Samsung Electronics has suspended its plans to relocate part of its refrigerator production from its plant in Gwangju, South Korea, to Mexico. The decision, which comes amid uncertainty over new tariff measures pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has been confirmed by Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung.
In a recent press conference, the mayor revealed that after visiting Samsung’s local factory, the plant’s vice president, Park Sung-ho, informed him that the move to Mexico “is no longer in effect, for now.” This statement has been echoed by various South Korean media outlets, including the Yonhap news agency and the newspaper Korea JoongAng Daily.
So far, Samsung has taken a cautious stance regarding the information disclosed by the Gwangju mayor. In response to the EFE news agency, the company refrained from confirming or denying the suspension of the relocation, merely stating that it continues to monitor the situation and will respond flexibly as required by global market conditions.
It is worth noting that Samsung had considered transferring the production of older refrigerator models to its plant in Mexico, raising concerns among workers and authorities in Gwangju. Now, with the decision on hold, the company is reevaluating strategies to ensure the operational stability of its South Korean factory.
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Mexico and Samsung’s Global Production
Currently, Samsung operates two manufacturing plants in Mexico. The first is located in Querétaro and focuses on producing home appliances, while the second is in Tijuana and specializes in televisions. Both facilities play a key role in the company’s supply chain for the American market.
Relocating refrigerator production to Mexico would have strengthened Samsung’s presence in the country, creating new job opportunities and enhancing export capacity to key markets such as the United States and Canada. However, volatility in trade policies has forced the company to reconsider this strategy.
