Irregular textile imports plummeted by 68%: Canaintex

The textile sector is optimistic about the package of measures implemented by the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum, including the decree to stop the temporary importation of finished garments, a decision that caused the entry of products under unfair conditions to plummet by 68 percent, said the National Chamber of the Textile Industry (Canaintex).

In an interview, Rafael Zaga Saba, outgoing president of the organization, and Rafael Torre Lamuño, new leader of Canaintex, acknowledged that although they are optimistic, the results of the strategy remain to be materialized. In addition, they pointed out that this industry is already facing the first effects of the war in the Middle East.

Zaga Saba explained that in the last two quarters the growth of this sector has stabilized after several negative quarters, which is due to the decree to stop the temporary importation of finished garments, announced in 2024. He noted that it is still early to see the results of the new Customs Law, in force since January 1.

He considered that the thermometer of the sector is the jobs generated. At the end of 2025, this industry had created one million 100 thousand jobs, the same level as in 2022. “We have fallen in employment. In 2023 we had more and in 2024 the figure was even higher.”

One of the biggest problems facing the sector is the entry of garments below their real price. According to Torre Lamuño, “51 percent of products continue to arrive undervalued. There is still a lot of work to do.”

He explained that with the new Customs Law, the manifestation of value will come into force starting in April, which “will be a watershed” because it will allow greater traceability of imports and the detection and sanction of companies that bring merchandise illegally.

He added that not only the importing company will be responsible, but the origin of the goods can be traced to request information from the supplier or exporter through customs agents and the final importer. He pointed out that with the demonstration of courage there will be a more solid legal framework to combat illicit trade and punish those responsible with prison sentences.

Zaga Saba indicated that this industry requested the federal government to exclude it from controlled areas, which seek to avoid the misuse of temporary import programs. He pointed out that when all the measures begin to work, the first result will be an increase in employment, followed by the reactivation of plants that were stopped, and new investments.

Torre Lamuño, who will assume the leadership of the chamber, stressed that the industry is already facing increases in raw materials, such as 30 percent in polyester fibers and increases in international freight, the cost of which has doubled since the war in the Middle East began, going from 1,500 to 3,000 dollars. “We are not oblivious to the global problem. We have to adapt because in the end the rules are for everyone. It is also going to hit us on the issue of land freight, with fuel prices,” he said.

The new leader of Canaintex announced that his management will focus on the fight against smuggling, the reactivation of the internal market, support in the review of the T-MEC and modernization of the industry with technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Canaintex estimates that the package of government measures, added to the promotion of national production under the “Made in Mexico” scheme, will generate jobs, reactivate plants and strengthen the country’s position in the T-MEC.

The textile businessmen highlighted that Mexico is the second largest textile supplier to the United States and complements the US industry.

Both Zaga and Torre emphasized that they are not seeking protectionism, but rather a rule of law that guarantees fair competition.