Most foreign firms sell into the Mexican market by appointing a Mexican agent and/or distributor. Many firms open direct sales offices and subsidiaries. With few exceptions, direct sales into Mexico by U.S. based manufacturers and distributors can be difficult to close.

The major marketing areas are:

-The central area around Mexico City (population of 18.2 million) that includes the cities of Puebla, Toluca, Cuernavaca, and Pachuca. This is the political, commercial, financial, and cultural center of the country.
-The Bajio area around the City of Guadalajara (population of 6 million) that includes the cities of Leon, Aguascalientes, Celaya and Irapuato). This is an important commercial, industrial and agricultural area with Guadalajara as the financial hub for thearea.
-The northern area around the City of Monterrey (population of 4.7 million) that includes the cities of Torreon, Saltillo, and Monclovia). This is an important industrial area producing a variety of products including steel, glass, textiles, beverages, paper and chemicals.
-The 2,000 mile U.S.-Mexico Border (population of over 3 million) that includes the cities of Juarez, Tijuana, Mexicali, Matamoros, Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo. This is an active industrial, agricultural and tourist area. Mexican firms produce a wide variety of products that offer excellent opportunities for export sales of machinery, equipment, industrial raw materials, replacement parts, accessories, service, know-how, and direct sales to major OEM'S such as the automotive assembly industry. With the current Government's push to increase exports, the quality of products will improve to
meet international standards. These population centers will also continue to offer a large market for U.S. Consumer goods.