industrial submarkets nationwide, explore SiiLA REsource or contact us at contacto@siila.com.mx.