Mexico faces tequila overproduction crisis

Industry experts link the trend with lower demand in the US, its key consumer.

Mexico is grappling with an overproduction of tequila, with more than 500 million litres in inventory, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing the Tequila Regulatory Council.

According to the group, in 2023, Mexico produced approximately 599 million liters of the drink. By the end of the year, around one-sixth of this production remained unsold and stored in barrels or awaiting bottling. Combined with the existing storages, the glut is now nearly equivalent to the country’s annual production levels, at 525 million liters.

The surplus has been attributed to a slowdown in demand in the neighboring US, Mexico’s biggest trading partner and tequila consumer, and the possibility of tariffs on exports under President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.

Around two-thirds of all tequila produced in Mexico was exported in 2023, with 80% shipped to the US, while other two largest export markets, Spain and Germany, each made up just 2%. However, in the first seven months of 2024, tequila consumption in the US declined by 1.1%, a stark contrast to the 17% increase observed in 2021 during the peak of the tequila surge. Industry analysts point to a combination of factors leading to this situation, including a post-pandemic restructuring and a rise in prices that have prompted consumers to cut back on consumption.

Adding to the industry’s challenges, Trump recently threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods, including tequila, in response to the country failing to stem the flow of migrants across the border.

Analysts warn that the tariff could have severe implications for Mexico’s economy. The head of the Tequila Regulatory Council, Ramon Gonzalez, expressed concern over the potential tariffs, warning that the US “would be shooting themselves in the foot because their consumers would have to pay much more.” However, Gonzalez also noted that the likelihood of these tariffs being implemented remains uncertain, given the significant investment by US companies in the tequila sector, the FT wrote.

Tequila overproduction has also led to a sharp decline in the price of agave, the primary ingredient in the drink. They plummeted from around 30 pesos per kilogram in 2020 to 2-8 pesos as of October 2024. This drop has adversely affected agave farmers and could impact the overall stability of the market, Gonzales warned.

Despite these challenges, some major tequila brands have responded by reducing prices to stimulate demand. Additionally, the industry is exploring alternative uses for agave to mitigate the effects of overproduction, according to a recent report by Double B Spirits news outlet. These include producing inulins, syrups, biofuels, and even compostable bags, aiming to diversify the market and provide relief to agave producers.

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