Move over tequila, the statistics from 2023 confirm that mezcal is booming, with certified production soaring 22% to over 11 million liters, over 1,200 brands now captivating global markets, and an industry valued at $1.2 billion that supports 45,000 jobs and injects MXN 25 billion into the Mexican economy.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Mexico's certified mezcal production reached 11.4 million liters, marking a 22% increase from 2022.
- Oaxaca state accounted for 85.6% of total certified mezcal production in 2023 with 9.76 million liters.
- The number of certified mezcal producers grew to 1,548 in 2023, up 15% from the previous year.
- Global mezcal market size was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
- Mezcal market projected to grow at CAGR 18.5% from 2024 to 2030.
- Premium mezcal segment captured 45% market share by value in 2023.
- Mezcal exports value hit USD 280 million in 2023.
- United States imported 4.2 million liters of mezcal in 2023, 78% of total exports.
- Mezcal exports to US grew 24% YoY by value to USD 220 million in 2023.
- US per capita mezcal consumption reached 0.12 liters in 2023.
- Global mezcal consumption volume hit 12.5 million liters in 2023.
- Mexico domestic mezcal sales were 4.1 million liters in 2023.
- Mezcal supported 45,000 direct jobs in Mexico in 2023.
- Mezcal industry contributed MXN 18 billion to Mexico GDP in 2023.
- Oaxaca mezcal value chain employed 35,000 people in 2023.
Mezcal production and exports surged in 2023, signaling major global growth.
Consumption
- US per capita mezcal consumption reached 0.12 liters in 2023.
- Global mezcal consumption volume hit 12.5 million liters in 2023.
- Mexico domestic mezcal sales were 4.1 million liters in 2023.
- US on-premise mezcal sales grew 32% to 1.8 million liters in 2023.
- Average annual mezcal consumption per Mexican adult was 0.35 liters in 2023.
- Cocktail mezcal usage in US bars increased 45% YoY in 2023.
- Europe total mezcal consumption reached 850,000 liters in 2023.
- Millennials accounted for 58% of US mezcal consumers in 2023.
- Off-trade mezcal sales in US hit USD 320 million in 2023.
- 42% of US craft cocktail enthusiasts tried mezcal in 2023.
- Mexico tourist consumption of mezcal boosted sales 15% in 2023.
- Gen Z mezcal trial rate reached 28% in US surveys 2023.
- UK mezcal consumption per capita was 0.0025 liters in 2023.
- Premium mezcal consumption share was 52% by volume in US 2023.
- Total US mezcal sales volume 4.8 million liters in 2023.
- Women represented 38% of mezcal consumers in Mexico 2023.
- On-premise share of Europe mezcal consumption 55% in 2023.
- 65 million mezcal tasting experiences worldwide in 2023.
Consumption Interpretation
The world is developing a serious taste for mezcal, with Americans sipping it at a rapidly growing clip, Europeans mostly enjoying it in bars, and Mexico itself still savoring the biggest piece of the agave pie.
Economic Impact
- Mezcal supported 45,000 direct jobs in Mexico in 2023.
- Mezcal industry contributed MXN 18 billion to Mexico GDP in 2023.
- Oaxaca mezcal value chain employed 35,000 people in 2023.
- Agave farmers for mezcal numbered 25,000 in 2023.
- Mezcal exports generated USD 250 million in foreign exchange in 2023.
- Rural income from mezcal production averaged MXN 120,000/year per family in 2023.
- 2,500 women employed in certified mezcal production 2023.
- Mezcal tourism generated MXN 2.5 billion in Oaxaca 2023.
- Investment in new palenques reached MXN 1.2 billion in 2023.
- Tax revenue from mezcal industry was MXN 4.8 billion in 2023.
- 15,000 indirect jobs from mezcal logistics and distribution in 2023.
- Average wage in mezcal production MXN 8,500/month in 2023.
- Sustainable agave projects funded MXN 500 million in 2023.
- Mezcal cooperatives numbered 450, supporting 10,000 members in 2023.
- Export multiplier effect created 20,000 jobs in 2023.
- 75% of mezcal production value stays in rural communities 2023.
- Youth training programs trained 5,000 in mezcal crafts 2023.
- Carbon footprint of mezcal production averaged 1.2 kg CO2/liter in 2023.
Economic Impact Interpretation
Behind every soulful sip of artisanal mezcal lies a robust economic engine: a billion-dollar lifeline that sustains entire rural communities, empowers thousands of smallholder farmers, and proves that tradition can be distilled into tangible prosperity.
Exports
- Mezcal exports value hit USD 280 million in 2023.
- United States imported 4.2 million liters of mezcal in 2023, 78% of total exports.
- Mezcal exports to US grew 24% YoY by value to USD 220 million in 2023.
