Diverse Export Opportunities for U.S. Agricultural Trade with Mexico

Executive Summary

The Mexican market offers continued opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and food processors to further expand sales across the agricultural spectrum. Mexico is a top market for primary U.S. grains and oilseeds, as well as consumer-oriented groceries. An expanding population, coupled with continued economic growth and geographic proximity, makes Mexico an attractive market for U.S. food and agricultural producers.

U.S. Agricultural Exports to Mexico

Mexico was the top market for U.S. agricultural exports in 2024, with shipments valued at $30.2 billion. Consumer-oriented products, including meat and meat products, dairy, processed food, fruits, and beverages, constituted nearly 50 percent of that trade with a value of $14.6 billion. Bulk commodity exports to Mexico accounted for one-third of all agricultural shipments, valued at $10.0 billion, led by corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, and pulses. Intermediate product exports, such as sweeteners, soybean meal, distillers grains, and planting seeds, accounted for the remainder and were valued at $5.6 billion.

Table 1: Top U.S. Agricultural Exports to Mexico (2022-2024)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Trade Data via FAS/GATS - inclusive of annual statistical correction released June 2025.

Mexico ranks as the top export market for 12 key agricultural exports and is the second-ranked market in 19 other categories, highlighting the importance of the market to U.S. farmers, ranchers, and food processors. Most product categories have realized steady to strong export growth during the past 3 years in Mexico. Across the spectrum, from grains and oilseeds to feed ingredients and planting seeds to fresh groceries and packaged ready-to-eat meals, there are opportunities in Mexico for U.S. exporters.

Economic and Demographic Trends

Mexico's economy continues to grow as gross domestic product increased 1.2 percent in 2024, rising to more than $1.8 trillion. By 2030, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Mexico's economy to exceed $2.1 trillion, an increase of 16 percent¹. Inflation rates continue to fall, but higher prices in recent years impacted middle- and lower-income household purchasing patterns as they prioritized staple foods over non-essential food and beverages.

Mexico's population of more than 132 million people skews toward younger demographics, with nearly 50 percent of the population either Generation Z (1997-2012), accounting for more than one-quarter, or Generation Alpha (2013-2025), at 23 percent. Millennials (1981-1996) accounted for 22 percent of the population, followed by Generation X (1965-1980), at 15 percent, and Baby Boomers (1946-1964) and older, with less than 10 percent of the population.²

Consumption Trends

According to the Government of Mexico, 37 percent of Mexico's population is middle class, with an aspirational consumer base keen to tap into new food trends.³ They are increasingly shopping for new health foods, as well as products perceived as more environmentally friendly. Low or reduced sugar and added fiber (and other ingredients promoting digestive health), are increasingly popular, particularly among younger consumers.⁴

Mexico continues to urbanize, with 82 percent⁵ of the population living in cities where consumers have the most access to imported goods via supermarkets and a wide variety of restaurants. In 2023, food retail sales in Mexico reached more than $78.0 billion. Mexico has a total of 25 supermarket chains accounting for nearly 6,800 stores. However, more than 60 percent of the population shop at traditional grocery markets, which account for 56.5 percent of the retail food market share. Mexican consumers spend nearly 35 percent of their income on foods, beverages, and tobacco, with the three main categories consisting of meat, grains, and food preparations.⁶ Looking forward, Euromonitor International reports that they expect retail sales to grow in Mexico due to rising purchasing power and lower inflation.⁷ Euromonitor projects grocery retailer sales in Mexico to expand by 5.9 percent on a compound annual growth rate basis from 2024 to 2029.

In addition to retail sales, food and feed processing in Mexico provides export growth opportunities for U.S. producers as well. The United States is the primary supplier of imported feed and food ingredients to Mexico. Mexico's food processing industry is the second-largest in Latin America, behind Brazil, making Mexico a top destination for U.S. food ingredients. Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography reported a 6.7-percent expansion in Mexico's agricultural sector in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting rising feed demand. Mexico is expected to remain a major grain and oilseed importer as domestic production remains insufficient to meet growing food and feed needs.⁸

Conclusion

In summary, Mexico is the top market for U.S. agricultural exports and has the economic and demographic characteristics needed to continue expanding growth for U.S. food and agricultural goods in the future. Mexico has a relatively young consumer base, and while still price conscious, it is becoming wealthier and demanding a greater diversity of food choices. Geographic and economic ties with the United States further enhance business opportunities for new-to-export and smaller U.S. companies seeking to grow their sales.

For further information about exporting to Mexico, contact the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office in Mexico City at ATOMexicoCity@usda.gov or in Monterrey at ATOMonterrey@usda.gov.

1 https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPD@WEO/MEX?year=2025

² Euromonitor Consumer Lifestyles in Mexico 06/06/2025

³ USDA/FAS - Mexico Exporter Guide

⁴ Meat consumption and consumer attitudes in México

⁵ World Bank

⁶ USDA/FAS - Mexico Retail Foods Annual

⁷ Euromonitor International - Retail in Mexico April 2025

⁸ USDA/FAS-Mexico City Grain and Feed Update 06232025