Gypsy Jan - 9-14-2012 at 01:46 PM
By Nicholas Vardy, CIO, Hayek Capital Management
Hayek Capital Management
"Mexico is a country I've dubbed the "China Next Door" for its emerging manufacturing prowess. I've chosen the iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market
Index (EWW) as my latest featured recommendation.
In fact, I think manufacturers setting up in Mexico just might be the most under-reported mega trend in global investing.
Want proof? Just go to your nearest Wal-Mart and I bet you'll find a lot more goods that say "Made in Mexico." With Chinese wages exceeding those in
Mexico, the conventional wisdom - that China is the place for inexpensive manufacturing - no longer holds true.
Suddenly, a whole host of Mexico's other advantages make Mexico a much more attractive place for US companies, in particular, to do business. For one,
Mexico's location is ideal for US companies. The average transit time from the moment a shipment departs China to the time it arrives in the United
States is 30 days. From Mexico, delivery times range anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Mexico's geographic location offers several other benefits. US companies can maintain "just-in-time" delivery schedules, reducing costs by shrinking
their inventories. Due to difficulties in predicting demand, US manufacturers in China are often forced to warehouse manufactured products for longer
periods. And that means unexpected costs.
Unlike China, Mexico allows its currency to "float" in world currency markets. This has resulted in a significant depreciation in the value of the
Mexican peso. Put another way, Americans currently pay 30% more for Chinese products and 40% less for Mexican products, compared to 2007. No wonder
manufacturers are scrambling to set up operations in Mexico.
Although you'd be hard-pressed to conclude this from the headlines recounting the latest drug killings, Mexico's legal system is actually quite
favorable to US and foreign investors. Since joining NAFTA in 1994, Mexico's trade with the United States is duty free. In contrast, duties and
tariffs imposed on Chinese products imported to the United States on both finished goods and raw materials hike costs above comparable Mexican
products."