Kimberly-Clark de México
A Mexican manufacturer and marketer of disposable consumer, professional, and health-care products.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
Kimberly-Clark de México, commonly known as KCM, is a Mexican consumer-products company focused on disposable products used in homes, workplaces, institutions, and health-care settings. Its portfolio covers several everyday necessities: diapers and other childcare products, feminine-care products, adult incontinence products, toilet tissue, napkins, facial tissue, hand and kitchen towels, wet wipes, and selected health-care products. The company also markets internationally, although Mexico remains its central operating market and the basis of its corporate identity. KCM traces its industrial origins to La Aurora, a paper mill established in 1925 in Naucalpan, in the State of Mexico. Kimberly-Clark Corporation entered the Mexican market in 1932 with the Kotex and Kleenex brands. In 1959, Kimberly-Clark acquired the entire capital of La Aurora, creating the corporate structure known as Kimberly-Clark de México. The relationship with the United States-based Kimberly-Clark has therefore been important historically and commercially, but KCM developed as a Mexican listed company with its own operations, manufacturing assets, management, and capital-market presence. A major ownership and governance milestone occurred in 1962, when Kimberly-Clark Corporation placed 40 percent of KCM's shares on the Mexican Stock Exchange. In 1973, a further 17 percent shareholding was sold, reinforcing KCM's Mexican character and broadening public ownership. The company later expanded through consolidation and portfolio changes. Its 1996 acquisition and merger with Grupo Crisoba brought additional facilities in Ecatepec, Morelia, San Rafael, and Texmelucan into the business. In 2006, KCM separated and sold its Industrial Products business, known as PRODIN, resulting in the formation of Grupo Papelero Scribe. In 2012, it acquired Evenflo's feeding business, adding products associated with infant feeding to its childcare offering. The company subsequently broadened its consumer portfolio through the 2015 launch of Kleenex soaps and the 2016 acquisition of the Escudo Antibacterial brand from Procter & Gamble. KCM's competitive position rests on manufacturing scale, distribution reach, brand recognition, and its presence across multiple stages of household and personal care. Well-known brands associated with its portfolio include Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, and Escudo, although the precise brand mix and ownership arrangements can vary by market and period. The company serves both consumer markets and away-from-home users, including businesses and institutions that buy tissue, towels, hygiene, and health-care products. In 2019, the company became the subject of public and political controversy after its chief executive was reported to have said that KCM would not make additional short-term investments in Mexico, citing disagreement with the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and an economic slowdown. Boycott calls followed. KCM later issued a clarification denying that it was withdrawing investment from Mexico. In 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration placed certain hand-sanitizer products associated with 4E Global, described in reporting as a Kimberly-Clark subsidiary, on a warning list because of possible methanol contamination. That incident is distinct from KCM's ordinary tissue, personal-care, and household-products business. KCM has also reported a continuing sustainability and governance profile. Reference material states that it met FTSE4Good criteria from 2017 onward, entered the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the MILA region from 2019, and was included in the DJSI Emerging Markets from 2020. The company is described as directly employing approximately 8,000 people and supporting more than 10,000 indirect jobs. Its current identity is that of a large, Mexico-centered disposable-products manufacturer with a diversified hygiene portfolio and a public listing.
