U.S. port data show that trade flows of Mexican tomatoes into the U.S. are heavily weighted toward Laredo, Texas, district first and then Nogales, Ariz.
USDA reports that total U.S. tomato imports of Mexican tomatoes totaled $2.7 billion in 2023, up from $2.47 billion in 2022 and 2.39 billion in 2021.
U.S. imports of Mexican fresh tomatoes through major U.S. ports of entry from 2020 to 2024 indicated that the Laredo district was the largest port by value, rising from $1.27 billion in 2020 to $1.47 billion in 2023.
In the partial year from January through September 2024, the USDA reported imports of Mexican tomatoes at $1.14 billion for the district.
The port district of Nogales showed $756 million in imports in 2020, declining to $662 million in 2022. However, the USDA noted a strong recovery for the Nogales district to $763 million in 2023 and an even stronger showing in 2024.
For the partial year from January through September 2024, the Nogales port district received $804 million, exceeding the full year 2023 imports, the USDA said.
Mexican tomatoes shipped to the port district of San Diego rose from $294 million in 2020 to $371 million in 2023, and $286 million from January through September 2024.
