Veracruz Growers Export Persian Limes to Russia, US

Veracruz-based growers exported 40.4t of Persian limes to the United States and Russia in their first collective international shipments, supported by the Mexican government’s Sembrando Vida program and a direct commercialization strategy.

The Bioproductores del Llano Alto cooperative, based in Papantla de Olarte, Veracruz, shipped 19t to McAllen, Texas, and 21.4t to Moscow in July. The Russian shipment is expected to increase to as much as 257.4t over the next six months, according to cooperative members.

The US-bound shipment will travel by road for approximately 11 hours. The shipment to Russia will travel through the Port of Altamira before continuing by sea. The maritime journey is expected to take between 22 and 23 days.

The cooperative has 183 members and is part of Sembrando Vida, a federal program that supports agricultural production, food self-sufficiency and the restoration of rural areas through the cultivation of fruit and timber trees alongside traditional crops.

Growers in the Papantla region have shifted from local sales to direct relationships with international buyers over the past year and a half. The region includes approximately 10,000 Sembrando Vida participants organized across 10 work routes.

The cooperative’s commercial negotiations began during international trade fairs, including Fruit Logistica in Berlin and Biofach in Nuremberg, where Mexican producers met with importers from several markets. SADER said technical assistance, sustainable agroecological practices and certification processes helped producers meet export requirements and negotiate directly with buyers.

The exported limes came from orchards established between 2021 and 2022. The trees are between three and five years old and produce fruit that meets international export standards.

According to the producers, Veracruz-grown Persian limes attracted international buyers because of their shelf life, deep green color, uniform size and rind texture. The fruit’s shelf life is particularly important for long-distance maritime transport.

Direct commercialization has enabled participating growers to obtain prices between 40% and 50% higher than those received when selling through intermediaries, according to SADER. The strategy is intended to increase the profitability of agricultural activities and expand economic opportunities in rural communities.

Mexico Strengthens Its Role in Lime Sector

Mexico produced 3.28 Mt of limes in 2024 across 214,467 ha in 28 states, according to the Agrifood and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP).

Michoacan was the country’s largest producer, with 1.004Mt. Veracruz ranked second with 866,862t, representing approximately 26% of national production. Colima produced 315,562t, followed by Oaxaca with 310,220t and Tamaulipas with 113,884t.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ FAOSTAT database, Mexico ranked as the world’s second-largest producer of lemons and limes in 2024, behind India and ahead of China.

Historically, the US market accounts for more than 98% of total exports. Lime exports to the United States are predominantly of the Persian and Key lime variety.  In 2024–25, more than 77% of total limes imported by the United States were of Mexican origin. Other international markets include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan and South Korea.

For the 2025–26 season, the Mexican lemon/lime production forecast is 3.3 MMT, a 2.9% increase from the previous year. Acreage accounts for 223,500 ha, with harvested area forecast at 219,490 ha Exports are forecast at 780,000 MT, 3% higher than the previous year.