United States Lime - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The United States Lime Market size is estimated at USD 2.42 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 2.92 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.80% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Key Highlights

• The lime is a small, green citrus fruit that grows on trees in warm climates. Limes can be sweet or sour, depending on the variety. Most of the limes in US grocery stores are known as Persian limes, most of which are imported from Mexico. In contrast, sweet limes aren't commonly available in the United States because the country mostly imports Persian limes, which have many health benefits. The recent pandemic resulted in the inclusion of healthy foods in the diet, which also includes lime. It has become a driver for the market in the following years and is expected to continue during the forecast period.
• The major lime-producing regions in the country are Arizona, California, Florida, etc. The demand for limes has been increasing in the United States due to their nutrient benefits and other applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The price of imported limes in the United States increased throughout 2021 and 2022 and is expected to reach a maximum of USD 76.33 per package in 2023, the highest price in the last three years. This price represents an increase of 70.9% and 167.1% over the maximums obtained in 2022 (USD 44.67) and 2021 (USD 28.58), respectively.
• Adverse weather conditions can be a market restrainer for lime plant growth in certain regions of the United States. However, it is important to note that lime cultivation is not completely impossible in the US. It is successfully grown in several regions, such as California, Florida, and Texas. That being said, the US relies heavily on imported limes, with Mexico being a prominent supplier due to its proximity and favorable climate for lime cultivation. Other countries that export limes to the US include Peru, Brazil, and Colombia

US Lime Market Trends

Health Benefits to Increase the Lime Consumption

• Limes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants, which may offer health benefits. Eating limes or drinking juice may improve immunity, reduce heart disease risk factors, prevent kidney stones, aid iron absorption, and promote healthy skin. Drinking adequate amounts of water with lime may provide some benefits, such as aiding weight management and skin health and helping prevent kidney stones. This is because limes are an excellent source of Vitamin C antioxidants, a compound that supports overall skin health.
• Health benefits, nutritional value, and cosmetic uses are the main reasons for increased consumption. The most popular lime varieties in the country are Persian limes. The United States primarily depends on imports to meet its consumption demand as domestic production is very low. A large proportion of Persian lime is imported from Mexico as it is one of the world's largest producers of Persian lime.
• The per capita lime consumption increased from 4.1 pounds in 2018 to 4.9 pounds in 2021, an increase of more than 50% since the last decade. This was due to the rise in the per capita lime availability and processing industry usage. As lemons and limes can be versatile elements in many recipes, the lime industry benefited from the boom in retail demand with increasing consumption.

Mexico is the Major Lime Supplier to the United States

• The US lime market is primarily dependent on imports. It imported 0.89 million metric tons of lemon and lime in 2021, worth USD 892.6 million. US imports of limes have been rising steadily, and Mexico accounts for the major share of all imported lime volume. The key reason for importing is low domestic production due to limited adaptable agro-climatic zones. Mexico accounted for nearly 75% of the total United States imports in 2021, followed by Chile, Argentina, and Columbia with 10%, 9.8%, and 3.7% shares, respectively.
• According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), US imports of all lime varieties have more than doubled in 10 years, rising from 313 thousand metric tons in 2010 to 665 thousand metric tons in 2021, which accounted for more than 99% of all limes sold in the United States. Mexico accounted for 97% of all lime imports in 2021, with the balance supplied by Colombia and Honduras. These factors have increased due to higher consumption of lime in various sectors of the country and demand from the retail sector, which will drive the market in the following years and is expected to increase during the forecasting period.
• Mexico is typically the world's second-largest producer of limes, and the fruit is the second-largest planted citrus crop in Mexico after oranges. As lime demand in the United States has remained strong throughout the recent pandemic, trade to date has been stable. Some large producers and exporters had stocks available to account for any drought-related reduction in production.

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