Mexico’s Agri-Food Exports to US Decline in Early 2025

Mexico’s agri-food exports to the United States fell during the first four months of 2025, despite the absence of broad US tariffs on the sector, according to data from the Minister of Agriculture (SADER) and the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA).

From January to April, exports declined across most of Mexico’s top-performing products, including beer, berries, tequila, tomatoes, beef, chiles, and sugar. The only product to post growth in the period was avocado, which saw a 30% increase in export volume, largely due to seasonal demand in January and February.

Beer remained Mexico’s top agri-food export to the United States, reaching a value of US$2.06 billion during the first four months of the year. However, beer exports dropped 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The decline was partly attributed to a new 25% tariff on aluminum cans imposed on April 4, which affects the packaging of Mexican beer.

Other key export categories experienced similar drops year-over-year. Exports of fresh and frozen berries, including strawberries and raspberries, fell by 9%; tequila by nearly 2%; tomatoes by over 10%; chiles by 1.5%; and sugar by 0.1%.

Exports of live cattle and beef cuts decreased by 13%, despite US restrictions on Mexican beef not taking effect until May. These restrictions were introduced in response to the detection of the screwworm plague. In April alone, total agri-food exports dropped by more than 8% compared to the same month in 2024.

The decline signals mounting challenges for Mexican exporters, who remain vulnerable to shifts in US trade measures and non-tariff barriers, particularly on packaging and phytosanitary standards.