Mexico’s apple crop is up this year, but U.S. apple exports to Mexico could increase anyway.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fresh deciduous fruit annual report for Mexico said although Mexico’s apple output is up 24%, the removal of the 20% tariff in May 2019 could boost U.S. exports there.

The tariff was in place for nearly a year, as a retaliatory measure against U.S. tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum. Mexican imports of U.S. apples fell nearly 16% during this period in comparison to marketing year 2017-18, according to the USDA.

Mexican consumers remain price sensitive purchasers of fruit, according to the report.

With lower apple prices for marketing year 2019-20, the report said apple consumption in Mexico is expected to rebound, resulting in a slight decrease to pear consumption.

Mexican grape exports are forecast at high levels for marketing year 2019-20, according to the report.

The state of Sonora accounts for 85% of total table grape production in Mexico, and  and 77% of the total planted area. Sonora
has increased plantings over 20% in the last three years, according to the report.