Transport, farm groups block highways in Mexico

Market: Agriculture, Oil products
24/11/25

Truck drivers and agricultural workers in Mexico today blocked multiple roads around the capital and several states to protest over security issues and agricultural policy.

Demonstrators blocked stretches of the Mexico City-Toluca highway early in the morning, leaving only one lane open toward Mexico City, while other groups targeted the Mexico City-Queretaro route and roads in Ecatepec, Tecamac, Texcoco and Acolman in the state of Mexico. Local authorities also reported multiple blockades and one march affecting key avenues in Mexico City.

Organizers — including the national association of transporters and rural agricultural groups — demand measures to curb extortion and theft on highways, halt alleged corruption by security forces and improve conditions for the transportation sector.

Farmers are calling for guaranteed prices for corn and wheat and greater support for rural development. Protesters warned that actions could extend to customs facilities and government offices if talks with federal authorities do not advance.

Mexico's interior ministry on 23 November urged organizers to avoid actions that disrupt citizens and commercial activities, emphasizing its willingness to engage in dialogue. The ministry invited transportation sector representatives to a meeting on 24 November with officials from the agriculture and economy ministries, along with the national water commission, to review demands and reach agreements to support the transportation and farming sectors.

Fuel impact limited

The blockades caused traffic jams in affected areas, authorities said. But fuel supply in the Mexico City metropolitan area was not disrupted, as retailers stocked up ahead of the previously announced protest, one truck transporter told Argus.

"There should not be fuel supply issues in Mexico City and elsewhere for this reason," he added. Truck transporters have asked the government "for years to guarantee road safety," the transporter said, noting he did not participate in the blockades.

Fuel supply is expected to remain unaffected as the protests were announced for 24 November only, but Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) warned travelers of possible delays because of road disruptions near the capital.

By Cas Biekmann

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04/12/25

Brazil increases 2025 coffee crop outlook

Sao Paulo, 4 December (Argus) — Brazil is set to produce its third-largest coffee crop ever this year, despite it being a low productivity year in the crop cycle, according to national supply company Conab's last crop estimate for this cycle. Brazil will produce almost 56.5mn 60kg bags of coffee this year, up from the previous forecast released in September of 55.2mn bags. The upward revision was driven by higher average national productivity, reflecting a better performance of Conilon coffee crops, one of the two major types of coffee grown in Brazil. This is above the 51.8mn bags first projected for the season and surpasses the 2024 crop, which produced 54.2mn bags. Droughts, irregularly distributed rainfall and high temperatures severely hampered yields in the prior cycle, despite initial expectations for a high-producing one. Coffee cycles occur biennially in Brazil, with larger volumes produced in alternating years. During the lower producing years — known as negative years — plants replenish their nutritional reserves, leading to reduced output. The 2025 cycle is considered a negative year, with the current estimate representing an all-time high for a negative year, topping the record registered in the 2023 crop, when Brazil produced nearly 55.1mn bags. It is expected to rank as the third-largest in the nation's history, only behind the positive cycles of 2020 and 2018, which produced 63.1mn bags and 61.7mn bags, respectively. Conab revised the outlook for the current cycle based on an increase in expected yields to 30.4 bags/hectare (ha) from 29.7 bags/ha in the prior forecast. That is up by 5.5pc from 28.8 bags/ha in the positive 2024 year and compares with 29.4 bags/ha in the negative 2023 cycle. Brazil grows two types of coffee: the higher-grade Arabica coffee and the Conilon grade coffee, also referred to as Robusta. These varieties have different taste, caffeine content and productivity levels, as well as distinct producing regions and harvesting calendars. Arabica coffee production is forecast at around 35.8mn bags, ahead of the nearly 35.2mn bags projected in September, but down from 39.6mn bags in 2024. There has been significant vegetative recovery in crops, mainly in southeastern Minas Gerais state, Brazil's largest producer, which contributed to an increase compared to the previous estimate, according to Conab. Yields rose to 24.1 bags/ha from 23.7 bags/ha in September. That is behind the 26.2 bags/ha in 2024. Conilon coffee output should reach an overall record of 20.8mn bags, up from 20.1mn bags in the previous outlook following the consistent weather conditions in major producing states Espirito Santo and Bahia that promoted good conditions for areas and resulted in high yields. That compares with 14.6mn bags in the prior cycle. Yields are up to 55.9 bags/ha, from 53.8 bags/ha estimated in September and 39.2 bags/ha yielded in 2024. Conab continues to expect the total area allocated to both coffee grades to reach approximately 2.25mn ha this cycle, 0.9pc above on the year. The area set aside for coffee is split between space for production and new crops. Areas allocated to crops in production fell by 1.2pc on the year to nearly 1.86mn ha. New areas account for around 396,428ha, up by 12pc, as is usual for negative years. Coffee exports fall on year Brazil exported 34.2mn bags of coffee in January-October, around 17.8pc below the total shipped in the same period a year before, according to trade ministry Mdic data. This reduction in volume exported in the first ten months of 2025 is mainly because of limited domestic stocks at the beginning of the year, following a record shipment of 50.5mn bags in 2024. Tariffs imposed by the US from April onwards, a major buyer of Brazilian coffee, also contributed to the reduction in exports. Brazil exported coffee to 150 countries in the first ten months of 2025. The US and Germany accounted for the largest share of shipments, with 14.1pc and 14pc, respectively. Italy received 8.1pc of exports, Belgium and Japan 6.3pc each. By João Petrini Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Adecoagro makes offer for remaining 50pc in Profertil

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Transport, farm groups block highways in Mexico

Fuel impact limited

Related news posts

Brazil increases 2025 coffee crop outlook

Brazil increases 2025 coffee crop outlook

Funds’ Ice gasoil long position down from 45-month high

Funds’ Ice gasoil long position down from 45-month high

Qatar presents 2040 climate target to UN

Qatar presents 2040 climate target to UN

Bessent shifts China soy purchase deadline

Bessent shifts China soy purchase deadline

Adecoagro makes offer for remaining 50pc in Profertil

Adecoagro makes offer for remaining 50pc in Profertil

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