“Limes are the most interesting products of Mexico for us,” states the wholesales trader Roberto Argentieri from the company Salvatore Ferrauto in Munich. The fruit wholesaler is situated on the Munich market and has imported the limes from Mexico for several years. The wholesaler gets their green citrus fruits from the city Martínez de la Torre in the Veracruz region. In January, states the expert, trade in the green citrus fruits is very strong. “At that time the sales and the prices are excellent at the market.”
A lot can happen…
However, the trader puts is all in perspective, at the moment they can’t predict the trade in January. “A lot can happen before January,” states Argentieri, “A few years ago the price for limes never dropped under the 11 Euro, while the next year the price was continuously at or around 7 Euro.”
Competition from Brazil
“An important competitor of Mexico in the European lime trade is Brazil,” explains Roberto Argentieri. “But the Mexican limes have an intense an beautiful green colour compared to the Brazilian limes and the European consumers like their limes green.” He continues to explain that the yellow limes are more popular in Mexico. “They don’t just have a yellow peel, these limes are very juicy,” says the wholesaler.
The limes are shipped to Europe per container ship. Other Mexican produce isn’t suitable for the fruit wholesaler. “Other products take too long to be shipped in containers and are less interesting for us,” states the expert. From the perspective of the producers the North American market is more interesting claims the importer. “The transport routes are shorter in the USA and hold lower risks for the producers.”
In addition Mexico and Brazil supply Israel and Egypt on the European market with smaller amounts of limes.
