Mexico is a powerhouse in agricultural exports. The country is now one of the world’s top producers of fresh fruits and vegetables, beverages and processed foods, with agricultural exports of about $45.7 billion a year. It is Mexico’s third-largest source of export earnings, after manufacturing and the auto industry.
The figures are staggering. Mexico is the world’s leading producer of beer, tequila, avocado, tomato, cookies and lime. It is second in the world in chili, mango, cucumber and asparagus. Perhaps most impressive is the country’s sustained trade surplus in agriculture – in 2024 Mexico had a $7.7 billion surplus, the third highest since 1995. The relationship of cross-border trade is critical, as the United States receives about 89% of Mexican agricultural exports.
This dominance comes from a cocktail of advantages, such as various climates, access to the US market, trade agreements and a profound knowledge of agriculture. These are five companies driving Mexico’s agricultural export success.
1. Mission Produce
Mission Produce is a worldwide leader in the avocado industry, with headquarters in Michoacán, Mexico’s main avocado-producing region. This year alone, in 2025, the company has become the biggest exporter of avocados from Mexico, shipping over 98 million kilograms .
What sets Mission apart is their fully integrated supply chain. They’re not just buying and shipping avocados, they’re managing production, packing, ripening and distribution. They maintain consistent quality and send premium fruit to markets around the globe, the vast majority to the United States and this vertical integration enables them to do that.
In 2024, Mexico’s avocado exports totaled $3.787 billion, up 20% from the previous year, solidifying the country’s position as the world’s largest producer and exporter of avocados. Mission is at the heart of this booming industry, seizing the production capacity of Michoacán and its own logistical expertise to dominate the global avocado trade.
Who should work with Mission? Major retailers, distributors and foodservice companies are searching for a reliable partner with significant volume and consistent quality in avocados.
Official Website: https://www.missionproduce.com
2. Grupo Modelo / Anheuser-Busch InBev
Now owned by Belgian-Brazilian giant Anheuser-Busch InBev, Grupo Modelo remains one of the most iconic export companies in Mexico. The company makes the world-famous Corona, Modelo, Pacifico and Victoria beer brands which are global symbols of Mexican culture.
Beer is one of Mexico’s most valuable agricultural exports, with the beer industry generating about **$6 billion a year in export revenue**. Grupo Modelo and Heineken’s Mexican operations combined account for over **90% of Mexico’s beer exports** and the acquisition of Grupo Modelo by Anheuser-Busch InBev’s $20.1 billion in 2012 further entrenches the country’s role in the global brewing space.
The company’s export success is built on Mexico’s position as the world’s largest beer producer and the premium status of Mexican beer brands in international markets, particularly the United States.
Who should work with Grupo Modelo? International distributors, retailers and hospitality companies seeking one of the world’s most recognized and trusted beer brands.
Official Website: https://www.gmodelo.mx
3. Calavo Growers
Calavo Growers is a world leader in fresh produce with major operations in Mexico. The company is one of the main Mexican avocado exporters and their Mexican operations are shipping big volumes to foreign markets.
Beyond avocados, Calavo is a major player in the broader fresh produce export sector. The company handles tomatoes, berries and other Mexican-grown fruits and vegetables, which account for 73% of US agricultural imports from Mexico in the fruits, vegetables and beverages category.
Calvo’s business model relies on relationships with growers, packing facilities and distribution networks in Mexico and the U.S. That allows them to purchase from Mexican growers and to ensure consistent product quality for retail and foodservice customers.
Who should work with Calavo? Retail chains, foodservice distributors and wholesale buyers looking for diversified fresh produce sourcing with strong avocado expertise.
Official Website: https://www.calavo.com
4. Heineken México (Cervecería Moctezuma)
Another giant in Mexico’s beer export is Heineken México, formerly Cervecería Moctezuma. In 2010, Dutch Heineken bought the company, maker of popular brands including Dos Equis, Sol, Bohemia and Indio, from FEMSA for $7.3 billion.
Almost all the beer exports from Mexico are controlled by Heineken México and Grupo Modelo. Beer, avocados and tequila are among the nation’s top agricultural exports, with $6 billion of beer exported annually.
Mexico’s beer export success comes from a combination of factors: a long brewing tradition, cost-effective production and proximity to the US market, which consumes the bulk of Mexican beer exports.
Who should join forces with Heineken México? The portfolio of authentic Mexican beer brands, world-renowned, for international beverage distributors, retailers and hospitality companies.
Official Website: https://www.heinekenmexico.com
5. Driscoll’s Mexico
Driscoll’s is a global berry giant with substantial operations in Mexico, particularly in Jalisco. The company is one of the world’s largest exporters of berries—including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries—with Mexican production playing a central role in its global supply chain .
The Mexican berry exports have grown considerably in the last years and the country is one of the top producers of berries in the world. Driscoll’s success in Mexico comes from their model of partnering with local growers, providing proprietary varieties and enforcing strict quality standards that meet the needs of premium retail markets.
The berry category is one of Mexico’s fastest-growing agricultural export sectors. Mexico’s climate and crop seasons vary, so berry production can complement US seasons, supplying American consumers with Mexican berries year round.
