Mexican Peso Under PressureThe Mexican peso has posted three consecutive sessions of losses against the U.S. dollar, signaling a marked erosion in investor confidence. Particularly striking is the fact that this decline has occurred even as the dollar trades in negative territory on Thursday, highlighting the inherent weakness of the peso during the session.
Two key factors appear to be driving this downward trend: on the one hand, markets are pricing in an aggressive new rate cut by the Bank of Mexico (Banxico), and on the other, emerging external trade risks are further clouding the outlook for the local currency.
Later today, Banxico is expected to cut its benchmark interest rate by another 50 basis points, maintaining its aggressive monetary policy easing cycle. If confirmed, this would mark the second consecutive cut of this magnitude, lowering the cost of money to 9% from the current 9.5%. It's worth recalling that during the last tightening cycle, the rate reached a historic high of 11.25%, meaning the cumulative easing would total 225 basis points with this cut.
This decision comes in a context marked by persistently high inflation observed in March and continued economic weakness. While looser monetary policy aims to stimulate economic activity, it also adds downward pressure on the peso, already weakened by external factors.
Compounding the situation is a challenging trade backdrop. Mexico posted a trade surplus of $2.21 billion in February, reversing January’s deficit. However, this surplus is worrisome, as it was driven largely by a sharp drop in imports rather than a strong rebound in exports, underscoring a structural weakness in domestic demand.
Particularly alarming is the performance of the automotive sector, with exports falling 15.2% in February. Shipments to the United States—Mexico’s main trading partner—declined 10.7%, while exports to other international markets plunged 40.2%. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the recent announcement by President Donald Trump of a 25% tariff on vehicle and auto parts imports, generating renewed uncertainty around the future of Mexico-U.S. trade relations.
The combination of internal factors such as weak domestic demand, Banxico’s monetary easing cycle, and mounting international trade uncertainty—particularly in a key sector like automotive—paints a complex and challenging outlook for the Mexican peso in the coming months.
Thus, markets appear to be anticipating that this storm could continue weighing on the peso, increasing the risk of further depreciation against the U.S. dollar. The Mexican currency is undoubtedly in a vulnerable position, awaiting greater clarity from both domestic and external fronts.
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