Ciudad Juárez proposed as Latin America’s first art freeport

The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2026 highlights a significant infrastructure gap in Latin America, where no art freeports currently exist to securely house high-value cultural assets and defer taxes. While the United States accounts for 44 percent of the global art market, regional collectors often ship valuable pieces to established hubs in Geneva, Luxembourg, Singapore, or Delaware to access museum-grade security and fiscal extraterritoriality.

To address this, there is a proposal to establish Latin America’s first art freeport in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Leveraging its proximity to the United States border, such a facility would serve as a strategic link between Latin American collectors and global markets, including Asia. A freeport would allow works to be deposited without incurring immediate tariffs or transaction taxes, with fiscal obligations triggered only upon the permanent removal of the piece.

Additionally, the report notes shifting trends among high-net-worth collectors, who are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence in their practices. Survey data indicates that family influence remains a primary driver for new collectors, particularly among Gen Z, and that paintings remain the most common entry point into art acquisition.