Recent trade data shows the United States buys about 51,000 metric tons of Mexican coffee a year, roughly 4 percent of its green coffee imports.
If you drink drip coffee in the morning, some beans in your mug may cross the border from Mexico. Many readers ask how much coffee does the us import from mexico.
This guide breaks down the volumes, dollar values, and trends behind United States coffee imports from Mexico, so you can see how that slice compares with Brazil and Colombia.
Why Mexican Coffee Matters In US Coffee Trade
The United States is one of the top coffee importing countries on the planet and depends on Latin America for most of its beans. Mexico sits just behind giants like Brazil and Colombia, but it still sends a hefty stream of arabica north every year.
Growers in Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla, and Oaxaca ship green coffee to US roasters that then handle roasting, blending, and packaging. Those beans end up in supermarket blends, specialty bags, and the bulk bins at neighborhood cafes.
To see how Mexican beans compare with other suppliers, it helps to look at recent numbers for green, unroasted coffee imports into the United States.
Top Origins For US Green Coffee Imports
World Bank WITS trade data for 2023 shows that the United States brought in roughly 1.2 billion kilograms of unroasted, non decaffeinated coffee under HS code 090111. Mexico is in the top ten suppliers, though not in the first three spots.
| Supplier Country | Volume To US 2023 (Million Kg) | Approximate Share Of US Green Coffee Imports |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 328.6 | 27% |
| Colombia | 237.5 | 20% |
| Vietnam | 136.1 | 11% |
| Honduras | 90.3 | 8% |
| Guatemala | 75.0 | 6% |
| Mexico | 51.3 | 4% |
| Other Origins | 280.0 | 24% |
Brazil and Colombia dominate by volume, but Mexico still accounts for millions of kilograms of beans. That level keeps it within the core group of Latin American suppliers that shape US coffee supply and prices.
How Much Coffee Does The US Import From Mexico?
So, back to the main question: how much coffee does the us import from mexico? Based on 2023 customs data, the United States imported just over fifty one million kilograms of green, unroasted coffee directly from Mexico, worth around 263 million US dollars at the border.
That figure only covers one product code for unroasted beans. The real total gets higher once you add roasted and soluble Mexican coffee that enters the country in consumer ready form or as instant coffee.
Putting Mexican Coffee Volumes In Perspective
A simple way to picture that volume is to convert kilograms into standard sixty kilogram bags. Fifty one million kilograms translate to about eight hundred fifty five thousand sixty kilogram bags of Mexican coffee entering the US in that year.
Those bags equal a little over four percent of the total unroasted coffee the United States brought in from the world in 2023. Mexico sits in a middle position, ahead of smaller origins but behind the main South American and Central American suppliers.
What 51 Million Kilograms Means In Daily Cups
Many coffee drinkers think in cups, not in bags or trade codes. If you assume ten grams of ground coffee per small cup, one kilogram makes about one hundred cups. That means Mexican green coffee arriving in the US in 2023 could be brewed into roughly five point one billion small cups.
US Coffee Imports From Mexico By Year And Trend
Mexican exports to the United States move up and down with harvest size, weather, leaf rust pressure, and prices on international exchanges. Over the past decade Mexico has recovered from disease outbreaks that cut yields, and exports have inched upward again.
USDA FAS reports describe the United States as the main buyer for Mexican coffee, taking both green beans and processed forms. Mexico also ships coffee to Europe and Asia, but the northbound trade across the land border remains especially valuable for growers in southern states.
How Mexican Exports Line Up With US Demand
Mexico produces roughly four million sixty kilogram bags per marketing year, and exports a bit more than half of that total. A large share of those exported bags end up in the US market, where they join beans from Brazil, Colombia, and Central America in blends on grocery shelves.
At the same time, the US imports more than twenty five million sixty kilogram bags from all countries each year. In that context, Mexican coffee is a steady contributor that offers specific flavor profiles and regional identities rather than the bulk of the supply.
