Mexico Bean Production Numbers Continue Decline

November 22, 2019
Posted in: News

According to our Mexican market intelligence, as of November, Mexican dry bean production estimates have continued to the decline as harvest is wrapping up. In Chihuahua, some lots were not even harvested due to frost that occurred at the end of October and first week of November. Pinto beans are practically sold out. Zacatecas is reportedly the most stable so far. Damage is still being assessed, and more cold fronts are expected during the remainder of November. Producers in Durango are trying to capitalize on the recent cold spells, demanding the government increase the price guarantee from 14,500 to 18,000 pesos / US$763.15 to US$947.36 per MT.

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Bean Field in San Luis Potosi

 

The drought in Mexican dry bean country officially ended in late October but the dry bean crop already suffered damage. The government has not made any official updates and according to our Market Representative in Mexico.  Data on the real situation and impact on production has been difficult to obtain. Most sources are reporting crop damage to be as high as 50%.Zacatecas, Durango and Chihuahua are starting to cut beans and most are piled-up on the fields. Piles are reportedly small and pods are not full. Production continues to be estimated around 400 thousand MT total from all the states that planted beans this 2019 Spring-Summer cycle. This would be 52% shorter than the 859 thousand MT produced in Spring-Summer 2018.
Bean Field in Zacatecas

Bean Field in Zacatecas

The fall/winter Bean planting intention forecast was just released. It notes that Sinaloa is planning on planting up to 90 thousand MT of Azufrado beans, switching from corn, due to the lower availability of irrigation water and in light of the current expected low Spring-Summer production. Sinaloa has actually started to plant beans and we will inform on the planting intention and progress as soon as information becomes available. No information on the planting intention for garbanzo beans has been released but it is expected that it will be reduced given the high inventories from the 2019 crop.