Mexican agri-food exports (agricultural, agro-industrial and fishing) reached 8,165 million dollars in the first quarter of the year, according to a report by the Secretariat for Food and Competitiveness SAGARPA.
Based on monitoring conducted to international trade, the report notes that the international sales of these products grew during the period of January - April 2012 at an annual rate of 1.5 percent.
He explained that agricultural exports amounted to 3,974 million dollars with an increase of 1.9 percent, compared with the same period last year.
During the first quarter of 2012, some of the products that showed the most growth in the value of its exports over the same period of 2011, are: fresh grapes 275 percent, grapefruit 169 per cent, among others.Mexico sells its food products to 168 destinations, which is reflected in an increase in its exports and its relationship with other countries.
Avocado foreign sales in 2011 represent 9.4 percent of the complete Mexican agricultural exports in that year and, globally, the country participates with more than 45 percent of international trade in this product, which makes it the leading supplier of this fruit to market.By 2012, the value of avocado exports reached, the first quarter, 413.1 million dollars, an increase of around 13.6 percent, over the same period of 2011.
During the last decade, there has been an evolution in avocado exports, which grew 28.9 percent at an annual rate, going from 78 million dollars in 2001 to 989 million dollars last year.
The state of Michoacan is considered the main producer and exporter of this fruit, providing more than 89 percent of domestic production.
Another fruit of commercial importance for Mexico is the tomato. This fruit in 2011 ranked its value at 2.126 million dollars, an increase of 9.3 percent compared to 2010.
For the first quarter of 2012, international tomato sales were located around 746 million dollars and with a volume of 655,000 tons.
The main tomato-producing entities in Mexico are: Sinaloa with more than 22 percent, Baja California with 17 percent, Jalisco with about 7 percent, and San Luis Potosi with 5 percent.
Source: Mizamora