In December, the price paid to the producers of Mexican lime or Key Lime in the citrus regions of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, and Oaxaca, the wholesale quotations at supply centers, the sale prices to consumers in selected cities of the national market, and the trading margins of the fruit of Colima origin in the wholesale centers, self-service chains, and traditional stores, were as follows:
Prices paid to producers ($/kg)
In December, the highest average monthly price paid to Mexican lime producers in the field, packing centers, and packing plants in the biggest producing states was 8.72 $/kg, which was registered in the citrus region of Guerrero. It was followed by 7.36 in Oaxaca; 6.72 in Colima, and the lowest price was 5.62 $/kg, which was registered in the state of Michoacan.
According to data from SIPROLIMEX-Colima, the price paid to the producers in the field in Colima showed the following behavior between January and December 2017: in January, producers were paid 8.50 $/kg. In February, the price increased to 14.61. In March it reached its highest level, 17.48. Afterwards, there was a downward trend in April (13.30) and May (4.56). In June, there was a slight recovery (5.13), but in July prices fell again and reached their lowest point of the year (4.46). In August, prices increased to 6.42, and in September they fell again to 4.87. In October, prices continued increasing and reached 6.43. In November they stood at 7.60, and in December they stood at 6.72 $/kg. The average annual price paid to producers in the field in 2017 was 8.43 $/kg.
Producers receive a low price for their production mainly because of the high volatility between the supply and demand for citrus, the large number of intermediaries involved in the marketing process, and the inefficiency of the marketing channels, among other issues that, consequently, increase prices for the final consumer.
Wholesale prices ($/kg)
According to official data from the National Information System on Market Integration (SNIIM) of the Ministry of Economy, the current wholesale prices of the No. 5 Mexican lime in the wholesale centers and the supply centers that sell the fruit of Colima origin are as follows: the highest price was 18.05 $/kg, which was registered in the Felipe Angeles Wholesale market in Guadalajara, Jal., it was followed by the "Benito Juárez" Merchants Union at La Paz, BCS, with 17.60, the Distribution Centers of the City of Colima 17.13; the INDIA Wholesale market of Tijuana, BC, with 16.66; the ESTRELLA wholesale market of San Nicolas de los Garza, NL, with 15.52; and the Francisco I. Madero Market of Hermosillo, Son., with 11.68 pesos per kilogram.
In December (2017), the No. 2 Mexican lime with seeds was sold at an average price of 17.13 $/kg in the Distribution Centers that operate in the city of Colima, i.e. this fruit, which has a smaller size and less quality achieved much better prices in Colima than the No.5 Mexican lime in the wholesale centers of Tijuana, BC, (16.66); Durango (16.10), and San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, (15.52), among other places.
Colima had a decline in citrus production because of weather issues. However, this doesn't justify the price's behavior. The Federal Consumer Attorney's Office (PROFECO) must take action and explain how the Mexican lime is priced. Did prices increase so much because of the intermediation in the productive chain, or are some merchants speculating with prices?
Retail prices for consumers ($/kg)
According to data from the National Consumer Price Index (INEGI), the highest average price for consumers in the selected cities in December 2017 was 25.35 $/kg, which was recorded in the self-service chains, supermarkets and traditional stores that operate in the city of Tijuana, BC. It was followed by the city of La Paz, BCS, with 23.81; Monterrey, NL, with 21.46; Zacatecas, Zac., with 20.47; Guadalajara, Jal., with 20.34; Hermosillo, Son, with 20.00; Torreon, Coah., with 19.53; Colima, Col., with 19.00; and Aguascalientes, Ags., with 18.39 pesos per kilogram.
Trading margins (%)
The highest trading margin (i.e. the difference between the wholesale price in the selected wholesale centers and the price paid to the producer in the field) stood at 169% in the Felipe Angeles Wholesale market in Guadalajara, Jal. It was followed by the Wholesale Market of San Nicolas de los Garza, NL, (131%).
The gross trading margin, which is the difference between the average monthly wholesale price in the Felipe Angeles Wholesales Market in Guadalajara, Jal., (18.05), and the average price paid to producers of Mexican lime in the citrus region of Tecoman, Col., (6.72), stood at 11.33 $/kg.
The gross trading margin, i.e. the difference between the average monthly wholesale price in the Supply Market of San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, (15.52) and the average price paid to the producer of Mexican lime in the citrus region of Tecoman, Col., (6.72), stood at 8.80 $/kg.
Production volumes (in tons)
In December, Mexico harvested around 25,910 tons of Mexican lime. The biggest producer this month was the region of Apatzingan, Mich., with 23 thousand tons (89%). It was followed by Colima, with 2,230 tons (9%); Guerrero, with 420 tons (2%), and Oaxaca, with 260 tons (1%). Together, these entities produced more than 25,000 tons, i.e. 91% more than the 13,570 tons achieved in the month of November.
Based on information from:
Enrique Álvarez Navarro
Móvil: 312 183 95 43
E-mail: lean007@hotmail.com
Colima, Col., México.