Aardappelexport van de US naar Mexico

Mexican potato prices roughly doubled between July 2025 and July 2026 because growers planted less after heavy losses in 2025, harvests were delayed, and heat and water stress cut yields. Retail prices in Mexico City rose from MXN 28.78 to MXN 58 per kilogram. The shortage increased demand for imported U.S. potatoes.

About 9–10% of Mexico's fresh potato supply is imported, all from the United States: 221,577 tonnes in 2024 and 189,355 tonnes in 2025. Mexico also imports about 330,000 tonnes of frozen potato products a year, worth US$492 million in 2024, of which about 55% came from the United States.

Yes, from 2026. Canada and Mexico agreed in March 2026 to allow Canadian fresh potatoes for consumption or processing, with first shipments, mostly russets from Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, possible from fall 2026. Until then, the United States was Mexico's only foreign supplier of fresh potatoes.

Sonora (31.8%) and Sinaloa (24.0%) grew more than half of Mexico's potatoes in 2024, followed by Puebla (10.8%). The State of Mexico, Veracruz, Nuevo León and Chihuahua are also important producers.

U.S. frozen fry exports to Mexico fell 24% between September 2025 and May 2026, part of a wider fall in U.S. fry exports to their lowest level since 2010/11. Canada and EU suppliers, which also have free trade access to Mexico, compete strongly on price.

Mexico grew about 2.12 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024 on more than 65,000 hectares, and total consumption is forecast at 2.78 million tonnes in 2025/26. Per capita consumption is about 17 kilograms a year, low compared with Argentina (45 kg) or Germany (65 kg).

Most U.S. fresh potatoes sold in Mexico are russets, led by Russet Burbank, mainly for restaurants and hotels. Chipping varieties go to snack makers, and retailers are now testing yellow and purple potatoes. Mexican consumers traditionally buy the locally grown Alpha variety.

U.S. fresh potatoes, frozen fries, dehydrated potatoes and chips that meet USMCA rules of origin enter Mexico duty-free. Importers still pay Mexican value-added tax and customs fees where they apply.

In 2025, 31% of Mexico's fresh potato imports cleared customs at Mexicali, 25% at Ciudad Juárez and 23% at Tijuana. Smaller volumes enter through Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales and San Luis Río Colorado.

In the July 2025–June 2026 marketing year, the United States exported 671,567 tonnes of potatoes and potato products (fresh weight equivalent) to Mexico, worth US$421.8 million. Fresh potatoes accounted for 274,000 tonnes worth US$125.3 million.

Only in very small amounts so far. U.S. imports of fresh potatoes from Mexico were about 103 tonnes in 2024. Mexican growers certified about 500 hectares in 2025 to begin a regular export programme of up to about 15,000 tonnes.

Each shipment needs a USDA APHIS phytosanitary certificate, must follow SENASICA's requirement sheet and the bilateral work plan, and must be imported by a company registered with SENASICA. Potatoes must be washed, free of soil, packed in bags of 20 pounds or less with traceability labels, and shipped in sealed trucks.

Colorado, Idaho and Washington are the main suppliers of fresh potatoes. Washington and Idaho also supply most frozen fries, while Midwest states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota ship chipping potatoes.

No. U.S. fresh and processed potatoes that meet USMCA rules of origin enter Mexico duty-free. Mexico did apply a 20% retaliatory tariff on U.S. frozen fries in 2009–2011 and in 2018–2019.

Mexico's Supreme Court cleared the way in 2021, SENASICA published import requirements in November 2021, and the first U.S. fresh potatoes reached the Mexican interior on May 11, 2022.

From 1996 to 2022, Mexican rules only allowed U.S. fresh potatoes to be sold within 26 kilometres (about 16 miles) of the U.S. border because of plant-health concerns. The restriction ended when shipments to the Mexican interior began on May 11, 2022.

Yes, by volume. Mexico has been the top destination for U.S. potato exports by volume since 2022/23. By value, Japan ranked first in 2025/26 because it buys mainly high-value frozen fries.