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
