Mexican limes

Mexican citrus exports are up so far this year compared to last, according to figures released by the country’s Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food (SAGARPA).

Some 151,116 tonnes of Mexican citrus fruits worth US$124.12m were shipped during the first five months of 2011, a 15 per cent rise in value year-on-year, SAGARPA told freshfruitportal.com.

Persian limes registered the strongest export growth in value terms, growing 52.5 per cent to US$98m during the first four months of the year, according to the report. Meanwhile, mandarin exports registered a 2 per cent year-on-year growth from January to May to US$609,000.

But overall export growth was still lower than in 2010 when citrus exports rose 26 per cent to US$261.67m, freshfruitportal said.

Last year Mexico recorded 109 per cent growth for grapefruit exports, lime shipments grew 62 per cent, while other lime and lemon varieties exports rose 37 per cent.