Short answer
DENUE is INEGI’s national directory of business establishments in Mexico, with more than 6 million establishments according to INEGI’s 2024 Economic Census edition. Each entry has a name, address, activity code (SCIAN) and staff band. You can search it on a map or download state files in bulk. Testigo used the bulk files to count 1,363 Bajío auto-parts and metal plants.
Key facts
- Publisher
- INEGI, Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía
- Size
- More than 6 million establishments (2024 Economic Census edition)
- Not in it
- The RFC, and any measure of quality or capacity
What DENUE lists
DENUE stands for Directorio Estadístico Nacional de Unidades Económicas. Each entry is an establishment: a physical place of business, with an activity code, a staff band and an address. Many entries also carry a phone number, an email or a website.
An establishment is not always a company. One company can have several entries, and a plant can operate under a different name from its parent. That is why DENUE is the start of a check, not the end of one.
Finding manufacturers by SCIAN code
SCIAN is Mexico’s version of the North American industry classification. Two groups cover the plants Testigo’s pilot follows.
| Group | SCIAN | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Auto parts | 3363 | Engines (336310), electrical equipment (336320), steering and suspension (336330), brakes (336340), transmission (336350), seating and interiors (336360), metal stampings (336370), other parts (336390) |
| Fabricated metal | 332 | Forged and stamped products (332110), structural metal (332310), machine shops (332710), fasteners (332720), coating and finishing (332810), valves (332910), bearings (332991) and others |
Searching and downloading
- Search on the mapINEGI’s DENUE web map filters by activity, place and size. It suits looking up one plant.
- Download in bulkINEGI’s download page offers CSV files by state and by activity. Testigo used the state files for Aguascalientes (01), Guanajuato (11), Querétaro (22) and San Luis Potosí (24), downloaded on 25 September 2026.
- Filter by SCIAN and staff bandKeep activity codes starting 3363 or 332. Staff bands run from small (0 to 5 people) up to 251 or more; Testigo’s census uses plants with 11 or more.
- Record the date you downloaded itDENUE changes. Write the download date next to any count you use.
The Bajío counts
| State | Plants, 11+ staff | Auto parts | Metal fabrication | With 51+ staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guanajuato | 481 | 210 | 271 | 264 |
| Querétaro | 399 | 158 | 241 | 201 |
| San Luis Potosí | 288 | 107 | 181 | 147 |
| Aguascalientes | 195 | 86 | 109 | 94 |
| Four states | 1,363 | 561 | 802 | 706 |
What DENUE cannot do
- It does not publish the RFC, so matching to other records uses name and postal code.
- The date in DENUE is when an establishment entered the directory, not when it was founded.
- A staff band is a range, not a headcount.
- It says nothing about quality, export status or tax standing. Use the IMMEX directory and the SAT 69-B list for those.
Frequently asked questions
What is DENUE?
DENUE is INEGI’s Directorio Estadístico Nacional de Unidades Económicas, the national directory of business establishments in Mexico. INEGI reports more than 6 million establishments in its 2024 Economic Census edition. Each entry lists an activity code, a staff band and an address, and often contact details.
Does DENUE show a company’s RFC?
No. The DENUE files Testigo downloaded on 25 September 2026 carry no RFC. To match a DENUE plant to other records, use its legal name and postal code, and ask the supplier for its RFC and its Constancia de Situación Fiscal.
How do I download DENUE in bulk?
INEGI publishes DENUE downloads as CSV files by state and activity on its download page. Pick the states you need, then filter by SCIAN code and staff band. Record the download date, because DENUE changes and any count you publish should name its date.
Is the date in DENUE the year a plant was founded?
No. INEGI’s data dictionary defines the date as when the establishment entered DENUE, not when the company began. A plant can be much older than its DENUE date. Testigo shows the date as the month a plant was listed, never as its age.