Why Citrus is Key to Nuevo León's Economy

Nuevo León’s citrus industry is establishing itself as one of the country’s most significant agro-industrial pillars, not only for its production volume but also for its economic, social, and strategic impact on the export chain to the United States. Looking ahead to 2026, the sector faces a scenario of production adjustments, sanitary pressures, and logistical challenges, while simultaneously opening new opportunities for diversification, added value, and rural tourism.

Citrus Production: National Leadership with an Export Focus in Nuevo León

Nuevo León holds key positions in the national ranking:

• 3rd place in mandarin production, contributing an estimated 17% of the national volume.
• 4th place in orange production, concentrating around 7% of national output.
• 4th place in grapefruit production, strengthening Mexico’s position as the fifth largest global producer of oranges and fourth of grapefruit. The state maintains a historical production capacity of nearly 300,000 tons annually, distributed among mandarin, orange, grapefruit, and lemon. The peak harvest season is concentrated between October and February, a period that stimulates rural employment, logistics chains, and agribusiness.

Citrus Region: The Productive Heart of Nuevo León’s South-Southeast

Nuevo León’s so-called is primarily located in the municipalities of Montemorelos, General Terán, Linares, Hualahuises, Allende, and Rayones, a region with over a century of agricultural tradition. In addition to fresh sales, approximately 25% of the state’s production is allocated to the processing industry (juicers, segmenters, and concentrate plants), which allows for value addition and helps mitigate price volatility.

Economic Impact and Rural Employment

Citrus farming represents the primary engine of rural employment in the southern part of the state. Nationally, the sector generates nearly 28 million man-days of labor annually, and in Nuevo León, it sustains thousands of direct and indirect jobs in agricultural activities, transportation, packaging, and commercialization. This dynamism transforms the citrus industry into a pillar of social cohesion and economic stability for rural communities, with an impact that transcends primary production.

Exports and Nuevo León’s Connectivity with the United States

Nuevo León’s geographical location positions it as a strategic hub for citrus exports to the United States, a destination that receives 78% of Mexican shipments. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the state has orchard directories registered with SENASICA, authorized for the mobilization and export of fresh fruit with phytosanitary treatments such as methyl bromide, ensuring compliance with international standards. However, projections for 2026 anticipate a challenging environment:

• National orange exports could fall 9.3% annually, to about 49,000 tons, due to logistical challenges and reduced fruit availability.
• Nationally, citrus production is projected to contract slightly by 0.4% for the 2025/26 cycle, associated with climatic impacts and sanitary pressure from pests like HLB (Huanglongbing).

Strategic Challenges in Nuevo León for 2026

Among the main challenges for the sector are:

• Productivity and plant health, given the spread of pests and diseases.
• Dependence on a single species, which increases economic vulnerability.
• Traditional commercialization, still concentrated on direct shipments from the field to the Central Wholesale Market. Given this outlook, specialists agree that crop diversification, technological innovation, and access to financing will be decisive for the sector’s sustainability.

Citrus and Tourism: A New Initiative Towards the 2026 World Cup

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Nuevo León has begun integrating its citrus industry as an asset for sustainable and gastronomic tourism. With this objective, the State Secretariat of Tourism signed a collaboration agreement with FIDECITRUS at the Valle del Pilón Historical Museum in Montemorelos, to design tourist routes aligned with the region’s agricultural vocation. “We want tourism to generate income, employment, and local pride. This region has history, quality, and all the potential to become an authentic destination that reflects the state’s identity,” stated Maricarmen Martínez Villarreal, Nuevo León’s Secretary of Tourism. The agreement includes:

• Specialized tourism promotion.
• Training for entrepreneurs and service providers.
• Design of gastronomic routes and rural experiences in municipalities such as Montemorelos, Linares, General Terán, Allende, and Hualahuises. “This agreement prepares us to welcome over two million tourists during the World Cup. We will strengthen visitor services and support restaurateurs and tourism operators,” affirmed Luis Eduardo Cavazos Morales, General Director of FIDECITRUS.

A Strategic Sector for Regional Development

Nuevo León’s citrus industry not only sustains agri-food production but is also projected as a core for integral regional development, by integrating agriculture, agribusiness, exports, and tourism. In a context of economic and climatic adjustments, the sector is emerging as one of the most robust strategies to diversify income, strengthen rural employment, and position the state as an agro-industrial and tourism benchmark heading into 2026. The article first appeared in Líder Empresarial.