Mexico’s Grain Exports Plunge 76% as Supply Pressures Mount

Mexico’s grain exports fell 76% in 2025 as drought, lower production, and shrinking planted areas cut shipments of grains. Meanwhile, SADER and Verde Valle agreed on a fair-trade framework for Mexican beans.

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Mexico’s Staple Grain Shipments Collapse by 76% in 2025

Mexico’s exports of staple grains collapsed in 2025, falling 76% year over year, as drought, reduced planted areas and weaker domestic production sharply limited shipments, particularly wheat, whose exports were nearly eliminated. Data from GCMA show declining self-sufficiency, tighter inventories and rising imports, underscoring a structural food supply gap rather than a short-term trade fluctuation, with knock-on effects for livestock feed costs and food prices. The year was also marked by policy tensions, as limited federal support, farmer protests, emergency subsidies and plans for a strategic food reserve highlighted the growing challenges facing Mexico’s grain sector amid climate stress.

SADER–Verde Valle bean deal meets Zacatecas supply strain

Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Verde Valle agreed on a framework for fair bean commercialization, committing the company to source beans exclusively from Mexican producers and to use transparent mechanisms aimed at securing prices above regional levels. The agreement aligns with the National Bean Self-Sufficiency Plan but comes as producers in Zacatecas warn that federal collection programs are nearing capacity, leaving large volumes of the harvest at risk of being diverted to intermediaries or losing quality. Growers are pressing authorities to expand purchase volumes, address operational failures at intake centers and ensure payment certainty, as Zacatecas remains Mexico’s largest bean-producing state.

Mexico Halts Fishing for Seven Species to Protect Breeding Cycles

CONAPESCA implemented closed fishing seasons through February for seven commercially important marine species across 10 coastal states to protect reproductive cycles and support long-term food security. The measures apply to key fishing regions and species such as grouper, spiny lobster and queen conch, while allowing continued harvest of other species under existing rules and reinforcing inspection and surveillance to ensure compliance. The closures form part of a broader fisheries management framework that includes seasonal authorizations, regional bans and climate-adaptation strategies aimed at strengthening the resilience of coastal ecosystems and fishing communities.

Baja California Strengthens Wine Sector, Addresses Water Scarcity

Julio Berdegué, Agriculture Minister, met with wine, fruit and vegetable producers in Baja California to address priorities including plant health, water scarcity, infrastructure modernization, labor conditions and technology adoption, highlighting the state’s strategic role in national agri-food development. Authorities emphasized irrigation modernization and reduced bureaucracy as key tools to boost competitiveness, while producers stressed that improved water availability could expand vineyards in a region that accounts for 70% of Mexico’s wine production. In parallel, Baja California advanced plans to secure a Protected Geographical Indication for its wines, a move led by Pro Vino to protect origin, strengthen commercialization and support the sector’s recovery after severe drought conditions.

Naturipe Verifies Deforestation-Free Avocado Production in Mexico

Naturipe Farms obtained Pro-Forest certification for its avocado operations in Mexico, becoming one of the first avocado packing facilities in the country to meet a third-party, deforestation-free production standard increasingly demanded by major US retailers such as Costco. The certification, which uses satellite monitoring to verify land use and traceability, strengthens transparency across Naturipe’s supply chain as US avocado demand surges ahead of the Super Bowl, with Mexico projected to ship a record 127,000t to the US market.