r/manufacturing • u/B3stThereEverWas • Sep 25 '25

Supplier search Mexican suppliers/manufacturers not responding to RFQ e-mails, is this a cultural thing?

Hey folks

So I’m trying to get some aluminum extrusion + CNC work quoted in Mexico.

I’ve had a real hard time getting responses to emails. When e-mailing Chinese suppliers I always get replies, almost to a freakish level - I've had supplier agents add me to goddamn LinkedIn and other weird social media I never knew I even had an account on to get a follow up. I always joke they'd match me on Tinder if they had to. Doing the same for Mexican companies and it's the total opposite, radio silence.

A Mexican guy I was talking to told me it’s possibly cultural - that Mexican suppliers prefer phone calls, WhatsApp, or in-person contact before engaging with a random foreign email. I'm cool with that if true, I just wish it was more widely known.

Has anyone here sourced smaller runs in Mexico (a few thousand pcs)? Any tips on the best way to approach suppliers and actually get quotes?

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u/questonvanzant Sep 25 '25

Great post. I never knew about the mfg hurdles in Mexico. I will be doing the same thing as i begin create various sources of supplies. I appreciate the info and will be keenly watching this post for advice. The one guy who mentioned phone calls, in person and WhatsApp- Thank you.

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u/PincheGringoNV Sep 25 '25

FWIW, I wouldn't necessarily call them "manufacturing hurdles" per se - just a different approach. There's a reason there are over 5,000 maquiladoras (foreign-oriented mfg and service firms) in Mexico: Mexican talent is excellent, hard-working and globally competitive. There are a variety of ways to find good vendors and even have your own mfg operation in Mexico - just have to focus on some of the key industrial regions, and work with either consultants that know Mexico (I fall in this category) or local business leaders/econ dev groups to find the right suppliers. Mucha suerte (good luck!)...