Mexican lime shipments rose 44% year-on-year during the first nine months of 2012, according to the country's Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food Service (SAGARPA).

A SAGARPA release said the country shipped 492,000 metric tons (MT) of the fruit with an export value of US$211 million.

The U.S. was the top buyer, followed by the Netherlands, the U.K., Canada and Japan.

SAGARPA deputy secretary for food and competitiveness Ernesto Fernandez Arias, said good practices in the sector had led to higher yields for the crop with an average production of 15MT per hectare over the last five years.

The country is now the world's largest lime producer after India, and is also the the third-highest exporter of the fruit.

The main production states are Colima, Veracruz,  Michoacán and Oaxaca, accounting for 80% of the Mexican lime crop.

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