Tequila is being widely touted as the next big spirit, taking up the huge growth position from gin, and it certainly looks to be heading that way with exports reaching US$3.6bn between January and October last year, a record high.
Data from The Ministry of Economy and the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA) puts this total at 34.1 per cent higher than for the same period in 2021. The tequila market has also seen massive growth over the last decade with GCMA data stating that exports of the Mexican spirit amounted to just US$849m in 2012.
The premiumisation of the Tequila category is also highlighted through the volumes sold, which increased by 14.1 per cent to 386.1 million litres.
Tequila’s growth is happening across the board, with the Tequila Regulatory Council (TRC) reporting that from January to November last year, Tequila production totalled 601.6 million litres, up 14.1 per cent on 2021’s 527 million litres produced.
This is the fifth consecutive year that tequila production has broken its record and the 13th year that exports has broken its record.
The TRC also reported that January to November saw 2.4 billion tonnes of agave consumed, up 20.2 per cent on the previous year.
Miguel Ángel Domínguez Morales, President of the Regulatory Council, said: “Without a doubt these last few years have been very lucky for the tequila agribusiness, they have been years of significant growth, and this 2022 is no exception, because before the end of this year the figures for 2021 have already been exceeded, and there is still the month of December.
“The great work of each one of the links that make up this productive chain are reflected in these important figures, while the [TRC] continues to reinforce its activity to guarantee compliance with the regulations applicable to Tequila.
“The 120 countries to which tequila is exported are of great importance due to the volume of litres they represent, for this reason we are taking care of shielding our national drink with all the regulations that the different markets require.
“To mention just a few, the issue of sustainability with the Agave Responsible Ambiental certification mark, recently the issue of deforestation freedom officially became a requirement for entry into the European Union for many products, and Tequila goes a step further by being already implementing this requirement of responsibility with the environment.”
The TRC has also predicted growth will continue at somewhere between five and 10 per cent.