PPG Industries is investing in its Tepexpan plant in the State of Mexico to expand domestic production of low-emission resin and reduce dependence on imports from the United States, Asia, and Germany. The expansion targets one of PPG’s five manufacturing sites in Mexico and comes amid rising tariffs on Asian inputs and structural gaps in the country’s petrochemical sector.

Adriana Macouzet, Vice President of PPG Industries Latin America, said: “Our goal is to turn suppliers into strategic allies, not just vendors. We want them to see Mexico as an attractive place to invest by offering contracts and guaranteed volumes.”

Mexico currently imports approximately 5.7 million metric tonnes of synthetic resins while exporting 1.577 million metric tonnes, resulting in a net deficit of roughly 4.1 million metric tonnes, according to the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ). PPG’s expansion seeks to address this imbalance while aligning with federal initiatives such as Plan México.

PPG’s Tepexpan facility will also implement sustainable coating technologies designed to reduce energy consumption during automotive paint curing. Macouzet explained: “With the new technologies we develop, we have paints that can be cured at lower temperatures or that do not require heat during application. These processes reduce energy consumption and help automakers lower their carbon footprint while improving efficiency.”

PPG has a strong position in Mexico’s automotive coatings market, with some automakers painting entire vehicles with PPG products. Macouzet noted: “No automaker assembles a car without at least one component painted by us.” The investment will strengthen PPG’s local manufacturing footprint and support supply chain agility ahead of USMCA negotiations.

Learn more on how PPG’s Tepexpan expansion is reshaping resin manufacturing and sustainable automotive coatings in Mexico.

(Photo Credits to Tima Miroshnichenko)