Bulletin 388 - Friday, September 26, 2008

Leviton, manufacturer of electric systems for construction sector, closed their plant in Ciudad Juarez, affecting 800 workers. With Leviton closing, there are already around 10 maquiladora companies that have moved away from Ciudad Juarez, Jorge Pedroza, Director of Maquiladoras Association, informed. He added that plants closings are due to the crisis in the United States, which has brought as consequence a considerable drop in orders made to many local companies, and the lost of almost 20 thousand jobs in the City. People involved in Leviton closing, who asked to remain anonymous, said that part of the labor force, made up by 800 workers, were relocated in other plants the company has in the State of Chihuahua and other states in Mexico. Pedsa and Contec are among the plants forced to stop operating due to the crisis.

Source: El Diario de Cd. Juarez"

Mexico City,- Organized by the Mexican Association of Buses and Trucks Manufacturers, the 12th. International Auto Transportation Vehicles and Engines Trade Show will be held from November 12 to 14 in Expo Guadalajara, and for the first time it will occupy a surface over 35,000 square meters (around 376,700 square feet), to become the largest trade show in Mexico. 300 companies in the sector will participate in Expotransporte ANPACT 2008, which will receive 32,000 visitors who will meet for three days at the trade show, a must for people in the auto transportation world in Mexico and abroad. Several ANPACT members, heavy vehicles and engines manufacturers, have confirmed their attendance. Freightliner, International, Kenworth, MAN, Daimler, Scania, Sterling, Volkswagen, Volvo, CAT, Cummins and Detroit Diesel are the brands that will be present in the largest auto transportation forum in Mexico. Juan José Guerra, Chairman of the Mexican Buses and Trucks Association, Asociación Nacional de Productores de Autobuses, Camiones y Tractocamiones, ANPACT, has declared that this is the best forum to analyze different challenges being faced by Mexican auto transportation sector. "We believe this time, as others, we will give our viewpoints about problems that must be urgently solved, to which purpose we will receive authorities stakeholders in our Industry's development", he said. Expotransporte ANPACT 2008 is organized by Messe Frankfurt Mexico.

Source: AL VOLANTE

Mexico,- Volkswagen de Mexico informed that upon closing August accrued exports reached 255 thousand 890 vehicles, ranking for the second time in a row as the largest autos exporter in Mexico. He said that this exports volume represents a 22% increase when compared to even term last year, January to August 2007, when they only exported 209 thousand 713 vehicles. The German Company established in Puebla currently produces Bora, SportWagen, Jetta and Beetle, 80% of which are exported to world markets. In the first eight months of this year, the main destination of these units have been Europe and Asia, with 124 thousand 611 units, followed by the US market with 85 thousand 211 cars. Volkswagen de Mexico informed that in said term total production by this assembly plant was 303 thousand 997 automobiles.

Source: El Financiero

GUAYMAS, Son,- Guaymas Port in Sonora will have three new terminals next month. where minerals will be handled and cruises will be received. Jose Luis Castro Ibarra, General Director for Integral Ports Administration (API), pointed-out that within the next few weeks ArcelorMIttal facilities will start operating to transport iron ore from Guaymas to Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan. The investment made for this project amounts to MEP$180 million and will have capacity for two million tons, even if 550 thousand are expected to be handled the first year. Also, the minerals terminal of the Australian Company BHP Billiton is practically finished to handle copper concentrates shipped from Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona in international transit with China as final destination. Last, Ryndam cruise from Holland America, which belongs to Carnival Cruises, will arrive next October 16, inaugurating the new terminal built to this purpose.

Source: T21

General Electric televisions will fill Tatung's new production lines. The Taiwanese electronic company and the US Company General Electric (GE) agreed to a joint-venture to manufacture high definition TV sets. Jesus Nava, Human Resources Manager for Tatung in Ciudad Juarez, explained that the project was negotiated years ago, but only a few days ago its implementation started. The name of the new company - which joins Tatung and General Electric - is General Displays & Technologies (GDT), and it will produce a new series of GE high definition TV sets. The only plant the corporation has in Mexico - located in Ciudad Juarez - has experienced strong growth this year, which called for a second shift and creating around 300 new jobs, the Company informed. In order to achieve high production levels required, the Company will soon open a second shift, which will represent a job opportunity for 300 people. Tatung currently employs 650 workers and its building is located in Las Fuentes Industrial Park.

Source: El Diario de Cd. Juarez

Huixquilican,- Bacardi y Compañía will invest US$20 million - budgeted for the next three years - to expand its production line in its plant at Tultitlan, Rodolfo Vargas, Executive President, informed. He said that in spite of the adjustments and forecasts on Mexican economy, Bacardi will continue investing, even though he regretted "unfortunately we are exposed, as many other manufacturers, to economic strikes and our people's low of purchasing power". However, he announced, the company will make "an important investment to expand installed capacity for more than US$20 million within the next three years, the investment will gradually grow based on our growth capacity each year".

Source: El Financiero