Mexico’s grain imports reach highest level since 2015

Mexico imported 23.9 mln tons of grains and oilseeds in the first half of 2026, marking the highest level for the period since 2015. According to the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA), imports increased by 6.3% year-on-year, while their value reached $7.5 bln. Only 2022 recorded a higher import volume.

Corn remained the country’s largest imported agricultural commodity. Imports rose by 8.6% to 12.3 mln tons, including 11.7 mln tons of yellow corn supplied from the United States. Meanwhile, white corn imports, mainly used for tortilla production, fell by 15.9% to 490,000 tons as the Mexican government continued efforts to expand domestic production under its food sovereignty strategy.

Imports of the soybean complex also increased significantly. Combined imports of soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil reached 5.08 mln tons, up 15.1% from a year earlier. Soybean meal imports surged by 34.1%, reflecting strong demand from the livestock sector, while rapeseed imports rose by 10.6% due to demand from the vegetable oil industry.

In contrast, wheat imports declined by 4.2% to 2.45 mln tons, while sorghum imports fell by 23% as corn increasingly replaced it in feed rations. Imports of oats and pulses also declined, supported by improved domestic availability.

According to GCMA, Mexico remains structurally dependent on foreign supplies, importing about 56% of the grains and oilseeds it consumes. The country is the world’s second-largest importer of these commodities, with future import demand expected to remain closely linked to livestock production, processing capacity, exchange rate movements and global agricultural prices.

At the same time, the Mexican government is implementing measures to boost domestic white corn production. The current administration aims to increase output from 21.8 mln tons to 25 mln tons through financial support for farmers, technical assistance and the Precio Justo (Fair Price) program, designed to improve grain marketing and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.

Tags: sorghum, corn, soybean, soybean meal, rapeseed, Mexico