Mexican Berry Industry Faces Production, Export Declines

Mexico’s berry industry is grappling with multiple challenges, including rising input costs, labor shortages, climate change, and exchange rate volatility. These factors are projected to reduce both production and exports in 2025.

Juan José Flores, Director General, National Association of Berry Exporters (Aneberries), says that production in 2024 was expected to reach 800,000t, a 27.3% decrease from the 1.1Mt produced in 2023. Exports are also forecasted to decline, from 541,000t in 2023 to 529,000t in 2024 — a 2.22% drop. The sector’s export value in 2023 totaled US$3.94 billion but is anticipated to decrease due to peso-dollar fluctuations and other macroeconomic factors.

“The 2025 outlook is challenging, with labor shortages affecting up to 15% of large producers and adverse climate conditions making production more difficult,” says Flores. He emphasized that only producers with formalized administrative and production processes and stable commercialization strategies are likely to overcome these hurdles.

In 2023, berry production in Mexico totaled 540,980t, with strawberries leading at 267,588t, followed by raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. For 2024, Aneberries projects a 10% production decline, with estimated volumes reaching 486,881t.

The United States and Canada account for 95% of Mexican berry export destinations, while the remaining 5% is distributed across the European Union and Asia, with key destinations including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. 

Aneberries is working to boost domestic berry consumption through marketing campaigns and collaborations with government agencies like the Ministry of Agriculture (SADER) and the National Service for Health, Safety, and Agro-Food Quality (SENASICA). “Mexicans need to consume more berries. We must allocate resources to research, marketing, and participation in global markets to ensure the sector’s future,” says Flores.