Agricultural exports from The Netherlands to Mexico are booming. With almost € 480 million in export value to Mexico, 2021 recorded the highest export numbers ever. Dutch agricultural exports to Mexico were 14% higher than in 2020, and 19% higher than in pre-COVID 2019.
Rising fertilizer prices
Agricultural exports include agricultural inputs and equipment and food items. Almost all of these products saw their export value rise in 2021, although the most impressive growth was seen in fertilizers: their export value grew 152%, from € 18 million in 2020 to € 45 million in 2021, making fertilizer the third most important agricultural export product to Mexico. Much of this growth in export value was probably caused by rising fertilizer prices.
Mexico second-largest buyer of Dutch vegetable seeds
Vegetable seeds remain on top of the list of Dutch agro-export products to Mexico, with a total export value of € 146 million. Benefiting from the impressive expansion of Mexico’s horticulture sector and the good reputation of Dutch seed companies, the export value of seeds has more than tripled over the last 6 years: in 2015 it was barely € 47 million. In 2020, Mexico even become the second-largest importer of Dutch vegetable seeds, right after Spain.
Agricultural equipment keeps its second place, with almost € 55 mln of export value in 2021. An interesting export product to watch is cocoa powder: Dutch cocoa powder exports to Mexico have seen consistent growth over the last years, and its export value is now at the same level as infant formula, around € 23 million.
Avocado and orange juice Mexico’s main agricultural exports
As for the other way around, the total value of Mexico’s agricultural exports to The Netherlands remained relatively stable in 2021, at € 315 million. Avocado and orange juice remain Mexico’s main agricultural export products to The Netherlands, with an approximately value of € 59 million and € 50 million respectively.
Mexican limes have lost much of their export value to The Netherlands: In 2021 Mexico only exported € 20 million of limes, which is about a third of the amount it used to export between 2016 and 2018. More attractive lime prices in the US are probably to blame for the falling exports to The Netherlands.
On the other hand, Mexico’s beer exports to The Netherlands have seen consistent growth: In 2021, Mexico exported € 19 million worth of beer to The Netherlands; Five years ago, Mexican beer exports to The Netherlands were under € 1 million. Interesting growth is also seen in asparagus: Asparagus are now Mexico’s sixth important export product to The Netherlands with a value of € 15 mln in 2021.
For more information:
Ministry of agriculture, nature and food quality of the Netherlands
www.government.nl/en