Beef is very expensive, reports Inegi, while fruits and vegetables become cheaper in July

Mexico City.- Although fruit and vegetable prices in Mexico have provided some relief to families' wallets, livestock products such as eggs and beef continue to see double-digit increases.

According to data from INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography) as of last July, while general inflation stood at 3.51 percent, food, beverages, and tobacco prices increased by 5.13 percent.

In the case of fruits and vegetables, the annual price drop was nearly 12 percent. However, in contrast, livestock feed prices rose by virtually the same amount, especially in cases such as beef, which reported annual inflation of 17.64 percent at the end of July.

Last July, the price per kilo of beef carcass sold for between 118 and 124 pesos at slaughterhouses in the Valley of Mexico, but in the same month last year, prices ranged between 95 and 98 pesos.

For white eggs, the most consumed animal protein among Mexicans, wholesalers and semi-wholesalers at the Central de Abastos in Iztapalapa paid up to 50 pesos per kilo, compared to 45 pesos last year, according to the National Market Information and Integration System (SNIIM).

However, at checkout, consumers currently pay up to 240 pesos for a kilo of beef steak and 60 pesos for 18 eggs in convenience stores.

Juan Ley , president of Mexican Beef, explained that beef prices are currently at historic levels, mainly due to the drought, increased demand in the United States, and even the fact that Mexicans' higher incomes have boosted beef consumption.

We have a perfect storm: a prolonged drought in many calf-producing areas, not only in Mexico but also in the United States and parts of Canada.

"We have low inventories in the US and Mexico. The way to resolve this is to increase the starting price, so there's little supply. On the other hand, the drought itself has affected the production of inputs needed for meat production," the executive explained.

Meanwhile, fruits and vegetables, which rose significantly in price last year due to the effects of the drought, are currently reporting the largest declines in price increases.

For example, the price of onions fell 26 percent in July, while oranges fell 18.9 percent and zucchini fell 17.2 percent.

Juan Carlos Anaya , general director of Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas, explained that having a less severe drought this year, compared to 2024, has resulted in greater production of fruit and vegetables.

He recalled that, in 2024, 2,500 municipalities in the country reported some degree of drought, while the states with the greatest relevance in agricultural productivity were among the most affected.

JRL

Written in Economics on 9/8/2025 · 12:50

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