Mexico makes advances in Japan
Asia is being viewed as a "high potential" market for Mexican fresh produce exporters, with both the government and producer organizations hoping to build on a strong performance in Japan to move into other Asian markets. 
The push into Asia forms part of a period of impressive growth for Mexican agricultural exports over the last 12 months, with the country demonstrating progress in several Asian countries, alongside Europe, the U.S. and Latin America.
According to figures from the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), agricultural exports to Japan, including avocados, pork products and beer, increased by 11.8% year-on-year in 2012, while exports to eight other Asian countries also rose by a combined 11%.
Other notable increases were achieved in exports to Russia (9.2%), Europe (3.8%) and South America (31.9%). The only downturn was recorded in sales to Canada, which dropped by 18.5%.
Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com, Juan Laborín, president of promotional organization Mexico Calidad Suprema, described Japan in particular as a market with "high potential" for Mexican agricultural exports, with the country achieving record exports to Japan during 2012 in 10 categories.
Although pork products accounted for a large part of this total, Laborín said Mexico recorded avocado exports to Japan worth an estimated US$91.5 million last year.
"Japan is seen as a potential destination for our exports to East Asia and will be a launching point for products that have already achieved success in this market," he said.
"We will also look to do the same in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan."
As an organization, Laborín said Mexico Calidad Suprema was currently undergoing a period of technical restructuring during 2013, with the aim of being able to offer associated producer members a more complete certification system that complied with global supplier demands.
Laborín said a total of 720 associated producers were now certified under MexicoGAP and Mexico Calidad Suprema’s own certification, representing an increase of 28% compared with 2011.
Subscribe to our newsletter
