Mexican tomato exports will set a new record in 2021.
The USDA reports Mexico is already broke a record in 2020, with the value of shipments increasing by 20.5 percent and volume increasing 5.1 percent over the previous year.
Between January and March 2021 tomato exports totaled $829 million reflecting an increase of 5.1 percent year-over-year, with almost all of those shipments destined to the U.S.
Restaurant and hotel industry re-openings in the U.S. and Mexico, plus the renegotiation of the Tomato Suspension Agreement, and higher export prices have led to more tomato plantings.
Tomatoes already were the most exported agricultural product by Mexico, with a constant growth in recent years.
In terms of volume, Mexican tomato exports were 579,000 tons, reflecting an increase of 9.5 percent in the first quarter of 2021.
The USDA estimates Mexican tomato exports for the 2021-2022 season (October-September) will total 1.83 million tons, 2 percent higher than the previous cycle. While for the 2020-2021 season, the USDA estimates exports will be 1.8 million tons.