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May 19, 2024

Imports of Vegetables in the United States Hit a Low of $4.6 Billion in 2023

U.S. Vegetable Imports

In 2023, overseas purchases of vegetables decreased by -41.9% to 4.7M tons, falling for the second year in a row after nine years of growth. Over the period under review, imports continue to indicate a perceptible curtailment. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 with an increase of 10% against the previous year. Imports peaked at 9.6M tons in 2021; however, from 2022 to 2023, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, vegetable imports plummeted to $4.6B (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. Overall, imports recorded a pronounced downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 when imports increased by 12% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs at $11.2B in 2021; however, from 2022 to 2023, imports remained at a lower figure.U.S. Vegetable Imports By Country (Billion USD)

COUNTRYImport Value of Vegetable in U.S. (billion USD)
20132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Mexico4.84.95.15.95.76.16.67.17.56.02.3
Canada1.41.41.41.51.71.81.82.12.21.91.0
Peru0.40.50.50.40.40.40.40.30.40.40.3
Costa Rica0.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.2
Guatemala0.10.10.10.10.10.20.20.20.20.20.2
China0.20.20.20.20.20.20.20.10.10.20.2
SpainN/AN/A0.10.10.1N/A0.10.10.10.10.1
Others0.50.50.50.60.60.60.60.50.50.50.5
Total7.67.78.09.08.99.410.010.611.29.44.6

Imports by Country

In 2023, Mexico (1.8M tons) constituted the largest vegetable supplier to the United States, accounting for a 37% share of total imports. Moreover, vegetable imports from Mexico exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Canada (859K tons), twofold. Costa Rica (150K tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 3.2% share.

From 2013 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of volume from Mexico amounted to -8.6%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Canada (-3.9% per year) and Costa Rica (+1.1% per year).

In value terms, Mexico ($2.3B) constituted the largest supplier of vegetables to the United States, comprising 49% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Canada ($961M), with a 21% share of total imports. It was followed by Peru, with a 6.4% share.

From 2013 to 2023, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value from Mexico amounted to -7.2%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Canada (-3.6% per year) and Peru (-3.7% per year).

Imports by Type

Onions (dry) (682K tons), cucumbers and gherkins (657K tons) and fresh vegetables, nes (489K tons) were the main products of vegetable imports to the United States, together accounting for 39% of total imports. Cabbage and other brassicas, carrots and turnips, peas (dry), lettuce and chicory, asparagus, beans (dry), roots and tubers, nes, chilies and peppers (green), green beans, garlic, cassava, eggplants (aubergines), mushrooms and truffles, cauliflower and broccoli, potatoes, lentils, leeks and other alliaceous vegetables, sweet potatoes, spinach, peas (green), pulses, nes, chick peas, broad beans and horse beans (dry) and leguminous vegetables, nes lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 61%.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the major product types, was attained by leeks and other alliaceous vegetables (with a CAGR of +19.1%), while imports for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, asparagus ($635M), cabbage and other brassicas ($457M) and mushrooms and truffles ($427M) appeared to be the most imported types of vegetables in the United States, together accounting for 33% of total imports. Fresh vegetables, nes, lettuce and chicory, beans (dry), garlic, roots and tubers, nes, green beans, chilies and peppers (green), carrots and turnips, peas (dry), cauliflower and broccoli, cassava, eggplants (aubergines), spinach, leeks and other alliaceous vegetables, peas (green), lentils, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pulses, nes, chick peas, cucumbers and gherkins, onions (dry), leguminous vegetables, nes and broad beans and horse beans (dry) lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 67%.

Import Prices by Country

In 2023, the vegetable price stood at $983 per ton (CIF, US), waning by -15.3% against the previous year. Overall, the import price saw a slight setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 an increase of 4.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, average import prices reached the peak figure at $1,202 per ton in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2023, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2023, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Peru ($3,225 per ton), while the price for Honduras ($965 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Guatemala (+4.6%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. COUNTRIES WITH TOP YIELDS
    4. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    5. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012-2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    10. Exports Prices, By Country, 2012-2024

  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Trade Balance, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    6. Trade Balance, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    10. Market Size and Growth, by Product
    11. Average Per Capita Consumption, by Product
    12. Exports and Growth, by Product
    13. Export Prices and Growth, by Product
    14. Production Volume and Growth
    15. Yield and Growth
    16. Exports and Growth
    17. Export Prices and Growth
    18. Market Size and Growth
    19. Per Capita Consumption
    20. Imports and Growth
    21. Import Prices
    22. Production, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    23. Production, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    24. Harvested Area: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    25. Yield: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    26. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    27. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    28. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
    29. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    30. Imports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    31. Import Prices, by Country, 2012-2024
    32. Exports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    33. Exports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    34. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
    35. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    36. Exports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    37. Export Prices, by Country, 2012-2024

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