Mexico, located in North America, borders the United States to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, Belize, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Covering nearly 1.8 million square kilometers, it ranks as the fifth largest country in the Americas and the thirteenth largest globally. As of 2023, Mexico's population stands at 130 million.
On July 1, 2020, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) officially superseded the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). According to CRI analysis,this new agreement saw the United States and Mexico eliminate all tariffs on agricultural products, though country-specific tariff quotas were implemented for orange juice and sugar. Additionally, Canada and Mexico removed tariffs on all agricultural commodities except for dairy products, poultry, eggs, and sugar. Certain Canadian products such as wheat, barley, beef, and butter are subject to Mexican tariff quotas.
The legacy of NAFTA and the introduction of USMCA have significantly boosted Mexico's agricultural exports, particularly vegetables and fruits to the United States, thus enhancing Mexico’s agriculture and planting industries. This growth has also stimulated Mexico's fertilizer industry. According to CRI, Mexico boasts considerable agricultural resources and maintains a high demand for chemical fertilizers.
In 2023, Mexico's consumption of chemical fertilizers exceeded 6 million tons. According to CRI analysis, nitrogen fertilizer is the most prevalent, accounting for over 65% of usage, followed by phosphate fertilizers at about 20%. However, Mexico's domestic fertilizer production is limited, producing just over 2 million tons annually and importing 3-4 million tons.
Key players in the Mexican fertilizer market include Nouryon Chemicals SA de CV, Compo Expert Mexico SA de CV, Yara Mexico S de RL de CV, and Coromandel Agronegocios de Mexico, SA de CV. The market is highly concentrated due to its relatively small size.
Looking ahead, CRI projects that Mexico's fertilizer consumption will continue to rise from 2024 to 2033. Given the limited domestic production, imports are expected to grow, potentially reaching 5.6 million tons by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2% from 2024 to 2033.
For foreign investors, there are dual opportunities: exporting fertilizers to Mexico and, under suitable conditions, establishing local production facilities to gain a foothold in the Mexican market.
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