Posts Tagged “spring vegetable shipments”

Mexican Spring Produce Imports Providing Increased Competition for California Produce

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DSCN0446California spring vegetable shipments are seeing increasing competition from Mexican imports.

USDA trade statistics show imports of fresh broccoli and cauliflower from Mexico soared to $294 million in 2017, up 27 percent from $231 million in 2016 and up 87 pecent from 2013.  By volume, U.S. imports of Mexican fresh broccoli and cauliflower totaled 262,000 metric tons, up 14 percent from 2016 and up 49 percent from 2013.

Imports of fresh broccoli and cauliflower were only $19.6 million and 45,000 metric tons in 2000, according to USDA statics.  That’s just 6 pecent of 2017 import value and 17 percent of 2017 import volume.

Around 44 percent of Mexican imports of broccoli and cauliflower were recorded from January through April in 2017.  March was the biggest month for imports for fresh broccoli and cauliflower from Mexico, with more than 33,000 metric tons reported in March 2017, or about 13 percent of total annual imports.

The value of U.S. imports of fresh lettuce from Mexico has increased year over year recently. In 2016 had a slight dip in volume, followed by a big jump in 2017.

Growth in imports of fresh lettuce from Mexico also has been strong.  Total imports of Mexican fresh lettuce totaled $246 million in 2017, up 13 percent from 2016 and 55 percent from 2013.  By volume, 2017 imports of Mexican fresh lettuce totaled 231,000 metric tons, up 30 percent from 2016 and 54 percent higher than 2013.

In 2000, fresh lettuce imports from Mexico totaled just $6.5 million in value and 10,000 metric tons in value. That accounts for just 3 percent of 2017 import value and 4 percent of import volume.

Fresh asparagus imports from Mexico totaled $422.3 million in 2017, up 21 percent from 2016 and 35 percent higher than 2013.  By volume, imports of Mexican asparagus were 147,000 metric tons in 2017, up 16 percent from 2016 and up 58 percent from 2013.

Year 2000 imports of Mexican fresh asparagus were $67 million in value and 38,000 metric tons in volume. That is just 16 percent of 2017 value and 26 percent of 2017 import volume.

Imports of Mexican fresh celery totaled $33 million in 2017, up 27 percent from 2016 and up 43 percent from 2013.  By volume, imports of Mexican celery totaled 64,400 metric tons in 2017, up 33 percent from 2016 and 33 percent from 2013.

Imports of Mexican celery in 2000 $7.5 million in value and 22,400 metric tons in volume. That represents 21 percent of 2017 value and 34 percent of 2017 volume.

Mexican imported vegetables at Nogales – grossing about $3600 to Chicago.

Mexican imported vegetables from South Texas – grossing about $5900 to New York City.

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