Know Nuevo Leon

Know more about Nuevo Leon

• WEATHER 

Nuevo Leon has extreme weather. Its usually hot and dry, but more temperate climates can be found in the higher altitudes and winter can get very cold. 

The average temperature in Monterrey is 23°C (73°F), but it can reach 40°C (104°F) in summer and below zero in winter. Average humidity is 62%. There is a strong rain season triggered by hurricanes in August, September and October. 

Climate types 

 There is a small desertic region in the northeastern part of the state and a strip of temperate climate in the higher parts of the Sierra, in the center and south.  

Type or subtype	Symbol	% surface
Semi-arid	BS	68.63
Tropical	AC	19.1
Arid	BW	4.96
Temperate	CW	7.31

Air quality 

Air pollution is measured throughout the day in Metro Monterrey area. The public is informed of the measurements through the web, the local media and special bulletins distributed in case of natural or human-made contingencies. 

Quick facts 

Average temperature: 21°C (70°F) 

Average annual rainfall: 602 mm 

Main weather types: semi-arid and arid 

• LOCATION - WHERE IS IT? 

Nuevo León is located near the border of the country and the Gulf of México. 

Nuevo León is located near the border of the country and the Gulf of México. 

Nuevo Leon is located in the northeast of Mexico. Its surface is 64,220 sq km, 3.3% of the total surface of the country.  

It shares borders with Tamaulipas (east and north), San Luis (south), Zacatecas (south), Coahuila (west), and Texas (north).  

The geographic coordinates that contain the state are: to the north 27º 49' and to the south 23º 11' latitude north. To the east 98º 26' and to the west 101º 14' latitude west. 

Monterrey 

Monterrey is the capital of Nuevo Leon. It’s located 73 km away from Saltillo, Coahuila; 900 km from Mexico City; 223 km from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas; and 300 km from the port of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. This strategic position has made it one of the main commercial roadways in Mexico.  

There are 51 municipalities in the estate. The 9 that make up the Metro Monterrey area are: Monterrey, San Pedro Garza García, Santa Catarina, Guadalupe, San Nicolás de los Garza, Apodaca, General Escobedo y Juárez.  

Quick facts 

Geo coordinates: latitude 27º 49' north, 23º 11' south, longitude 98º 26' east and 101º 14' west. 

Municipalities: 51  

Municipalities in the Monterrey Metro area: 9 

• ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 

Nuevo León is one of most developed Mexican states in the economic area. We compete at an international level because of our enterprise and industrial activity. 

Infrastructure 

Nuevo Leon has a solid infrastructure for commerce and manufacturing: 

• 8-track border crossing with technology to accelerate inspections 
• Diploma-level schools and three of the best universities in Latin America 
• 57 industrial parks Highways, trains and airport 
• Abundant gas supply and a good distribution infrastructure 

• Reliable electricity supply and the only biomass electricity plant in Latin America 
• Recycled water for industrial use (Monterrey recycles 100% of its water) 

Companies based in Monterrey 

People in Nuevo León take pride in our long entrepreneur tradition. 

Businesses based in Monterrey	Industry
Alfa	Petrochemicals, food, telecommunications, car parts
Banorte	Banking
Cemex	Cement
Cydsa	Chemicals, plastics
Deacero	Iron
Femsa	Beverages, beer, commerce
Imsa	Metal-mechanics, autoparts
Maseca	Food
Multimedios	Communication media
Proeza	Car parts, food, software
Protexa	Construction, petrochemicals, tourism
Pulsar	Biotechnology, financial services
Quimmco	Metal-mechanics, autoparts
Softek	Software
Soriana	Commerce
Villacero	Iron
Vitro	Glass
Xignux	Electrical products, car parts, food

Some foreign businesses in Nuevo León
ABB	Elcoteq	Mitsubishi
Alcoa-Fujikura	General Electric	Phelps Dodge
BASF	John Deere	Pioneer
Caterpillas	Johnson & Johnson	Siemens
Celestica	LG Electronics	Toyota Tsuho
Danfoss	Mercedez Benz	Union Carbide

GDP 

In 2004, Nuevo Leon’s GDP was 517,475 million pesos, representing 7.5% of the country’s. The graph below shows NL’s GDP in millions of 1993 constant pesos. 

 

Exports 

Exports in Nuevo León grew from 10,414 million dollars in 2000 to 14,511 million dollars in 2006 (not including December 2006). 

 

Employment 

45% of the population is economically active . Out of them, 3% works in the primary sector (use of natural resources), 33% in manufacturing and 64% in services. Unemployment is 4.59% 

Micro and small companies are the ones that employ more people in the state. 

Company size	Employees
Micro	670,757
Small	370,580
Medium	293,731
Large	333,236
Government	59,762
Other	83,794

79% of workers earn more than two minimum wages. Minimum wages is $49.00 pesos in Apodaca, General Escobedo, Guadalupe, Monterrey, San Nicolás de los Garza, San Pedro Garza García and Santa Catarina, and $47.60 in the rest of the state. 

 

Note [1]: A person that is regularly involved in economic activities, or tried to be involved in the last month.  

Sources: Data NL, INEGI 

Basic data 

GDP (2004): 517,475 million (7.5% of Mexico) 

GDP per capita (2006 estimate): 154,024 

Main activities: Services, commerce, manufacturing of machinery and equipment  

Exports (Jan-Nov 2006): 14,511 million USD (5.8% of the country) 

Imports (Jan-Nov 2006): 16,374 million USD (6.4% of the country) 

• FOOD and CANDIES 

The most traditional dish from Monterrey is cabrito kid goat cooked on embers based on the Jewish cuisine of the founders of the city.Other local dishes and customs that perhaps date back to the Crypto-Judaism of these founders are the "semita" (bread without leavening), the capirotada dessert (a mix of cooked bread, cheese, raisins, peanuts, and crystallized sugarcane juice), and the relative absence of pork dishes. Another famous local dish is machacado con huevo. 

Carne asada on weekends remains a tradition among Monterrey families. It is usually served with grilled onions, baked potatoes and sausages or chopped as tacos. Locally brewed beer and cola are an almost mandatory part of the weekly ritual. The traditional desserts, "glorias" and "obleas," made from goat milk are both traditional candies from Nuevo León. 

• MUSIC 

Starting in the 1960s, Monterrey has been known for "Norteño" music which is the trademark music of the city, bands like Ramon Ayala, Pesado, Duelo and other Mexican "Regional" music bands perform at the different clubs in the city. Monterrey has witnessed the birth of several bands that have become internationally acclaimed. Their genres vary considerably. Bands include Plastilina Mosh, Control Machete, Kinky, El Gran Silencio, Jumbo, Panda, Genitallica, 3Ball MTY. The song "Los Oxidados" by Plastilina Mosh opened the 2005 movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.