Manufacturing
Truck sales, production, exports increase
Sentido Comun - The sale, production and export of buses and trucks increased in February for the second consecutive month. Last month, truck sales rose 12.8 percent over the same month last year, its second consecutive increase and the highest since July 2008.
Some maquiladora proposals being eliminated
Maquila Portal - Some of the changes suggested the Ministry of the Economy's and the Treasury Ministry's Maquiladora Decree, which have been vigorously opposed by the industry, will be eliminated, said Soledad Maynez Bribiescas, chairwoman of the Chihuahua Maquiladora Association.
Nissan expects to boost Mexico production 20%
Sentido Comun - With the recovery of global demand, Japanese automaker Nissan Motor expects vehicle production at its two plants in Mexico to increase about 20 percent this year compared to 2009, when worldwide production fell 21 percent to 355,414 vehicles.
Nucor to acquire half of Mitsui steel unit
Bloomberg - Nucor Corp., the largest U.S. steelmaker by 2009 sales, will buy half of a U.S. unit of Japan’s Mitsui & Co. to jointly expand in the global market for the metal used in appliances, autos and construction. The unit operates 23 steel processing facilities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-03/nucor-to-acquire-half-of-mitsui-s-u-s-steel-unit-update2-.html
Vitro says it is close to a restructuring plan
Sentido Comun - Glassmaker Vitro, which failed to meet its financial obligations, said it plans to file a financial restructuring plan to satisfy creditors in the "coming days," saying a consensu has been reached with most of the creditors and negotiations continue with the remainder.
Oracle to invest $20 million in Jalisco plant
Maquila Portal - U.S. software development company Oracle will soon announce a $20 million investment in the state of Jalisco that will generate 150 to 200 jobs, said Ricardo Gomez, chairman of the Mexican Chamber of Electronic, Telecommunications and Informatics Industry.
IBM inaugurates $20 million Guadalajara plant
Maquila Portal - IBM officially inaugurated Thursday the $20 million facilities in Guadalajara where its XIV Storage System is manufactured, although production started last summer and equipment already is being exported to the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Malaysia, New Zealand, India, Korea, Canada and Colombia.
Proposed decree could hurt maquiladoras
Maquila Portal - The Ministry of the Economy has started a process to amend the maquiladora operating decree that would eliminate favorable terms for foreign trade and fiscal benefits granted to the export-oriented manufacturing operations, industry representatives say.
Vitro's financial deterioration called serious
CNNExpansion - The deterioration of Vitro's financial position has become serious for Mexico's largest glass manufacturer, said Hugo Lara, who took the reins of the company last year and has cut staff, canceled executives' aircraft rentals and sold non-strategic assets.
www.cnnexpansion.com/expansion/2010/02/10/prendida-con-alfileres
HP is creating 4,500 jobs in Juarez, Guadalajara
Maquila Portal - Computer manufacturer Hewlett Packard will create 4,000 jobs in Juarez by moving operations from other locations in Mexico and Houston to take advantage of proximity to the United States. Another 500 jobs will be added in Guadalajara.

