Nogales experiences rising imports of Mexican produce

U.S. imports of Mexican vegetables and fruit through Arizona's Nogales district ports totaled more than $3.86 billion in 2021, up 1% from $3.82 billion in 2020 and up 7% from $3.6 billion in 2019.

According to U.S. trade statistics from the Census Bureau, the value of Mexican produce moving through Nogales in 2021, by commodity, compared with 2020 and 2019:

• Imports of Mexican tomatoes totaled $671.3 million in 2021, down 11% from $756.3 million but up 17% from $573.2 million in 2019.

• Imports of Mexican onions totaled $29.2 million, up 29% from $22.6 million in 2020 but down 43% from $51.2 million in 2019.

• Imports of Mexican cucumbers totaled $330.4 million, down 1% from $333.9 million in 2020 but up 2% from $323.1 million in 2019.

• Imports of Mexican head lettuce totaled $16.5 million in 2021, up 14% from $14.5 million in 2020 and up 63% from $10.1 million in 2019.

• Imports of Mexican lettuce (except head lettuce) were $116.8 million, up 27% from $92.3 million in 2020 and up 156% from $45.7 million in 2019.

• Imports of Mexican Brussels sprouts were $18.9 million, up 27% from $14.9 million in 2020 and up 69% in $11.2 million

• Imports of Mexican asparagus were $81.1 million, down 10% from $89.7 million and down 23% from $105.8 million in 2019.

• U.S. imports of Mexican strawberries were $21.9 million in 2021, up 1% from $21.8 million in 2020 but down 22% from $27.9 million in 2019.

• U.S. imports of Mexican watermelons totaled $259.9 million, up 6% from $245.4 million in 2020 but down 4% from $271.2 million in 2019.

• U.S. imports of Mexican grapes totaled $539.1 million in 2021, up 8% from $500.5 million in 2020 but down 8% from $587.4 million in 2019.

• Imports of Mexican blueberries totaled $42.6 million in 2021, down 4% from $44.4 million in 2020 and down 16% from $50.9 million in 2019.

• U.S. imports of Mexican citrus totaled $50.7 million in 2021, up 10% from $46.3 million in 2020 and up 29% from $39.3 million in 2019.

• U.S. imports of Mexican guavas, mangoes and mangosteens totaled $145.5 million in 2021, down 2% from $147.9 million in 2020 and down 10% from $161.2 million in 2019.

•  U.S. imports of Mexican avocados totaled $47.9 million in 2021, up 64% from $29.3 million in 2020 and up 30% from $36.8 million in 2019.

• U.S. imports of eggplant totaled $45.7 million in 2021, down 12% from $52.1 million in 2020 and down 1% from $46 million in 2019.