Bulletin

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MexicoMain producing and exporting countries

Authors: WangZhengDong | Edit: tianfuyou

This report covers four crops: maize, rice, soybean, and winter wheat. Maize was in the harvest period, which concluded in April. Rice harvesting ended in January, and planting of the new crop started in April. Wheat reached the flowering stage in February and harvest began in April. 

This was the dry season in Mexico and El Niño caused a rainfall deficit. The total rainfall at the national level was 77 mm, a decrease of 37%. The TEMP was 19.6°C, 0.6°C above average. The RADPAR was 1226 MJ/m². The CALF was 63%, 5% above average. The VCIx was 0.85. According to the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, overall conditions were at average levels, but notably lower in April. 

During the monitoring period, 48.4% of the total cropped areas exhibited average crop growth. Only 13.5% of the total cropped areas experienced above-average crop growth, predominantly located in the northern parts of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León.

Regions with below-average crop growth were primarily situated in central and northern Mexico. Notably, the majority of the total cropped areas in Chihuahua and Sonora experienced below-average crop growth. Additionally, according to reports, extreme drought conditions were observed in the south-central part of Sonora, southeastern and northern regions of Chihuahua, and northern areas of Durango. Additionally, central Mexico, including large areas in San Luis Potosí and Guanajuato, also faced significant drought conditions.

In summary, while drought conditions did affect agricultural activities, resulting in decreased crop growth, the overall crop conditions remained at average levels except until mid March, when conditions started to decline because of the lack of rainfall.


Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones and topographic conditions, Mexico is divided into four agro-ecological regions. They include the Arid and semi-arid region (128), Humid tropics with summer rainfall (129), Sub-humid temperate region with summer rains (130) and Sub-humid hot tropics with summer rains (131). Regional analyses of crop conditions provide more details for the production situation in Mexico.

In the arid and semi-arid region in northern and central Mexico, agro-climatic conditions showed RAIN at 54mm, which is 22% below the average level, while TEMP remain close to the average level. The RADPAR was 1181 MJ/m², 4% below average. The BIOMSS was 362 gDM/m², 7% below average. The CALF showed the largest increase among all regions, being 13% above average. According to the NDVI-based development graph, crop growth began to fall below average in April, while it remained at average levels from January to March. The VCIx was 0.79, and the CPI was 1.12.

In the humid tropics region with summer rainfall in southeastern Mexico, the RAIN was 121 mm, 50% below average. The TEMP was 24.4°C, exceeding the average by 1.2°C. The RADPAR was 1216 MJ/m², 4% above average. The BIOMSS was 626 gDM/m², 18% below average. The CALF was the highest among all regions, reaching 99%. According to the NDVI-based development graph, crop growth began to fall below average in March and April, with the below-average condition in April being more pronounced than in March. The VCIx was 0.91, and the CPI was 0.99.

In the sub-humid temperate region with summer rains in central Mexico, the RAIN was 59 mm, which is 44% less than the average. The TEMP was 19.2°C, exceeding the average by 1.2°C. The RADPAR was 1311 MJ/m², around the average level. The BIOMSS was 443 gDM/m², 7% below average. The CALF was 51%, 8% above average. According to the NDVI-based development graph, crop growth began to fall below average in late March and April. The VCIx was 0.88, and the CPI was 1.25.

In the sub-humid hot tropics with summer rains region in southern Mexico, the RAIN was 87 mm, significantly lower than the average level by 27%. The TEMP was 21.1°C, 0.8°C above average. The RADPAR was 1247 MJ/m², 1% below average. The BIOMSS was 491 gDM/m², decreased by 5%. The CALF was 84%, 4% above average. According to the NDVI-based development graph, crop growth was at average levels until late March, after which it began to fall below average. The VCIx was 0.91, and the CPI was 1.09.


5 Mexico’s crop condition, January - April 2024

(a) Phenology of major crops


(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                                                              (c)  Maximum VCI


(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                                                                    (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Rainfall profiles                                                                                                                              (g) Temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  (Arid and semi-arid regions (left) and Humid tropics with summer rainfall (right))

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Sub-humid temperate region with summer rains (left) and Sub-humid hot tropics with summer rains (right))

(j) CPI time series graph

2 Mexico’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 15YA, January - April 2024


RegionRAINTEMPRADPARBIOMSS
Current(mm)Departure from 15YA(%)Current(°C)Departure from 15YA(°C)Current(MJ/m2)Departure from 15YA(%)Current(gDM/m2)Departure from 15YA(%)
Arid and semi-arid regions54-2215.90.01181-4362-7
Humid tropics with summer  rainfall121-5024.41.212164626-18
Sub-humid temperate region  with summer rains59-4419.21.213110443-7
Sub-humid hot tropics with  summer rains87-2721.10.81247-1491-5


3 Mexico’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, January - April 2024

RegionCALFMaximum VCICPI
Current(%)Departure from 5YA(%)CurrentCurrent
Arid and semi-arid regions38130.791.12
Humid tropics with summer  rainfall9900.910.99
Sub-humid temperate region  with summer rains5180.881.25
Sub-humid hot tropics with  summer rains8440.911.09