Production decline attributed to termination of US suspension agreement, peso appreciation, and challenging weather conditions
Tomato production in Mexico is set to fall in 2026, mainly as a result of a 17 per cent ‘anti-dumping’ tariff which the US has imposed on imports from the country, as well as poor weather conditions and tighter profit margins.
In a report published by the USDA, the country is forecast to generate around 2.6mn tonnes of tomatoes this year, a 9 per cent decrease on the previous season’s figure.
While the US remains Mexico’s top export destination for tomatoes, the reduction will contribute to a forecast 9 per cent decrease in exports to 1.8 tonnes in 2026, the report said.
In July 2025, the US terminated its so-called suspension agreement with Mexico, which had been in place for seven years, and imposed an duty of 17.09 per cent on most Mexican fresh tomato imports.
The USDA report said that this, combined with the appreciation of the Mexican peso over the past year, has squeezed profit margins for many producers and exporters.
