U.S. ag exports to Mexico busted all-time records in 2021, the USDA reports. “A recovery from 2020 pandemic lockdowns and high global commodity prices helped values, as well as quantity, increase in 2021,” the USDA report said. For 2021, the USDA said U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico totaled $25.5 billion, up from nearly 40% from $18.3 billion in 2020.
U.S. imports of agricultural products from Mexico also rose $37.9 billion in 2021, up 15% compared with 2020, USDA trade numbers said.
Export gains were led by grains, dairy products, meat, fresh fruit, processed vegetables and fruit, and condiment and sauces.
In 2021, the USDA said U.S. exports of fresh fruit rose 37% to $748 million, up strongly from $545 million in 2020. U.S. fresh vegetable exports to Mexico topped $238 million in 2021, up 3% from $231 million in 2020.
Record processed vegetable trade was driven by quantity and value increases in frozen potato products ($261 million), which the USDA said reflected a reopening of the restaurant and hospitality sector after a challenging 2020.
Strong U.S. apple ($349 million) exports led to growth in the fresh fruit sector. “Orange and tangerine exports ($29 million), [were] driven by high demand for products containing vitamin C during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report said. It also found that U.S. cherry ($16 million) exports to Mexico increased an impressive 235% from 2020.
Record growth in the organic category, according to the report, was fueled by both retail and restaurant demand for fresh organic fruit (apples, grapes, pears, peaches and others), as well as lettuce and spinach. Baby food and other organic processed products also saw significant growth.
“Higher-income consumers in Mexico are willing to pay a premium for USDA organic products with the hopes of attaining higher health and food safety benefits – a trend the pandemic has bolstered,” the report said.
Star performers for U.S. ag exports to Mexico in 2021:
- Dairy products ($1.8 billion);
- Pork and pork products: ($1.7 billion);
- Fresh and processed fruits and vegetables ($1.7 billion);
- Processed Foods and Juices ($1.7 billion);
- Poultry Meat and Products (excluding eggs) ($1.3 billion);
- Eggs and Products ($215 million);
- Organics ($200 million);
- Beef for ground meat and processing ($509 million);
- Corn ($4.7 billion);
- Soybeans ($2.7 billion); and
- Wheat ($1.3 billion).
