Mexico's Tequila Exports: $2.64 Billion in 2021

According to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), Mexico exported 285.7 million liters of tequila in 2021, generating an estimated $2.64 billion USD in export revenue.

Key Context

• Volume Growth: +42% vs. 2020 (201M L); +15% vs. 2019 pre-pandemic peak.
• Top Markets: USA (~80%), Germany, Spain, France, UK, Japan, Canada.
• Categories: 100% agave (premium) growing faster than mixtos; reposado/añejo share rising.
• Denomination of Origin: Only 5 states (Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, Tamaulipas) can produce legal tequila.

Economic Impact

• ~70,000 direct jobs (agave farming, distilleries, bottling, logistics).
• Agave price cycles (6–8 yr maturity) create boom/bust dynamics for farmers.
• Tequila is Mexico's #1 agricultural export by value; top 10 overall.

2022–2023 Trend

Exports continued rising: 320M+ liters in 2022, ~340M in 2023, with revenue exceeding $3B. Premiumization (super-premium brands, celebrity labels) drives value faster than volume.

Data: CRT annual reports; Banco de México trade statistics.