US lime import prices trending up

Mexican lime imports into the U.S. are trending up, as growers have recovered from an inclement Octo…

Mexican lime imports into the U.S. are trending up, as growers have recovered from an inclement October.

“Yields have been good,” says Dan Edmeier of Limex Sicar, a distributor based out of Mission, TX. “We’ve had weather issues. Patricia set us behind a little bit. Now the market seems to be trending back up again.”

Both supplies and prices have seen a bump in recent weeks. Edmeier said that prices for the week ending November 21st were at $12.00 to $14.00 for a 40lb. box of product, up from $8.00 to $10.00 the previous week. Edmeier says those prices should continue rising, as production winds down in Mexico’s west and starts shifting to sources in the Veracruz region.

“This time of year, normally, [prices] should start to climb anyway,” explains Edmeier. “You’ll see a rise in pricing for a period of time until you’re 100% in production in the southeast.”

Market stable after rocky 2014
While, Limex Sicar is benefitting from a strong, stable market right now, Edmeier and his competitors are thankful they aren’t seeing a repeat of 2014.

“Last year, there was a crazy lime market,” says Edmeier, explaining that a two month period from October to November last year saw prices skyrocket as high as $100.00 per 40 lb. box.

“It was a difficult time,” Edmeier notes, adding that this year’s market has been a welcome return to typical pricing.