Lime imports, per-capita consumption continue to rise

U.S. imports of limes have been rising steadily, and Mexico accounts for the lion’s share of all imported lime volume.

USDA trade numbers show that U.S. imports of all limes have more than doubled in 10 years, rising from 313,756 metric tons in 2010 to 665,277 metric tons in 2021. Imports account for more than 99% of all limes sold in the U.S., according to the USDA. Mexico accounted for 97% of all lime imports in 2021, with the balance supplied by Colombia and Honduras, according to the USDA.

U.S. retail per-capita availability of limes has jumped from 2.4 pounds in 2010 to 3.9 pounds in 2020, according to the USDA.

U.S Lime imports
(metric tons)
Year    Total         Mexico        
2010    313,756.2    304,478.7    
2011    331,673.8    318,887.2    
2012    392,283.1    385,172.7    
2013    415,094.8    403,736.7    
2014    411,890.0    404,084.2    
2015    482,689.9    476,955.9    
2016    527,606.7    519,369.1    
2017    578,123.2    569,818.2    
2018    584,593.0    576,254.5    
2019    618,751.3    607,783.7    
2020    680,401.5    669,357.2    
2021    665,277.7    644,880.7    
Source: USDA

Lime Retail Per-Capita Availability 

Year    Pounds Per Capita
2001    1.43
2005    1.99
2010    2.44
2015    2.87
2019     3.90
Source: USDA