Grain, Oilseed Production to Rise by 2% in 2024

Mexico’s total grain and oilseed production is expected to rise by 2% in 2024, reaching 37.2 million t, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER). The forecast represents a slight increase from 36.45 million t in 2018, despite two years of severe drought and global uncertainties.

Victor Villalobos, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighted the positive outlook for the 2024 Spring-Summer cycle, with grain and oilseed production projected to grow by 16% compared to the same period in 2023. This surge is expected to offset losses from the 2023-2024 Autumn-Winter cycle, which was impacted by less rain.

In a meeting with the National Chamber of Industrialized Corn (CANAMI), Villalobos emphasized the growth in corn production. From 2019 to 2023, annual corn yields increased by an average of 2.5%. Mexico achieved self-sufficiency in white corn, with production rising from 23.7 million t in 2018 to 24.3 million t in 2023.

The report from the Ministry of Agriculture projects that total corn production, including both white and yellow varieties, will reach 27.5 million t by the end of 2024. This figure matches the record set in 2023 and reflects a 3.77% increase from 2022, marking a 1.4% improvement since the start of the current administration.

Other crops are also expected to see gains. Bean production could close the year at 1.3 million t, nearly double the previous year’s output, largely due to timely rainfall, says Villalobos. The forecast also indicates that rice production will reach 290,000 t, 40,000 t more than last year, and sorghum output is expected to rise to 5.01 million t, up 190,000 t from 2023. Meanwhile, soybean production is predicted to hit 350,000 t in 2024, an increase of 150,000 t compared to 2023, and wheat is forecast to reach 2.7 million t by year-end.

Villalobos credits the increase in agricultural production to the direct and timely delivery of support to small and medium-scale producers, along with the contributions of key institutions like the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP) and the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service (SNICS). These efforts have ensured access to quality inputs, soil management, and sanitary care, all of which continue to enhance the country’s agro-food system.

The minister adds that Mexico’s agricultural sector remains productive, with water levels stable in most of the country's reservoirs and effective programs in place to support vulnerable populations. He emphasizes that these measures are essential for sustainable territorial development, social justice, and food security.