Central Standard (CST)
Mexico City operates on Central Standard (CST). Mexico City observes Daylight Saving Time, springing forward one hour in March and falling back in November. During DST, the abbreviation changes to reflect the shift.
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST) — Standard Offset: UTC-6 (CST) — DST: Not observed
Country: Mexico
This city does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The UTC offset remains constant year-round, which simplifies international scheduling.
Mexico eliminated Daylight Saving Time nationwide in October 2022 (with exceptions for border cities that coordinate with US DST). This means Mexico City stays on UTC-6 year-round. During the US DST period (March-November), Mexico City is 1 hour behind Chicago (which shifts to CDT/UTC-5). During US winter, Mexico City and Chicago are back in sync at UTC-6. This change created a new scheduling wrinkle for US-Mexico business that didn't exist before 2022.
Mexico City is the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world and a major hub for Latin American business. The Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (Mexican Stock Exchange) trades from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM CST. The city's time zone alignment (or near-alignment) with US Central Time makes it the most schedule-compatible Latin American capital for US business — only 0-1 hours difference from Chicago, Dallas, and Houston.
The US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) has intensified cross-border business coordination. Mexico City's CST position means it aligns well with the US manufacturing belt — automotive parts crossing the border between Monterrey and Texas move between cities in the same time zone. This logistical alignment supports just-in-time manufacturing across the border.
The key post-2022 rule: during US DST (March-November), Mexico City is 1 hour behind US Central cities and 2 hours behind US Eastern cities. During US winter (November-March), Mexico City matches Central Time exactly. Mexico City is always 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles during DST and 2 ahead year-round otherwise. For European scheduling, Mexico City is 7 hours behind London (6 during BST).