International Business

Mexico’s Maquiladora Industry Expands: The industry, which consists mainly of plants just south of the U.S.-Mexico border, increased value-added expenditures 18% in the first four months of the year, a government agency said. “Value-added” is defined by the agency as the combined increase in wages, workers’ benefits, expenses, profits and prices of raw materials and packaging. The maquiladora industry does not provide production statistics, so the value-added growth rate serves as a gauge. In April, the industry’s value-added amounted to $421.2 million, up from $277.3 million a year earlier. The industry’s April growth rate measured in real terms was not disclosed.