Mexico imports white corn outside the US again after almost a decade

Mexico once again imported white corn from a destination other than the United States for the first time in the last nine years, after the elimination of the tariff to buy this product from abroad in order to push inflation down.

Mexico acquired 400,000 tons of white corn from South Africa, the first ship has already arrived at the port of Altamira and more shipments are entering through the ports of the Gulf of Mexico to meet the supply of the northwest, southeast and Yucatan Peninsula regions.

Without considering purchases from the United States, the last time imports of white corn to Mexico were registered was in 2013, for 320,000 tons and also originated from South Africa.

In the last decade, annual imports of white corn from the United States fluctuated between 103,000 and 1,108,000 tons, according to data from the US Department of Commerce.

The most recent exemption on imports of white corn is part of the Package Against Inflation and Famine (PACIC) and the decree that authorizes it was published on October 19 in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), it will be in force until on February 28, 2023 and may be extended until December 31, 2023.

Although as of May 16, 2022, the tariff on imports of white corn was eliminated from countries with which Mexico does not have trade agreements with the corresponding opening, as in the case of South Africa, the second largest producer of white corn in the world, with about 7 million tons per year.

Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of the Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA), reported that since 2011 Mexico has imposed a 20% tariff on imports of white corn.

roberto.morales@eleconomista.mx