The growing demand for applications, data storage, and artificial intelligence (AI) has driven an inflow of USD 183.8 million into Mexico as of September this year. Foreign investment attracted by Mexico for the construction of data centers surged this year, reaching record levels in the second quarter, according to data from the Ministry of Economy (SE). Between April and June, the country received USD 183.8 million from foreign companies for the provision of infrastructure related to computing services, data processing, website hosting, and other associated activities.
Before this period, the highest level of investment in this type of infrastructure occurred in the first quarter of 2023, with USD 9.6 million, according to figures from the federal government’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) portal.
Growing Demand for Digital Infrastructure
Efrén Páez, senior analyst at DPL Group, explained that corporate demand for applications, data storage, and artificial intelligence (AI) has driven investments in Mexico for the construction of new data centers. He highlighted that another factor attracting investment in this sector is national legislation requiring that financial and health data be stored within the country.
“For the past two or three years, we’ve been discussing investment in data centers—especially since the issue of data sovereignty began to gain attention. At the same time, there has been a rising demand from the private sector for apps, which coincides with the growing use of AI,” the specialist noted.
Páez emphasized that such investments take time to be fully executed and that they involve not only capital spending on infrastructure but also operational expenditures, including personnel. In this regard, he estimated that foreign direct investment in data centers will continue to grow in the coming quarters.
“The expectation within the sector is for further increases in this type of infrastructure investment, particularly to serve industries that are demanding greater data storage capacity, such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.”
Strategic Hubs Driving Growth
According to the global consulting firm Turner & Townsend, Mexico is rapidly positioning itself as a strategic destination for data center investment in Latin America, driven by its strong connectivity, proximity to North American markets, and government programs for digital infrastructure. This momentum underscores how investment in data centers in Mexico is now a core part of the country’s digital transformation and economic modernization strategy.
In its Data Centre Construction Cost Index 2025–2026 report, the firm asserts that Querétaro is emerging as the country’s main development hub, offering a unique combination of competitive costs and government support.
“The region is attracting hyperscale operators and service providers, but it must now meet the technical and logistical demands of AI infrastructure,” the report highlighted.
The study also notes that 83 percent of experts believe local supply chains are still not ready to sustain the growing technological demand brought by AI, which means demand for this type of infrastructure will continue to rise.
Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Expansion
The consultancy identifies 2025 as a key year for the announcement and development of data centers, as developers transition from traditional air-cooled facilities to high-density liquid-cooled data centers designed for AI workloads. Analysts agree that investment in data centers in Mexico is entering a critical phase that will determine the country’s ability to sustain large-scale digital operations.
“Mexico is in a unique position to become a leader in AI-driven data center development. Querétaro’s growth is a clear signal of investor confidence, but success will depend on strengthening supply chains and ensuring reliable access to energy,” the report added.
“The biggest challenge for the growth of data centers in Mexico is ensuring the availability of energy and water,” both the DPL Group analyst and the consulting firm agreed.
Páez added that human capital will also be crucial for driving new projects, noting with optimism that more Mexican universities are introducing engineering programs focused on this sector. Data from the Ministry of Economy show that in previous years, investment in data centers was practically nonexistent. However, in the last two quarters, the trend has shifted dramatically, with capital inflows exceeding USD 183 million.
Global Tech Giants Lead Investment Momentum
Companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and CloudHQ have all announced significant investments in data centers in Mexico. In February of last year, the company founded by Jeff Bezos announced a USD 5 billion investment to create its Cloud Region. Seven months later, in September, Microsoft revealed plans to inject USD 1.3 billion into Mexico in 2025 as part of its cloud and AI service expansion projects.
In September of this year, CloudHQ—one of the world’s leading data center developers—announced a USD 4.8 billion investment for the construction of a data center complex consisting of six separate facilities in Querétaro.
These projects illustrate how investment in data centers in Mexico has evolved from a niche area into a national priority, transforming the country into a key regional player in digital infrastructure. As AI adoption accelerates across industries, this trend is expected to continue reshaping Mexico’s technological landscape and attracting even greater levels of foreign capital.