Mexico's Corn Deficit Deepens, Ties With South Korea Strengthen

Mexico's corn production will fall 3% in 2026 to 23.5Mt, while imports will reach a record 24.8Mt, according to GCMA. Meanwhile, Mexico and South Korea signed two memorandums of understanding that will open the door to learn about agricultural technology.

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Mexico's Corn Imports Hit Record as Output Falls in 2026

Mexico's corn production is projected to fall 3% in 2026 to 23.5Mt, while imports will reach a record 24.8Mt, leaving domestic output below half of the 48.2Mt of apparent consumption, according to GCMA. The decline is driven by drought in Sinaloa, where production fell from 6.8Mt to 1.8Mt, along with high input costs, limited financing and an average yield of 3.8t/ha, well below the global average of 6.1t/ha. On National Corn Day, Minister of Agriculture Columba López announced a digital input platform, credit through Harvesting Sovereignty and climate-adapted seed programs, and said Mexico's corn supply is guaranteed until 2030 with no increase in tortilla prices.

Mexico, South Korea Sign Agrifood Cooperation Agreement

SADER and South Korea's Rural Development Administration (RDA) signed two memorandums of understanding during the Korea-Mexico Summit, one on joint research in sustainable agriculture and the other on electronic certification of agricultural products to streamline bilateral trade, with priorities including AI, biofertilizers, and farm mechanization. South Korea brings proven experience in agricultural technology: it has mechanized 98.6% of its rice farmland and is betting on AI to raise farm productivity by 30% by 2030, backed by a US$162.2million R&D budget for 2026. Bilateral agrifood trade reached US$228 million in 2025, with a US$110 million surplus for Mexico, and sectors such as Jalisco's avocado producers see South Korea as a way to reduce their more than 85% dependence on the US market.

Mexico Resumes Cattle Exports From Chihuahua

Live cattle exports from Chihuahua to the United States resumed through the Santa Teresa port of entry in New Mexico, the largest livestock inspection port on the border, with an initial shipment of 430 head that will gradually increase to 1,500 animals per day by the fourth week. The reopening follows strengthened New World screwworm prevention measures requested by USDA, including quarantine infrastructure upgrades and canine inspection units, and comes after Sonora resumed exports through Douglas, Arizona, with Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua, scheduled to reopen next. While the National Agricultural Council (CNA) welcomed the move, US industry officials warn it will not lower record beef prices in the short term, as imported cattle take five to eight months to be ready for slaughter, and even the expanded tariff-rate quota for lean beef has cut ground beef prices by only about 2%. 

HEINEKEN, Tecmilenio to Certify Arena México Alcohol Sales Staff

HEINEKEN México, Arena México, Mexico City's Ministry of Economic Development (SEDECO), the Mixed Fund for Tourism Promotion of Mexico City, and Tecmilenio launched the Responsible Beverage Service and Sales Certificate, which will train about 180 point-of-sale staff over five months to prevent alcohol sales to minors and improve service practices. Participants will receive an official STPS-validated DC-3 labor skills certification, and CMLL plans to expand the program to Arena Coliseo, Arena Puebla and Arena Guadalajara, as part of HEINEKEN's Intelligent Consumption pillar. 

Aquixtla Growers to Turn 32t of Tomatoes Into Processed Goods

Three cooperatives in Aquixtla, Puebla, will process 32t of tomatoes into tomato paste, sauce, ketchup and potassium capsules, as part of a state strategy to move agriculture from primary production to value-added products. The state will also install its first Tomato Transformation Center in Aquixtla under a cooperative scheme, with the goal of exporting processed foods to the United States and expanding the Puebla Cinco de Mayo brand, which has generated US$1.5 million in US sales. The strategy comes after the United States imposed 17.09% duties on Mexican tomatoes in 2025, a key issue for Puebla, which exports 150,000t of tomatoes annually worth US$140 million, 98% of them to the US market.