Mexico tightens avocado export rules amid falling earnings

Mexico is implementing stricter export regulations for avocados destined for the United States, introducing new requirements for traceability, labor compliance, and zero-deforestation. These measures are being introduced ahead of the USMCA review.

New mandates include the Agro-Export Labor Certificate, which becomes mandatory in October 2026 to verify social security compliance. Additionally, under an agreement between the Tax Administration Service (SAT) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), packers must source fruit from certified orchards to qualify for tax deductions by the end of 2026. Environmental authorities are also enforcing zero-deforestation certifications for exports to the U.S., the European Union, and Asia.

These regulatory shifts occur amid fluctuating market conditions. While Mexican avocado export volumes increased by 33.7% to one million tonnes, average export prices fell 63.2%, dropping from US$3.80 to US$1.40 per kg. Consequently, total export earnings declined by 44.5%, falling from US$2.6 billion to US$1.4 billion.