Industrial Intelligence Briefing Presents the First Data-Driven View of the Manufacturing Ecosystem in Rio South Texas and North Tamaulipas

Economic development leaders, industry stakeholders, and regional partners gathered in McAllen, Texas for the Industrial Intelligence Briefing, an executive-level session hosted by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP) to introduce the newly developed Industrial Data System for the Rio South Texas Region.

The event presented, for the first time, a consolidated view of the manufacturing ecosystem spanning Rio South Texas and North Tamaulipas, two highly integrated regions that together form one of the most dynamic industrial corridors in North America.

According to the data presented during the briefing, the Industrial Data System currently identifies 315 registered manufacturing companies operating across the binational region. Of these, 267 companies (84.8%) are located in North Tamaulipas, while 48 companies (15.2%) operate in the Rio South Texas Region, reflecting the deep integration between the maquiladora manufacturing base in Mexico and the industrial, logistics, and supplier ecosystem developing on the Texas side of the border.

The system also reveals the breadth of manufacturing specialization present in the region. Analysis of 382 company-sector relationship records shows that several industrial segments dominate the binational supply chain. The most prominent include:

• Metalworking and tooling, 109 companies
• Electrical and electronics manufacturing, 104 companies
• Plastics, injection molding, and molds, 75 companies
• Paper, packaging, and cardboard, 27 companies
• Textiles, clothing, and footwear, 18 companies

Additional specialized sectors represented in the regional ecosystem include home appliances, medical devices, wood and furniture, glass and ceramics, semiconductors, petrochemicals, renewable energy, and environmental solutions, demonstrating the diversification of the manufacturing base.

Beyond production activity, the data also highlights the industrial services and supply chain ecosystem supporting manufacturers. The Industrial Data System identified 681 company-sector service relationships, illustrating the complexity and connectivity of the region’s industrial network.

Among the most significant supply chain linkages identified are:

• Automotive and auto parts, 176 relationships
• Electrical and electronics, 95
• Home appliances / white goods, 81
• Medical devices, 58
• Construction and industrial equipment, 55
• Aerospace, 52

Other important sectors include food and beverage manufacturing, energy and oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, wood products, and renewable energy technologies.

These findings reinforce the role of Rio South Texas Region as a strategic platform supporting North American manufacturing supply chains, particularly as companies across the globe continue to pursue nearshoring strategies and greater supply chain resilience.

Regional Leaders Highlight the Strategic Value of the Data System

During the event, economic development leaders from across the region emphasized the importance of having access to consolidated, reliable industrial intelligence.

Jeffrey Salcedo highlighted that the platform represents a sophisticated tool for the entire economic development ecosystem.

“This is a sophisticated tool for the entire ecosystem, providing data that is otherwise difficult to obtain. It allows us to map opportunities and helps investors better understand the strengths of our region.”

For René Xavier González of CODEM, consolidating information from across the region strengthens the ability to attract larger, more strategic investment projects.

“Consolidating this information allows us to attract investment tied to specific projects and scale those opportunities to a much larger level.”

Local economic developers also emphasized how the system can support targeted recruitment efforts.

April Castaneda, Executive Director of the Donna Economic Development Corporation, noted that the data provides valuable intelligence for identifying companies that could expand operations across the border.

“It´s data that we need for EDCs to recruit manufacturing companies. The partnership between the Donna EDCs and COSTEP is going to be very beneficial, especially with the new international bridge coming to Donna.”

For Steven M. Valdez, Executive Director of Weslaco EDC, the platform represents a critical first step toward building a stronger industrial intelligence infrastructure for the region.

“We are grateful that COSTEP took the first step in compiling this information. This data helps companies understand the supportive systems and supply chain ecosystem available to them in the region.”

Regional leaders also stressed the broader impact of data-driven collaboration.

Andy García emphasized that the platform enables smarter decision-making that benefits the entire regional economy.

“This platform allows for data-driven decisions that benefit everyone. It shows that COSTEP truly cares about the region as a whole.”

Meanwhile, Teclo Garcia of Mission Economic Development Corporation pointed to the system’s importance for workforce and talent development.

“This information is extremely valuable and useful for us as we build the talent pipeline needed to support new companies entering the region.”

A Data-Driven Platform for Regional Growth

The Industrial Data System was developed to provide verified industrial intelligence that helps economic developers, investors, and corporate decision-makers better understand where manufacturing concentration is occurring, how supply chains are evolving, and where opportunities for expansion exist.

By bringing together reliable data on manufacturing companies, sector specialization, and supply chain relationships, the system provides a powerful tool for identifying growth opportunities and strengthening cross-border collaboration between Texas and Northern Mexico.

As the manufacturing economy of North America continues to evolve, initiatives like the Industrial Data System position Rio South Texas Region as a data-driven, binational platform for industrial investment and supply chain growth.

Visit the Rio South Texas Region Industrial Data System to discover how manufacturers and supply chain partners are connected across key sectors and identify new opportunities for expansion, partnerships, and investment.

Access the interactive dashboard here: https://autocluster.riosouthtexasregion.com/public-dashboard