MEXICO CITY, MEXICO — Mexico is forecast to see a slight increase in corn imports in the 2022-23 marketing year, which begins in October, to meet rising domestic consumption, according to a recent Global Agricultural Information Network report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA projects Mexican corn consumption reaching 44.7 million tonnes in 2022-23, up 300,000 tonnes from this year and nearly 1 million tonnes from 2020-21. Imports are forecast at 17.7 million tonnes in the upcoming marketing year, up 200,000 tonnes from 2021-22 and up 1.2 million tonnes from 2020-21.

Production in 2022-23 is pegged at 27.6 million tonnes, down from a recently upwardly revised 2021-22 total of 27.8 million tonnes.

“Corn output was increased due to normal weather conditions, which positively impacted yields,” the USDA said of the 2021-22 crop.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s wheat output for 2022-23 is forecast slightly lower based on Mexican government data that reflect adverse weather conditions.

The USDA projects wheat production at 3.26 million tonnes, down from this year’s total of 3.28 million.