History
Kimberly-Clark de México developed from La Aurora, a paper factory established in 1925 in Naucalpan, State of Mexico. The business became connected with Kimberly-Clark Corporation after the latter entered Mexico in 1932, introducing the Kotex and Kleenex brands. Kimberly-Clark acquired all of La Aurora's capital in 1959, establishing the basis of Kimberly-Clark de México as a major Mexican paper and disposable-products company. The company's capital structure became more publicly distributed in the following decade. In 1962, Kimberly-Clark Corporation sold 40 percent of KCM's shares through the Mexican Stock Exchange. A further 17 percent was sold in 1973. These transactions were significant not only as financing events but also because they strengthened KCM's status as a Mexican public company rather than a wholly controlled local subsidiary. KCM expanded its industrial footprint and product capabilities during the following decades. In 1996, it acquired and merged with Grupo Crisoba. The transaction brought plants in Ecatepec, Morelia, San Rafael, and Texmelucan into the company's manufacturing network. The combination increased KCM's scale in paper and disposable products and supported a broader national distribution platform. The company later adjusted its portfolio through divestiture and acquisition. In 2006, it sold its Industrial Products business, known as PRODIN. That business became Grupo Papelero Scribe, separating a portion of KCM's industrial activities from its consumer and personal-care focus. In 2012, KCM acquired Evenflo's feeding business, extending its presence in infant and childcare products. It introduced Kleenex soaps in 2015 and acquired the Escudo Antibacterial brand from Procter & Gamble in 2016, adding a branded antibacterial-care line. KCM's business today encompasses products for consumers at home and users outside the home. Its categories include childcare, feminine care, adult care, bath tissue, napkins, facial tissue, hand and kitchen towels, wet wipes, and health-care products. The company's better-known brands include Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, and Escudo. Reference material describes approximately 8,000 direct employees and more than 10,000 indirect jobs, although employment figures can change over time. In October 2019, the company entered a politically sensitive period after its chief executive was reported to have announced that KCM would stop making short-term investments in Mexico. The remarks were associated with disagreements with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and concerns about economic deceleration. Public reaction included boycott calls. KCM subsequently issued a statement intended to reject or qualify reports that it was withdrawing investment from the country. In July 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration included a number of hand-sanitizer products linked in the cited material to 4E Global on a do-not-use list because of possible methanol contamination. The incident was reported in connection with a subsidiary and a product category separate from KCM's core tissue and personal-care portfolio, but it remains part of the broader reference history associated with the company. KCM has also been recognized in sustainability-related indexes. The available reference states that the company met FTSE4Good criteria from 2017 onward, entered the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the MILA region from 2019, and was among Mexican companies included in the DJSI Emerging Markets from 2020. These recognitions form part of the company's public sustainability profile.
- 2020
DJSI Emerging Markets recognition and sanitizer warning
[1]The company is reported among Mexican constituents of the DJSI Emerging Markets; the FDA also warns against certain hand sanitizers linked in reporting to 4E Global.
- 2019
DJSI MILA recognition and investment controversy
[1]KCM is reported as entering the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the MILA region, while its statements about short-term investment in Mexico prompt political criticism and boycott calls.
- 2017
FTSE4Good recognition begins
[1]Reference material reports KCM's inclusion in the FTSE4Good sustainability index from this year onward.
- 2016
Escudo Antibacterial acquired
[1]KCM acquires the Escudo Antibacterial brand from Procter & Gamble.
- 2015
Kleenex soaps introduced
[1]The company adds Kleenex-branded soaps to its product range.
- 2012
Evenflo feeding-business acquisition
[1]KCM acquires Evenflo's feeding business and expands its childcare and infant-feeding presence.
- 2006
PRODIN divestiture
[1]KCM sells its Industrial Products business, which becomes Grupo Papelero Scribe.
- 1996
Grupo Crisoba acquisition and merger
[1]KCM acquires and merges Grupo Crisoba, adding facilities in Ecatepec, Morelia, San Rafael, and Texmelucan.
- 1973
Further share sale
[1]Kimberly-Clark sells an additional 17 percent of KCM's shares, supporting the company's development as a Mexican public company.
- 1962
Initial public share placement
[1]Forty percent of KCM's shares are sold on the Mexican Stock Exchange.
Products and positioning
Mass-market and widely distributed hygiene, tissue, personal-care, and away-from-home products.
Facial tissue and personal care · 1932
Kleenex
Kleenex is one of KCM's long-standing tissue and hygiene brands. The portfolio is associated primarily with facial tissues and, in Mexico, was extended into soaps in 2015. It serves everyday household and personal-hygiene occasions and benefits from the brand's established recognition in disposable tissue products.
