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Agriculture and food
This strategic industry is made up of the following branches: agriculture, forestry, livestock, apiculture, aquaculture, biotechnology, beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), tobacco, confectionery, snacks and packaging. Mexico is prominent in the world as an exporter of agriculture and food products. Between 2003 and 2007 Mexico’s agricultural exports grew at an average annual rate of 12 percent, whereas imports have grown by 11 percent. The country is among the main world exporters of tomatoes, avocadoes, Persian lemons, organic coffee and aloe vera, as well as cucumbers and greenhouse peppers.
Mexico is the eighth producer of meats at world level. With regard to exports of processed foods, in 2007 Mexico sold 351.488 billion dollars to the exterior. Its main destinations were Japan, the United States and Korea. The canned foods industry is a branch with constant growth under the heading of exports and currently represent more than 18.4 percent of total sales. This industry’s export growth rate in the past 7 years has been between 18 and 20 percent a year. Finally, in the last 30 years tequila and mezcal have attained an important international projection and have obtained the denominación de origen.
Its territorial extension, its climatological diversity and its geographical proximity to one of the world’s largest markets (United States) explain the country’s preponderance in agriculture and food exports.
The value exported by this industry in 2007 was of 3.66 billion dollars with regard to vegetables alone.
A total of 2.095 billion dollars were exported in fruits; 383 million dollars in coffee, tea and similar products; and 706 million dollars in fish, crustaceans and similar products.
