Surge in shipments of Mexican produce to US in second quarter 2020

Shipments of Mexican produce to the U.S. increased at a double-digit rate in the second quarter this year, a transportation report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveals.

The USDA’s Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report showed second quarter total reported shipments of fruits and vegetables from Mexico were 2.96 million tons, an 11% increase compared with the second quarter last year.

The sum of the top five commodities shipped from Mexico (figured on an annual basis: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, avocados and squash) increased by 31,000 tons, or 6%, according to the report.

Seedless watermelons shipped to the U.S. in the second quarter topped all fresh produce commodities for the quarter, the report said, with 297,000 tons shipped. Still, that was down 19% than the same quarter last year, according to the USDA.

Truck rates

The USDA report said truck rates for shipments of 501 miles to 1,500 miles from the Arizona border crossings averaged $2.55 per mile, up 1% quarter to quarter, but down 6% compared with the second quarter a year ago.

Rates for shipments of 501 miles to 1,500 miles from the Texas border crossings averaged $2.25 per mile, down by 10% quarter to quarter and down by 1% year to year.

Diesel fuel prices for border crossings through Texas averaged $2.21 per gallon for the quarter, compared with $2.60 per gallon for crossings through Arizona.