Baby care
Huggies
Huggies represents KCM's baby-care offering, centered on disposable diapers and related childcare products. The line addresses routine infant-care needs and forms part of the company's broader presence across household hygiene and early-childhood categories.
Feminine care · 1932
Kotex
Kotex is a feminine-care brand introduced to the Mexican market when Kimberly-Clark entered Mexico in 1932. It is associated with menstrual pads and related disposable feminine-hygiene products within KCM's personal-care portfolio.
Antibacterial and personal care · 2016
Escudo
Escudo Antibacterial became part of KCM's portfolio through the 2016 acquisition from Procter & Gamble. The brand broadened KCM's personal-care presence beyond tissue and absorbent products into antibacterial hygiene.
Household tissue
KCM tissue and towel portfolio
KCM manufactures and markets bath tissue, facial tissue, napkins, and hand and kitchen towels. These products serve household consumers as well as away-from-home customers such as businesses and institutions.
Personal and health care
KCM care and absorbent products
The company's care portfolio includes diapers, feminine pads, adult incontinence products, wet wipes, and health-care products. Together, these categories give KCM exposure to childcare, women's health, aging, continence, and general hygiene needs.
Controversies
2020
Hand-sanitizer products placed on FDA do-not-use list
The FDA listed certain hand sanitizers associated in the cited reference with 4E Global, described there as a Kimberly-Clark subsidiary, because of possible methanol content. The reference does not identify these products as part of KCM's core Mexican tissue and personal-care portfolio.
2019
Investment statement and boycott controversy
A reported statement that KCM would no longer make short-term investments in Mexico, attributed to disagreement with the López Obrador administration and economic concerns, prompted political criticism and boycott calls. The company later issued a clarification disputing reports that it was abandoning investment in Mexico.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Boycott calls following investment remarks
Mexico
After remarks attributed to KCM's chief executive about stopping short-term investments in Mexico, political critics and other commentators called for a boycott of the company's products. KCM issued a clarification denying or qualifying reports that it was withdrawing investment from Mexico. The available reference does not establish the commercial effect of the boycott calls.
Outcome. KCM issued a clarification denying or qualifying reports that it was withdrawing investment from Mexico. The available reference does not establish the commercial effect of the boycott calls.
Brand decisions
2019
Clarify reported investment-policy changeStrategyBackground
Reports that KCM would stop making short-term investments in Mexico triggered political criticism and boycott calls.
Action taken
The company released a clarification denying or qualifying the interpretation that it was abandoning investment in Mexico.
Aftermath
The statement became part of a public controversy, but the available reference does not provide a measured financial or operational outcome.
2016
Acquire Escudo AntibacterialM&ABackground
KCM pursued additional scale in antibacterial and personal hygiene products.
Action taken
KCM acquired the Escudo Antibacterial brand from Procter & Gamble.
Aftermath
Escudo added an antibacterial-care franchise to KCM's established tissue and absorbent-products portfolio.
2015
Introduce Kleenex soapsProduct launchBackground
KCM sought to extend the Kleenex name beyond its established tissue franchise.
Action taken
The company introduced Kleenex-branded soaps.
Aftermath
The move diversified the brand's personal-care offering.
2012
Acquire Evenflo's feeding businessM&ABackground
KCM aimed to deepen its presence in childcare and infant-related products.
Action taken
The company acquired Evenflo's feeding business.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded KCM's offering into infant feeding products.
2006
Separate the PRODIN Industrial Products businessM&ABackground
KCM reviewed the role of its Industrial Products business within its broader consumer and hygiene portfolio.
Action taken
KCM sold PRODIN, leading to the formation of Grupo Papelero Scribe.
Aftermath
The divestiture separated the industrial-products operation from KCM's remaining business.
1996
Acquire and merge Grupo CrisobaM&ABackground
KCM sought to expand its manufacturing base and paper-products scale in Mexico.
Action taken
The company acquired and merged Grupo Crisoba, incorporating plants in Ecatepec, Morelia, San Rafael, and Texmelucan.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded KCM's production footprint and strengthened its national operating platform.
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