Recent Mexican Coffee Export Figures
USDA coffee annual reports and partner summaries give a clearer view of how Mexican exports have changed over recent marketing years. The numbers below focus on total Mexican exports of coffee rather than only the share moving to the United States.
| Marketing Year | Total Mexican Coffee Exports (Million 60 Kg Bags) | Notes On US Market Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 2.4 | US remains primary buyer of green and soluble coffee. |
| 2022/23 | 2.5 | Exports edge up as output recovers from leaf rust. |
| 2023/24 | 2.6 | Trade data show steady shipments to long term US clients. |
| 2024/25 (Forecast) | 2.7 | Higher prices encourage plant care and stable exports. |
These totals cover all destinations, but the United States sits at the top of the list. As long as US demand stays high, Mexican exporters have a strong incentive to keep quality and volume in line with roaster expectations.
What Drives US Coffee Import Levels From Mexico
Trade flows never move in a straight line. Several factors push US coffee imports from Mexico up or down from one harvest year to the next.
Weather, Disease, And Farm Investment
Mexican coffee grows mainly in highland regions that face periodic hurricanes, heavy rain, and dry spells. Coffee leaf rust, a fungal disease that attacks foliage, also affects yields and can cut output for several years if not managed well.
Farm Practices That Keep Trees Productive
Growers respond with pruning, shade management, careful picking, and soil care that puts organic matter back into the field. When those steps line up with fair prices, farms can hold yields steady and keep export contracts filled.
When farm income rises, growers can prune trees, replant with resistant varieties, and apply agronomic practices that keep trees healthy. Those steps translate into more bags for export and, in turn, a larger pool of beans available to US buyers.
Global Prices And Currency Swings
Arabica prices on international exchanges set the baseline for contracts between exporters and US roasters. When prices jump after frost or drought in Brazil, Mexican coffee becomes more attractive and exporters can negotiate stronger contracts.
Exchange rates also matter. A weaker peso against the US dollar often makes exports from Mexico more competitive compared with some other Latin American origins, which can nudge buyers to source a bit more volume south of the border.
Trade Policy And Logistics
The United States Mexico Canada Agreement keeps tariffs on green coffee at zero and provides clear customs rules for farm goods. That legal structure gives roasters confidence that shipments can move without extra trade duties in normal years.
Why A Shared Border Helps Coffee Trade
Most Mexican coffee moves by truck through land crossings that already handle steady flows of produce and manufactured goods. Border infrastructure built for that trade also helps coffee shipments reach US warehouses with fewer delays.
Logistics add another layer. Trucks can move containers of bagged green coffee from southern Mexico to US ports of entry faster than ocean freight from other regions. That time savings appeals to roasters who want flexible supply close to their roasting plants.
How Data Sources Measure US Coffee Imports From Mexico
When you read figures on how much coffee the US imports from Mexico, it helps to know where they come from. Different agencies track slightly different parts of the trade.
Customs And Trade Databases
Customs agencies record each shipment with a product code, weight, and declared value. Aggregated figures for HS code 090111, which covers unroasted non decaffeinated coffee, show the fifty one million kilogram figure for Mexican exports to the United States in 2023.
Public tools built on that data, such as the World Bank WITS database, let users check volumes by partner country and compare Mexico with other suppliers.
USDA Coffee Market Reports
The USDA FAS publishes a recurring Coffee World Markets and Trade report that tracks total US imports across all product forms. It also releases country specific coffee annual reports that describe production, exports, and the role of United States buyers in markets like Mexico.
Those reports pull together customs data, local statistics, and field interviews, which helps readers understand the story behind the bare numbers in trade tables.
What This Means For Roasters And Coffee Drinkers
For roasters, Mexican coffee offers a flexible origin that can deliver both clean commercial lots and distinctive regional coffees with chocolate, nut, and gentle fruit notes. The scale of exports to the United States suggests that even small roasters can usually find a Mexican lot that fits their price band and flavor target.
For everyday drinkers, the exact share of Mexican beans in a bag may not show on the label, especially in blends. Yet the steady stream of imports from Mexico helps keep supermarket shelves stocked and gives cafe menus more options for single origin offerings and seasonal specials.
If you like balanced medium roast coffee, there is a fair chance that beans from southern Mexico play some part in your daily brew, even if another country takes top billing on the bag.