Bilateral relations between Germany and Mexico encompass lively political contacts, intensive business relations, academic exchange, close cooperation on climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation, as well as cultural, social and family ties stretching back almost two hundred years. Federal President Steinmeier’s state visit in September 2022 was a visible and important expression of mutual interest. Mexico is one of Germany’s close partners in multilateral fora and a G20 member.

Mexico is Germany’s most important trading partner in Latin America, while Germany is Mexico’s largest trading partner in the EU. In 2023, bilateral trade amounted to over 29 billion euro (2022: 25.5 billion euro). German exports to Mexico totalled 18.9 billion euro and Mexican exports to Germany 10.1 billion euro. Automobile manufacturing and components, mechanical engineering, logistics, as well as the chemical, pharmaceutical and electronics industries, are the main sectors in bilateral trade relations.

Almost 2200 companies with German holdings are registered with the Mexican Secretariat of Economy. Around a third of these firms have their own production plants in the country. German businesses create some 300,000 direct jobs in Mexico and as employers often serve as role models.

Mexico is a priority country for German development cooperation with a particular focus on climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation, as well as on the International Climate Initiative. Mexico is also a priority country for Germany’s cultural relations and education policy with the Goethe-Institut playing a prominent role.

There are five German international schools in Mexico with some 5000 students. Other schools across the country are partners of the Goethe-Institut for the Schools: Partners for the Future initiative. There is great demand for German as a foreign language, with some 86,000 people currently learning German in Mexico.

Since 2001, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has had a branch office in Mexico City. Around 3600 Mexicans are pursuing courses of study in Germany. In total, there are almost 500 cooperation agreements between German and Mexican universities.