Processed food demand is forecast to grow alongside GDP, with Latin America projected to expand by 5.4% in real terms in 2025. At the same time, food insecurity remains widespread, with 28.6% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean moderately or severely food insecure in 2022. The report connects these trends to trade flows, nutrition outcomes, food safety signals, and waste reduction progress.
Key Takeaways
- 6.5 million metric tons of soybean produced in Brazil in 2022 (production volume)
- $1.2 billion total FDI inflows to Mexico in 2023 by food/beverages/ tobacco sector (Food, Beverages & Tobacco, by industry of destination)
- 3.7% year-on-year retail food price inflation in Mexico in April 2024 (food prices component of CPI)
- 5.4% real GDP growth forecast for Latin America in 2025 (food industry demand outlook linked to GDP)
- 4.6% average consumer price inflation in Latin America in 2024 (regional average CPI inflation, IMF/World Bank series)
- 12.1% of Latin America and the Caribbean population were undernourished in 2022 (prevalence of undernourishment)
- 28.6% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean were moderately or severely food insecure in 2022 (share facing moderate or severe food insecurity)
- 1 in 5 women in Latin America report experiencing food insecurity at some point in 2022 (survey-based prevalence)
- 1.6% of Latin American and Caribbean adults reported binge drinking in 2021 (share of adults engaging in binge drinking at least once in the past month)
- 6.8% of children under 5 in Latin America and the Caribbean were affected by obesity in 2022 (BMI-for-age)
- 23% of Latin American food companies plan to adopt traceability solutions by 2026 (survey plan metric)
- 19% reduction in food waste in Latin America between 2017 and 2022 (progress estimate in waste-reduction initiatives)
- 2.1 million tonnes of food were lost in Brazil in 2021 (grain and oilseed losses)
- 8.8% compound annual growth rate for processed food in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2023 to 2027
- 10.0% of household grocery spending in Peru went to packaged snacks in 2023 (retail panel category share)
Food insecurity persists in Latin America even as processed food growth and investments rise across the region.
Related reading
01 · Category
Trade & Investment2 stats
01
6.5 million metric tons of soybean produced in Brazil in 2022 (production volume)
02
$1.2 billion total FDI inflows to Mexico in 2023 by food/beverages/ tobacco sector (Food, Beverages & Tobacco, by industry of destination)
Interpretation
Trade & Investment Interpretation
In the Trade and Investment landscape, Brazil produced 6.5 million metric tons of soybeans in 2022 while Mexico attracted $1.2 billion in 2023 FDI inflows to the food, beverages, and tobacco sector, pointing to strong and sustained regional capital and commodity momentum.
02 · Category
Pricing & Inflation3 stats
01
3.7% year-on-year retail food price inflation in Mexico in April 2024 (food prices component of CPI)
02
5.4% real GDP growth forecast for Latin America in 2025 (food industry demand outlook linked to GDP)
03
4.6% average consumer price inflation in Latin America in 2024 (regional average CPI inflation, IMF/World Bank series)
Interpretation
Pricing & Inflation Interpretation
Pricing and inflation pressures are moderating but still meaningful across the region, with Latin America’s average consumer price inflation at 4.6% in 2024 and Mexico showing 3.7% year-on-year retail food price inflation in April 2024, while demand should stay supported as a 5.4% Latin America real GDP growth forecast for 2025 underpins food industry purchasing.
03 · Category
Food Security3 stats
01
12.1% of Latin America and the Caribbean population were undernourished in 2022 (prevalence of undernourishment)
02
28.6% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean were moderately or severely food insecure in 2022 (share facing moderate or severe food insecurity)
03
1 in 5 women in Latin America report experiencing food insecurity at some point in 2022 (survey-based prevalence)
Interpretation
Food Security Interpretation
In 2022, food security in Latin America and the Caribbean remained fragile, with 28.6% of people facing moderate or severe food insecurity and 12.1% undernourished, while survey data show that 1 in 5 women also experienced food insecurity at some point.
04 · Category
Nutrition & Health2 stats
01
1.6% of Latin American and Caribbean adults reported binge drinking in 2021 (share of adults engaging in binge drinking at least once in the past month)
02
6.8% of children under 5 in Latin America and the Caribbean were affected by obesity in 2022 (BMI-for-age)
Interpretation
Nutrition & Health Interpretation
In Latin America and the Caribbean, nutrition and health concerns are showing a dual pattern, with 6.8% of children under 5 affected by obesity in 2022 alongside 1.6% of adults reporting binge drinking in 2021.
More related reading
05 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
23% of Latin American food companies plan to adopt traceability solutions by 2026 (survey plan metric)
02
19% reduction in food waste in Latin America between 2017 and 2022 (progress estimate in waste-reduction initiatives)
03
2.1 million tonnes of food were lost in Brazil in 2021 (grain and oilseed losses)
04
27.0% of food losses occur during production and storage steps globally (relevant to Latin America supply chains)
05
11.6% of respondents in Latin America reported paying more for health-related foods in 2023 (survey of attitudes and behavior)
06
6.0% share of adults in Brazil reported consuming ultra-processed foods daily in 2020–2021 (population survey)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry trends in Latin America point to a clear push toward smarter, healthier and more efficient food systems as 23% of food companies plan to adopt traceability solutions by 2026 while food waste reduction shows real progress with a 19% drop since 2017 and daily ultra processed consumption in Brazil remains at 6.0% in 2020 to 2021.
06 · Category
Market Size2 stats
01
8.8% compound annual growth rate for processed food in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2023 to 2027
02
10.0% of household grocery spending in Peru went to packaged snacks in 2023 (retail panel category share)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, Latin America and the Caribbean’s processed food segment is projected to grow at an 8.8% CAGR from 2023 to 2027 while packaged snacks already account for 10.0% of Peru’s household grocery spending in 2023, signaling sustained demand for packaged categories.
07 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
25.0% of Latin American food exports faced non-tariff measures (NTMs) in 2022 (share of HS lines affected)
02
15.2% of Latin America’s agrifood exports were affected by SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) measures in 2021 (share of trade flows)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In 2022, 25.0% of Latin American food export HS lines were hit by non-tariff measures, and in 2021, 15.2% of agrifood exports faced SPS requirements, signaling that regulatory frictions are a meaningful and ongoing cost driver for the region’s food trade.
08 · Category
Performance Metrics3 stats
01
14.0% of foodborne outbreaks in Latin America were laboratory-confirmed in 2022 (share of outbreaks with lab confirmation)
02
70.0% of Latin American hospitals report insufficient food-safety capacity training for staff involved with patient meals (survey)
03
3.4% of Latin America food manufacturers reported supply-chain disruptions as the primary operational risk in 2024 (survey)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In the Performance Metrics, laboratory-confirmed foodborne outbreaks stood at 14.0% in 2022 while 70.0% of hospitals reported insufficient food-safety training, and in 2024 only 3.4% of manufacturers cited supply-chain disruptions as the main risk, pointing to capability gaps as a bigger performance constraint than sourcing issues.
report visual · Comparison
Food insecurity and undernourishment are widespread in Latin America
A sizable share of the population is undernourished and food-insecure, highlighting ongoing nutrition challenges across the region.
28.6% of people in Latin America and the Caribbean were moderately or severely food insecure in 2022 (share facing moder28.6%
12.1% of Latin America and the Caribbean population were undernourished in 2022 (prevalence of undernourishment)
12.1%
6.5 million metric tons of soybean produced in Brazil in 2022 (production volume)
6.5
source-verifiedfao.org2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Latin America Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/latin-america-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Latin America Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/latin-america-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Latin America Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/latin-america-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+6 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)