Who should work with Driscoll’s? Retailers, foodservice companies and distributors requiring premium berry products with consistent quality and year-round supply.
Official Website: https://www.driscolls.com.mx
Why Mexico’s Agricultural Export Sector Matters
Mexico’s agricultural export industry has achieved remarkable success. The country has had an 11-year streak of agricultural trade surpluses, with the surplus from 2025 through May at $4.678 billion. This resilience is especially significant given challenges such as drought, trade disruptions and changing market conditions.
The USMCA trade deal has been crucial, providing tariff-free access to the US market, enabling Mexican exports to compete effectively. The United States is by far Mexico’s largest trading partner for agricultural exports, accounting for approximately 89 percent of Mexico’s agricultural exports to the world.
And the variety of products in Mexico is just as impressive. It is the world’s largest producer of beer, tequila, avocado, tomato, cookies and lime, second in chili, mango, cucumber and asparagus and third in nuts, lettuce, orange juice, broccoli and berries . The variety reflects Mexico’s disparate climates, from temperate highlands to tropical coastal regions.
However, the sector faces challenges. Agricultural exports fell 8.7% in the first nine months of 2025, breaking a 15-year streak of uninterrupted growth. Export declines included a 72.4% drop in live cattle exports due to the New World screwworm outbreak and a 19.8% decline in tomato exports following the reimposition of US anti-dumping duties. These challenges emphasize the necessity of supply chain diversification and risk management.
Foreign Ownership in Mexico’s Agro-Export Sector
A striking aspect of Mexico’s agricultural export industry is that foreign ownership accounts for a large proportion of major export companies. The beer and tequila business is mostly controlled by foreign multinationals and the big berry producers like Driscoll’s and Berrymex (Reiter Affiliated) are US-owned.
These foreign investments brought capital, technology and access to the market, which have helped Mexican exports to grow. But it also raises questions about who captures the value in Mexico’s agricultural production. The companies profiled here represent the gamut of the ownership structure from the foreign-owned behemoths such as Grupo Modelo (AB InBev) and Heineken México to the independent exporters.
The companies profiled here showcase the range of strengths in Mexico’s agricultural export sector, from the dominance in avocados and berries to the global reach of Mexican beer. Taken together, they show that the future of agriculture in Mexico is about productive capacity, trade relationships and business sophistication.
FAQ
1. What are Mexico’s top agricultural exports?
Mexico’s biggest agricultural exports are beer, tequila, avocados, tomatoes, berries and limes. The country is the world’s largest producer of beer, tequila, avocado, tomato, cookies and lime and second in the world in chili, mango, cucumber and asparagus.
2. How much do Mexico’s agricultural exports generate annually?
In 2025, Mexico’s agricultural exports (to all countries) totaled about $45.7 billion, resulting in a long-standing trade surplus in the sector . The sector is the third biggest source of export earnings in Mexico after manufacturing and automotive.
3. Which country receives most of Mexico’s agricultural exports?
The United States is Mexico’s largest agricultural trading partner, purchasing approximately 89% of its agricultural exports. This reflects both proximity and the USMCA trade agreement, which provides tariff-free access for qualifying products.
4. What avocado-exporting companies dominate the Mexican market?
Mission Produce is Mexico’s top avocado exporter, exporting more than 98 million kilograms in 2025. Other major avocado exporters include West Pak, Calvo Growers and Del Monte. Most of these companies are located in Michoacán, the world’s largest avocado-producing region.
5. Which companies dominate Mexico’s beer exports?
Together, Grupo Modelo, owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken México, the former Cervecería Moctezuma, represent more than 90% of beer exports from Mexico. The beer industry generates around $6 billion in annual export revenue.
6. Is Mexico’s agricultural export sector growing?
Mexico posted an agricultural trade surplus for the 11th straight year, but exports fell 8.7% in the first nine months of 2025, ending a 15-year run of continuous growth. A drop in exports of live cattle and tomatoes due to disease and trade restrictions posed challenges.
7. How important is agriculture to Mexico’s economy?
Agricultural exports are the third largest export sector in the country, after manufacturing and automotive. The sector is a critical source of income for rural communities across the country and supports millions of jobs in farming, processing and logistics.
8. What is Mexico’s biggest agricultural export by value?
Rankings fluctuate, but beer, avocados and tomatoes and tequila always rank among the top-value agricultural exports. Avocados alone generated $3.787 billion in export revenue in 2024.
9. Are Mexico’s major agricultural exporters Mexican-owned?
Foreign ownership of several of Mexico’s top agricultural exporters. Grupo Modelo is owned by the Belgian-Brazilian Anheuser-Busch InBev, Heineken México is owned by the Dutch Heineken and Driscoll’s and Mission Produce are both US- owned. There are also some Mexican-owned companies in the market, such as Calavo Growers.
10. What challenges does Mexico’s agricultural export sector face?
Challenges include trade restrictions like US anti-dumping duties on tomatoes, pest outbreaks like the New World screwworm affecting cattle exports, water scarcity affecting production and competition from other producing countries.
