Mexico must look at other markets in Latin America, Asia and Europe to export red tomato due to the warning of an increase in tariffs by the United States, according to the National Fitosanitary Society (Sonafi).
“The announcement that the United States will impose a 20.91% tariff to Mexican tomato from July 14 is an opportunity to explore new markets, without neglecting national production,” he said.
According to the business agency dedicated to the manufacture of agrochemicals, the sale of red tomato and other products will be possible with the determined participation of all the actors involved in the agri -food chain.
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He indicated that it is essential to protect key crops such as the tomato, whose export value continues to rise, and recalled that in 2024 the vegetable generated income for three thousand 30 million dollars.
According to Banco de México, annual tomato exports had an increase of 13.48% in 2024 compared to 2023, going from two thousand 670 million dollars to three thousand 30 million dollars.
During the first 2025 bimester, there was a slight increase in exports compared to the same period of the previous year, from 578 million dollars to 580 million pesos.
Mexico produced three million 624 thousand tons of vegetables in 2024, according to preliminary figures, volume similar to that produced in 2023, when almost three million 636 thousand tons were generated, while in 2022 the amount was three million 461 thousand tons.
The Sonafi recognized the efforts undertaken by the federal government to avoid the imposition of tariffs and agreed that the Mexican tomato that exports to the United States is irreplaceable due to its geographical proximity, which guarantees that it will reach fresh to the consumers of the neighboring nation.
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development explained that 90% of the tomato imported by the United States comes from Mexico, and that six out of 10 tomatoes that are consumed in that country are of Mexican origin, so that it can hardly be replaced by imports to other countries.
The Sonafi supported the actions and responses that the Mexican authorities have undertaken to protect the production and marketing chain of the tomato, as well as other crops that could also be affected by similar tariff measures by the United States.
