During the first half of 2014, exports of Mexican lime increased in value by 37% over the same period of 2013, and amounted to U.S. $180.4 million.
According to a preliminary report by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), Mexico exported 193,382 tons to 17 destinations between January and June 2014. The USA, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Poland and Italy were among the major markets.
According to SAGARPA, Switzerland had one of the largest increases in imports as they bought product valued at more than $134,000 during the first six months of this year when the previous year shipments did not reach $10,000 dollars.
Another important market was Japan, where sales of Mexican lime doubled from US $ 602,900 -in the first half of 2013- to $1.2 million in the first half of 2014, with a volume of about 900 tons.
France also witnessed significant growth. Mexico sold 1,123 tons of lime valued at $1.4 million dollars to the French market, i.e. a 104% increase over the year.
Despite these increases, the US was the main destination for Mexican lime in the period between January and June, with sales for more than $ 166 million, i.e. 38% more than in the same period last year; followed by the Netherlands with a value of $ 6.7 million, 77% more than in 2013.
Other important destinations for Mexican limes, corresponding to the value of exports, are: the United Kingdom (U.S. $2.1 million), Canada (U.S. $823,000), Spain (€ 675,000) and Belgium (U.S. $ 402,000), among others.
Based on statistics from the Agricultural Information Service and Fisheries (SIAP), Mexico produces about 2 million tons of lime per year in 27 states.
The main producing states are: Veracruz (558.000 tons), Michoacán (475,500 tons), Colima (354,700 tons), Oaxaca (199,500 tons), Yucatán (126,900 tons) and Tabasco (84,000 tons).
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal