Mexico: Second-lowest of loans among OECD countries

Mexico ranks second among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries in terms of the lowest volume of commercial loans going to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), trailing only Canada; at the same time, however, it ranks among the highest in terms of interest rates, with rates that typically exceed 15%.

According to the organization’s most recent data, Mexico has 5.4 million MSMEs, but only one in 10 has access to financing, with an average interest rate of 15.59%.

This means that financing for MSMEs is above the average interest rate of 10.71% charged to large companies.

The OECD reported that by the end of 2024, the bank loan portfolio for MSMEs reached US$31.7 billion, equivalent to 13.04% of total commercial loans.

It also noted that, while the regulatory framework has allowed for the entry of several fintech institutions, this has increased competition and created a market environment that facilitates access to financing, with longer maturities and lower interest rates.