Mexico

Mexico is one of the world’s top 10 coffee exporters, with production concentrated in Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla, and Oaxaca. While most output is commercial-grade washed arabica, the country is steadily expanding both its specialty coffee and its robusta production. Robusta is now grown in lowland areas of Veracruz, Chiapas, and Oaxaca, making Mexico the largest robusta producer in Mesoamerica.1 Despite having more coffee land under cultivation than its neighbors, average yields remain relatively low.1 Coffee plays a smaller role in Mexico’s national economy than in nearby countries, contributing less than 0.1% of total export value. Since 2015, national renovation programs have helped replant 150,000 hectares with 550 million rust-resistant and high-quality seedlings, such as Oro Azteca and Costa Rica 95, according to INIFAP. Government programs like Producción para el Bienestar and Sembrando Vida provide direct farmer support, though recent declines in funding and technical assistance threaten long-term sustainability.1 A 2025 study found that only 68% of coffee trees are in their peak production years (3-15 years old).2

1. USDA Coffee Annual: Mexico, 2025.
2. Mexico’s Coffee Value Chain, ICO 2025.

Global export rank
12th
International Coffee Organization, 2017-2019 mean
Our Strategy

World Coffee Research’s strategy in Mexico centers on strengthening agricultural research and development—an essential foundation for the country’s future coffee supply—through long-term investments in breeding, variety evaluation, and scientific partnerships, including Mexico’s 2023 entry into the Innovea network via the University of Chapingo. This partnership builds on a decade-long collaboration (2015-2025) with INECOL in which Mexico hosted 3 sites for the International Multilocation Variety trial, the world’s largest coffee variety performance trial. From 2019-2021, WCR worked to evaluate, improve, and expand coffee nursery infrastructure with targeted support from WCR member companies in their supply chains.

Current Activity

Our Partners

Working collaboratively to ensure the future of coffee

University of Chapingo

The Universidad Autónoma Chapingo is a leading agricultural university in Mexico, founded in 1923. It offers programs in agricultural engineering, agroecology, economics, and emerging technologies like AI in agriculture. Through research and national extension efforts, Chapingo equips professionals to modernize farming, strengthen rural livelihoods, and advance sustainable agri-food systems. Chapingo scientists help advance sustainable coffee systems and rural livelihoods through partnerships with national and international organizations.

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