In November, the price paid to the producers of Mexican limes (Citrus Aurantifolia Swingle or Key Lime) in the citrus regions of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, and Oaxaca, the wholesale sales 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 November, the highest average monthly price paid to Mexican lime producers in the field, collection centers, and packing plants of the biggest producing states, was 7.60 $/kg in the citrus region of Colima. It was followed by 7.59 in Michoacan, and 6.78 in Guerrero. Meanwhile, the lowest price was 6.23 $/kg, which was registered in the state of Oaxaca.
Between January and November 2017, prices paid to the producers in the fields of the State of Colima behaved as follows. In January, the fruit was paid at 8.50 $/kg. In February it increased to 14.61 $/kg. In March it reached its highest level, 17.48 $/kg. Then, there was a decreasing trend. In April prices fell to 13.30 $/kg, and in May they slumped to 4.56 $/kg. In June they had a slight recovery and stood at 5.13 $/kg. However, in July prices fell again and reached the lowest quote so far in the year, i.e. 4.46 $/kg. There was a slight recovery in August, as prices went up to 6.42 $/kg, and another fall in September as they stood at 4.87 $/kg. In October prices went up again and stood at 6.43 $/kg. In November, prices increased a little and stood at 7.60 $/kg. (SIPROLIMEX-Colima, 2017)
Producers receive a low price for their production mainly because of the high volatility between the supply and demand for citrus, the large number of intermediaries involved in the marketing process, and the inefficiency of the marketing channels, among other issues that, consequently, increase prices for the final consumer.
Wholesale prices ($/kg)
According to official data from the National Information System on Market Integration (SNIIM) of the Ministry of Economy, the current wholesale prices of Mexican lime No. 5 in the wholesalers centres and supply stations that sell the fruit of Colima origin are as follows. The highest price was 20.60 $/kg, which was recorded at the Felipe Angeles market in Guadalajara, Jal. It was followed by 18.14, at the INDIA Wholesales Market of Tijuana, B. C., 17.67 at the ESTRELLA wholesale market of San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L., 17.30 at the Wholesale Market in Guadalajara, Jal., 17.13 at the Francisco Villa Wholesales Market in Durango, Dgo., 17.04 at the Union of merchants from la Paz, B.C.S., 16.50 at the centers of distribution in the city of Colima CDCOL, 15.43 at the Wholesales Market of the lagoon of Torreon, Coah., 12.00 at the Wholesales Market in Fresnillo Zacatecas, and 10.86 $/kg at the agricultural trade center of Aguascalientes, Ags.
Retail prices for consumers ($/kg)
According to data from the INEGI, (National Consumer Price Index), the highest monthly average price for consumers was 27.17 $/kg, which registered in the self-service chains, supermarkets, and traditional stores that operate in the city of Tijuana. It was followed by 26.59, at the city of La Paz, BCS, 22.84 in Hermosillo, Son., 22.01 in Monterrey, NL, 21.70 in Durango, Dgo., 20.86 in Ciudad Acuña, Coah., 19.86 in Guadalajara, Jal., 18.98 in the City of Colima, CDCOL, 18.13 in Aguascalientes, Ags., 18.13, and 17.98 $/kg in Fresnillo, Zac., 17.98 $ / kg.
Trading margins (%)
The biggest trading margin between the wholesale price in the selected wholesale centers and the price paid to the producer in the field was observed in the Felipe Angeles Market in Guadalajara, Jal., (MC: 171%). It was followed by the INDIA Wholesales Market of Tijuana, BC, (MC: 139%), and the agricultural trade Center of Aguascalientes, Ags., (MC: 43%).
The gross marketing margin was 13.00 $/kg, which is the difference between the average monthly wholesale price in the Felipe Angeles Wholesales Market in Guadalajara, Jal., 20.60, and the average price paid to producers of Mexican lime in the citrus region of Tecoman, Col., 7.60 $/kg.
The highest trading marketing margin for the lime of Michoacan origin was recorded in Cuautla's Central Wholesale Market, 124%. It was followed by Mexico City's Central Wholesale Market, with 88%, and the Wholesale Market of Ecatepec, Mex., with 40%.
The gross trading margin was 9.41 $/kg. It is the difference between the average monthly wholesale price in the wholesales market of Cuautla, Mor., and the average price paid to producers of Mexican lime in the citrus region of Apatzingan, Mich., i.e. 7.59 $/kg.
Production volumes (in tons)
In November, Mexico harvested around 13,570 tons of Mexican lime. The citrus region of Apatzingan, Mich., stood out with a production of 7,800 tons (58%). It was followed by Colima with 4,400 tons (32%); Oaxaca, with 740 tons (5%), and Guerrero, with 630 tons (5%). Together, these entities produced more than 13,570 tons, i.e. 41% less than in October, when production stood at 22,900 tons.
With information from:
Enrique Álvarez Navarro
Móvil: 312 183 95 43
E-mail: lean007@hotmail.com
Colima, Col., México.