COUNTRY PROFILE
Discover more about the Mexico market including overviews about the retail, food service, and food processing sectors. Events, resources, and more are linked throughout the profile.
2nd
largest importer of U.S processed foods
2nd
Largest Economy in Latin America
37%
of Mexico’s population is middle class
Focus Economics reports that Mexico is the second-largest economy in Latin America and the fourth largest in the Americas, with a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over US$1.5 trillion, and 13th largest economy globally.
Mexico is also the third most populous country in the Americas, after the U.S. and Brazil. According to the Government of Mexico (GOM), 37% of Mexico’s population is middle class, with an aspirational consumer base keen to tap into new food trends.
The United States-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA) entered into force on July 1st, 2020, however, on February 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on Mexican imports. Trade negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico are ongoing.
The top processed food exports to Mexico in 2024 included:
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11th
largest packaged food market in the world.
$145.3
estimated in packaged good sales by 2029
$78.4 Billion
in sales in Mexico’s retail sector in 2023
Mexico’s robust food retail sector remains strong, valued at US$78.4 billion in 2023, and offers expanding opportunities for U.S. products. According to Euromonitor, the packaged food market in Mexico was estimated to reach US$110.6 billion in 2024, which makes it the 11th largest international packaged food market in the world. By the year 2029, the retail sales in the packaged food market in Mexico is expected to reach US$145.3 billion, a growth rate of 23.6%, or US$27.7 billion.
The Mexican retail sector can be divided into three groups: traditional, modern, and e-commerce. According to the Mexican Retailers Association (ANTAD), in 2023, the traditional channel represented 56.5% of the retail sector market share.
FAS Post Mexico City reports that current U.S. export sales trends include private label brands, plant-based foods, healthy sweets and snacks, pet foods and Asian foods
7th
most visited country in 2023.
4.2%
Tourism accounts for 4.2% of Mexico’s GDP.
$50 Million
US exports more than US$50 million of consumer-oriented products to Mexico each year.
Ranked as the 7th most visited country in 2023, tourism and hospitality remain a vital part of the Mexican economy, accounting for 4.2% of the national GDP. Hotels account roughly for one-third of the production and income, while restaurants account for the other two-thirds.
Natural/organic products, plant-based products, specialized dairy products, sugar- and alcohol-free beverages, ethnic foods and wine, spirits and craft beer are products with high growth potential.
63%
of ingredients for Mexico’s food processing industry were sourced from the U.S
10th
largest food producer in the world in 2023
2nd
largest food processor in Latin America.
Mexico’s food processing industry is the second largest in Latin America, behind Brazil, making it a top market for U.S. food processing ingredients. FAS Post Mexico City reports that in 2023, Mexico imported US$51 billion of food ingredient products, of which 63% were sourced from the U.S.
U.S. ingredient products generally enjoy a good reputation among Mexican companies and end-users for consistent quality, stable supply, and ease of proximity. However, third countries, most notably Canada, China, and Brazil, make up nearly one-third of Mexico’s food processing ingredient imports, resulting in added competition to U.S. products.
FAS Post Mexico City that some products with potential in the Mexican market are dairy products, functional ingredients, natural and organic products, plant-based products, herbal extracts, functional flours and sweeteners.
