MEXICO CITY: According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico’s agricultural exports increased by 7.6 percent in annual terms during the first quarter (January-April) of 2015.
In the reference period, international sales of agricultural goods (agriculture and livestock, mainly) amounted to $4.997 million dollars, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA).
SAGARPA detailed in a statement that exports in April amounted to $1,263 million dollars, a similar figure than that obtained in March.
The products with the most significant annual growth reported in the reference month were: cattle, 42.5 percent; mangoes, 39.3 percent; edible fruits and nuts, 23.1 percent, and avocado, 15.4 percent.
Exports of food products (consisting of the agricultural and agro-industrial sector) amounted to $7.158 million dollars in the first quarter (January-March), i.e. 10.16 percent more than in the same period last year.
During this period, the food trade balance registered a positive balance of $789 million dollars, the highest in the last 18 years.
SAGARPA stressed that this corresponds to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the primary sector for the first quarter of 2015, the indicator rose 6.8 percent in annual terms; better than other productive areas.
