Strong Growth Overshadowed by Producer Blockades

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) reports that, based on the quarterly GDP results published by INEGI, primary activities consolidated their position as the most dynamic component of the national economy in 3Q25, driven by gains in agriculture and livestock activity. Yet, nationwide protests and road blockades by producers demanding fair prices and better conditions underscore the deep tensions still facing the countryside.

In 3Q25, the primary sector recorded an annual growth rate of 2.9%, followed by tertiary activities with an annual rate of 1%. During this period, agriculture accounted for 62% of the value of primary activities, while livestock production represented 34%. The remaining share was distributed among forestry at 2.6%; fishing, hunting, and capture at 0.8%; and services related to agricultural and forestry activities at 0.6%.

In contrast, based on the Physical Volume Index (IVF) for agriculture and livestock compiled by SADER’s General Directorate of the Agri-food and Fisheries Information Service (DGSIAP), 3Q25 recorded higher activity levels than the same period in 2024. In seasonally adjusted terms, the agricultural and livestock IVF increased 10.8% compared to the previous quarter and 2.6% relative to the same quarter of the prior year.

This year-on-year progress is driven mainly by the dynamism of agro-industrial products and grains, particularly agave, sugarcane, corn grain, sorghum grain, chickpea grain, and barley grain, as well as a group of horticultural and fruit crops such as green chili, apple, watermelon, and prickly pear, and by forage crops including fresh forage oats and fresh forage corn. Together, their harvest calendars and modalities increased operational intensity in the fields, within a context of recovery following the drought that affected the sector the previous year.

In the livestock sector, increases were also observed compared to 3Q24 in poultry, pork, and beef production, as well as eggs and bovine milk, shaping a meat–dairy performance supported by greater availability of forage inputs.

SADER emphasized that INEGI’s third-quarter results confirm a positive and sustained performance of Mexico’s agricultural sector. Nonetheless, in practice, producers across the country continue to carry out highway blockades, demanding better working conditions and fair payment from the Mexican government.

After several days of protest, yesterday groups of farmers and transporters arrived at the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) in Mexico City to participate in a dialogue table convened by the agency to address their demands. Representatives from SADER, the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), and the Ministry of Economy attended the meeting, along with officials from SEGOB itself.

However, after a four-hour meeting, representatives of transporters and agricultural producers announced that no agreement was reached with federal authorities to address their demands, and therefore they will reinforce highway blockades in different parts of the country.

The leaders of the organizations stated that authorities requested the removal of road blockages but, in exchange, merely offered to arrange a meeting with Congressman Ricardo Monreal, Coordinator, MORENA parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies. They affirmed that they will continue to demand fair prices, better conditions for the agricultural sector, and profitability for their crops in order to revive national agriculture.

They criticized the negotiating team for producing an extremely brief memorandum and questioned what they described as a lack of seriousness. They called on fellow demonstrators to remain at their blockade points. While they regretted the impact on the national economy, they stressed the need to continue their struggle so that the government will listen to them.