US Lime Import Intelligence
Track who's importing lime from Mexico — shipments, suppliers, volumes, and FOB prices.
The United States imports the overwhelming majority of its fresh limes from Mexico — and for produce buyers, distributors, and importers, knowing exactly who is bringing that volume in, from which Mexican suppliers, and at what FOB prices is the difference between negotiating with leverage and negotiating blind. Produce Trade IQ tracks 0 active US lime importers sourcing from Mexico, with shipment records, supplier relationships, and origin patterns updated weekly from CBP customs data.
Below you'll find the top US lime importers ranked by shipment volume, current FOB price ranges by Mexican crossing, and the ability to track any importer's lime sourcing in real time. Whether you're benchmarking competitors, finding new supplier relationships, or monitoring how volume shifts between Mexican growing regions, this is the most current picture of the US–Mexico lime trade available.
Top Lime Importers
Ranked by shipment volume
The US lime import market is highly concentrated at the top: the largest importers each move thousands of shipments a year from dozens of Mexican suppliers, while a long tail of regional distributors and specialty buyers sources more selectively. Volume rankings shift through the season as buyers adjust sourcing between growing regions. Click any importer to see their full shipment history, the specific Mexican suppliers they buy from, their origin mix, and how their volumes have changed quarter over quarter.
Where US Lime Imports Come From
Mexico is the dominant origin for fresh limes entering the United States, supplying the large majority of US lime consumption year-round. The Persian lime (also called the Tahiti lime) is the seedless, thicker-skinned variety that makes up the bulk of commercial US–Mexico lime trade — distinct from the smaller, more aromatic Key lime (Mexican lime). When buyers talk about “lime imports from Mexico,” they almost always mean Persian limes.
Mexican lime production is concentrated in a handful of states, each with its own season and characteristics:
- Veracruz — the largest Persian lime producing state, supplying volume across much of the year and anchoring the Gulf-side export lanes.
- Michoacán — a major producer of both Persian and Key limes, with strong volume and well-established export infrastructure.
- Colima — known for consistent quality Key lime production on the Pacific side.
- Oaxaca — a growing-region contributor that adds to national supply, particularly in certain windows of the year.
This geographic spread is why lime supply is relatively resilient year-round: when weather or disease pressures one region, others can partially offset it. But it also means pricing and availability can shift meaningfully between regions — and importers who track which states their competitors are sourcing from can anticipate those shifts rather than react to them.
When to Buy: Lime Import Seasonality
Unlike strictly seasonal produce, Mexican limes cross into the US throughout the year, which makes lime a relatively stable category for buyers to plan around. That said, the trade follows a rhythm:
- Peak supply, November through April — cooler-season volume is typically strong, and prices tend to be more favorable to buyers when supply is abundant.
- Summer tightening (roughly May through August) — hotter weather, rain events, and flowering cycles in Mexican groves can reduce supply and push FOB prices up, sometimes sharply and with little warning.
The most volatile periods are the transitions, when weather in a single major growing region can swing national pricing within days. This is exactly when sourcing visibility matters most: an importer who can see that volume is shifting from one Mexican state to another — or that a competitor has locked in supply early — has a 2-to-3-week head start on the rest of the market.
Current FOB (free on board) shipping-point prices for limes by Mexican border crossing, sourced from USDA Market News and updated weekly. FOB prices reflect the cost at the point of entry before freight and handling — the baseline number buyers use to benchmark what they're paying.
Lime FOB Prices
Daily USDA Market News pricing for lime across 19 US markets, with historical trends and regional comparisons.
View USDA Prices →How Produce Buyers Use Lime Import Data
Produce buyers, importers, and distributors use Produce Trade IQ's lime data to:
- See competitor sourcing — find out which Mexican suppliers your competitors buy limes from, how much volume they move, and whether they're concentrating or diversifying their origins.
- Discover new suppliers — identify the Mexican exporters actively shipping limes to the US, ranked by the volume and reliability of their shipment history.
- Benchmark pricing — compare current FOB prices across crossings against what you're paying, so you know whether a quote is competitive.
- Anticipate supply shifts — monitor how volume moves between growing regions and importers week to week, so a tariff event, weather disruption, or competitor move doesn't catch you flat-footed.
- Reduce origin concentration risk — when your primary supply region is disrupted, quickly see where alternative volume is coming from.
Lime Import FAQ
Where does the US import most of its limes from?
The United States imports the large majority of its fresh limes from Mexico, which is the world's leading Persian lime producer. Mexican limes supply the US market year-round.
Who are the largest US lime importers?
The top US lime importers — ranked by shipment volume from Mexico — are listed above, updated weekly from CBP customs records. The market is concentrated, with the largest importers moving thousands of shipments a year.
What's the difference between Persian limes and Key limes?
Persian (Tahiti) limes are the larger, seedless, thicker-skinned variety that dominates commercial US–Mexico trade. Key (Mexican) limes are smaller, seedier, and more aromatic, traded in much smaller volume.
When are lime prices lowest?
Lime supply is typically strongest and prices most favorable to buyers from November through April. Prices tend to rise through the summer months as Mexican supply tightens.
How current is this lime import data?
Shipment records and importer rankings are updated weekly from CBP customs data; FOB prices are updated weekly from USDA Market News.
Track Lime Shipments in Real Time
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