Veracruz leads Mexico in debt reduction as security budgets shift

Recent data from INEGI and various financial analyses highlight significant shifts in Mexican state finances and security. Veracruz has achieved the largest absolute debt reduction among Mexican states, decreasing its debt by 4,957.1 million pesos in the first quarter of 2026. This 10.3 percent reduction resulted from the early liquidation of long-term loans with Banobras and Santander, improving the state's debt-to-income ratio.

In the security sector, the Guardia Nacional saw a 21.7 percent budget decrease for 2025, dropping to approximately 20,063.6 million pesos. Despite this reduction, the corporation reported a 137.4 percent increase in arrests. Meanwhile, fuel seizure reports show Coahuila leading the country in recovered stolen fuel with over 16.9 million liters, followed by Tabasco.

Regional economic and security trends also show varied results: Coahuila remains among the states with the lowest number of federal arrests and homicide rates, while Baja California experienced a 3.9 percent decline in remittances, totaling 795.5 million dollars during the first half of 2026.