Spain’s Agriculture Minister Visits Mexico to Boost Trade

Luis Planas, Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, began a two-day visit to Mexico aimed at strengthening bilateral agri-food trade and seeking the reopening of the Mexican market to Spanish pork exports following a sanitary suspension imposed in late 2025.

Planas’ agenda started Thursday with a visit to the Ateneo Español de México, an institution linked to the Spanish exile community in Mexico City. He also met with Spanish Michelin-star chefs operating in the country and held talks with Rodrigo Fernández, CEO, Sigma Foods, one of Mexico’s largest food companies.

The Spanish official later met with importers of Spanish food and beverages operating in Mexico. Among the topics on the agenda is expanding market access for Spanish agri-food products and discussing the suspension of Mexican imports of pork from Spain following the detection of African swine fever.

On Friday, Planas is scheduled to meet with his Mexican counterpart, Julio Berdegué, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER). The meeting will take place at the ministry’s headquarters and will be followed by a press conference at the residence of Spain’s ambassador to Mexico, Juan Duarte.

The discussions come as Mexico maintains a temporary ban on pork imports from Spain after the detection of African swine fever. From early March Mexico’s National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) suspended the entry of pork meat, products and byproducts from Spain, including hams, sausages, cured products, offal for human consumption and raw materials used in pet food manufacturing. 

SENASICA said the suspension seeks to prevent animal-health risks to Mexico’s pork industry. The Mexican Pork Producers Organization (OPORMEX) supported the decision, noting that Spanish imports represent a limited share of Mexico’s pork supply.

Mexico–Spain Agri-Food Trade

Mexico and Spain maintain a growing agri-food trade relationship. Mexican exports of agricultural, fisheries and food products to Spain reached US$306 million in 2020.

Key Mexican exports include avocados, yellowfin tuna, tuna fillets, vegetable oils, unroasted coffee, chickpeas, beer and tequila. Tuna products and chickpeas are among the largest-volume shipments, while beverages such as beer and tequila also represent significant export categories.

Spain has also strengthened its presence in Mexico’s food market. According to ICEX España Exports and Investments, Mexico was one of the most dynamic destinations for Spanish food exports in 2024, with growth of 18% year over year. 

Leading Spanish products in the Mexican market include extra virgin olive oil, wines and spirits, as well as processed foods and cured meats such as serrano ham. Mexico is the second-largest consumer of olive oil in Latin America, with Spain supplying more than 80% of the country’s imported demand.

According to Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in 2014, Spanish agri-food exports to Mexico totaled US$276 million, led by wine, olive oil, prepared foods and meat products. That same year, Spain imported US$200 million in agri-food products from Mexico, including tuna, chickpeas, tequila, octopus, beer, coffee and bananas.