Mexico Dry Bean Harvest Shows Slight Increase

USDBC completed its post planting dry bean survey in Mexico estimating total production for the 2017 agricultural year will increase 10.4% compared to 2016, surpassing 1 MMT but still 17.4% smaller than the 2012-2016 average. Our technical consultant estimates that production is about 8% lower than Mexican Government (SIAP) estimates. Dry bean planting surface in the 2017 spring summer cycle increased 14.2% compared to the same cycle in 2016. The states of San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas registered the largest planting surface increase to 45% and 11% respectively. As such San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas are projected to increase production in the spring summer cycle 45.8% and 31.4% respectively. Chihuahua, Durango, and Guanajuato are the states with the most significant production decreases to 25.3%, 5.2%, and 5.5% respectively.

Total production by variety in the five principal bean production states is as follows: Black beans 279,300 MT (47%); Pinto beans 211,200 MT (35%) and colored Beans 109,400 MT (18%).Bean production in the states of Chihuahua, Durango and south of Zacatecas, could be smaller than these initial projections due to excess moisture which impacts yield and quality. As a result, we are projecting that dry bean prices will continue to be high. We will issue another survey after November 15, 2017.

Mexico dry bean production by state, source: CASSMA consulting