Mexican Tequila Exports Grow 16%

laht.com


MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s tequila exports rose 16 percent to $568 million in the first half of this year, compared to the same period in 2013, the Agriculture Secretariat said on Wednesday.

Exports were boosted by higher sales of 100 percent agave tequila to markets such as China, Russia and the United States, the secretariat said in its preliminary report.

Mexico exported 149.1 million liters of tequila worth $996.9 million in 2013.

Mexico currently exports tequila to 90 countries, including Australia, Spain, the United States, China, France, Japan, Lithuania, Panama, Britain and Russia, the secretariat, which oversees the Tequila Regulating Council (CRT) said.

The agave used to produce tequila was granted denomination of origin status in 1999 in an area that covers Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacan and Tamaulipas states, the secretariat said.