- EU countries imported 650,000 liters of certified mezcal in 2023.
- Canada received 320,000 liters of mezcal exports in 2023, up 19%.
- Average export price per liter of mezcal was USD 41 in 2023.
- Japan imported 45,000 liters of mezcal in 2023, growth of 55%.
- Australia and New Zealand combined for 28,000 liters of mezcal imports in 2023.
- South Korea mezcal imports doubled to 15,000 liters in 2023.
- UK imported 180,000 liters, leading EU market for mezcal in 2023.
- China mezcal imports rose 60% to 12,000 liters in 2023.
- Total certified mezcal export volume was 5.4 million liters in 2023.
- 92% of mezcal exports were certified by CRM in 2023.
- Brazil imported 22,000 liters of mezcal in 2023.
- Germany took 110,000 liters of mezcal exports in 2023.
- Export growth to Asia-Pacific region was 48% in 2023.
- France imported 95,000 liters, up 22% for mezcal in 2023.
- Netherlands as EU gateway handled 75,000 liters in 2023.
- US retail shelf space for mezcal increased 30% in 2023.
- Total export value growth was 26% to USD 280 million in 2023.
Exports Interpretation
The world is acquiring a sophisticated taste for smoky spirits, with the U.S. leading a thirsty charge that saw mezcal exports become a quarter-billion-dollar industry, proving agave's allure is far more than a passing trend.
Market Growth
- Global mezcal market size was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
- Mezcal market projected to grow at CAGR 18.5% from 2024 to 2030.
- Premium mezcal segment captured 45% market share by value in 2023.
- US mezcal market revenue reached USD 450 million in 2023.
- Europe mezcal imports grew 28% YoY to USD 120 million in 2023.
- Number of mezcal brands worldwide exceeded 1,500 in 2023.
- Online mezcal sales surged 35% to 15% of total market in 2023.
- Sustainable mezcal segment expected to grow at 22% CAGR through 2030.
- Mezcal's share of super-premium spirits market rose to 12% in 2023.
- Latin America mezcal market valued at USD 250 million in 2023.
- Craft mezcal subcategory grew 25% in market value to USD 300 million in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific mezcal market expanded 40% YoY in 2023 to USD 50 million.
- Average mezcal bottle price increased 8% to USD 45 in 2023.
- Mezcal market penetration in US bars reached 65% in 2023.
- Organic certified mezcal market share hit 18% in 2023.
- Total mezcal industry revenue in Mexico was MXN 25 billion in 2023.
- Female-owned mezcal brands increased to 12% of total in 2023.
- Mezcal market forecast to reach USD 4.5 billion by 2030.
- Direct-to-consumer mezcal sales up 42% in 2023.
Market Growth Interpretation
The world is acquiring a sophisticated, expensive taste for agave's smoky soul, with discerning drinkers paying premium prices for artisanal and sustainable bottles even as the market explodes with enough new brands to make your head spin faster than the bottle in a *veladora*.
Production
- In 2023, Mexico's certified mezcal production reached 11.4 million liters, marking a 22% increase from 2022.
- Oaxaca state accounted for 85.6% of total certified mezcal production in 2023 with 9.76 million liters.
- The number of certified mezcal producers grew to 1,548 in 2023, up 15% from the previous year.
- Agave espadín variety represented 92.3% of mezcal production volume in 2023.
- Certified mezcal distilleries numbered 456 in Oaxaca alone as of 2023.
- Total agave plants harvested for mezcal in 2023 exceeded 12 million, primarily espadín.
- Durango state produced 1.2 million liters of certified mezcal in 2023, second to Oaxaca.
- Average yield per hectare of agave espadín for mezcal was 15 tons in 2023.
- 2023 saw 245 new certified mezcal brands registered, totaling over 1,200 brands.
- Artisan mezcal production method comprised 68% of total certified volume in 2023.
- Ancestral mezcal production reached 450,000 liters in 2023, up 30% YoY.
- Mezcal production from wild agaves increased by 18% to 1.1 million liters in 2023.
- Certified hectares of agave for mezcal cultivation hit 45,000 in 2023.
- Guerrero state contributed 4.5% of national mezcal production with 513,000 liters in 2023.
- Average ABV of certified mezcal was 46.2% in 2023 testing data.
- San Luis Potosí mezcal output grew 25% to 280,000 liters in 2023.
- Over 70 agave varieties certified for mezcal production as of 2023.
- Michoacán produced 180,000 liters of certified mezcal in 2023.
- Palenque (small distilleries) count rose to 2,100 in 2023.
- 2023 mezcal exports volume from production states totaled 6.8 million liters.
Production Interpretation
The industry's explosive growth in 2023 proves that while Oaxaca is still the undisputed maestro of mezcal, the rest of Mexico is rapidly tuning up its own agave symphonies.
Sources & References
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