Tortilla Prices Hit 30 Pesos in Mexico Amid Tax Increases

Problems in the agricultural sector, the approval of taxes on beverages, and external factors have driven price increases for various high-consumption products, said Cuauhtémoc Rivera, president of the National Alliance of Small Merchants (ANPEC).

Tortillas, chocolate, and bread, among other foods, have seen price hikes since December, and in January, the cost of sugary or artificially sweetened beverages will continue to rise following congressional approval of an increase in the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) from 1.64 pesos to 3.08 pesos per liter for flavored drinks.

“In various states, tortilla prices are already recorded above 30 pesos per kilo, and it is expected that they will rise further in January due to higher production costs,” he explained.

For example, states with the kilo of tortillas priced above 30 pesos include Baja California Sur at 32 pesos, Sonora at 34 pesos, and Colima, Guerrero, and Veracruz, which have average prices of 30 pesos.

Due to seasonal factors, coffee prices are increasing; “while the instability of sugar and the global rise in cocoa prices affect confectionery, chocolate products, and even sweet bread.”

The price of tortillas varies between tortilla shops and supermarkets.

Tax Increase, Main Cause

This is a “new price surge driven by the January financial strain and the tax increase,” warned ANPEC in a message shared on social media.

It cautioned that inflation in the first half of November recorded an annual increase of 3.61%, compounded by insecurity on highways and extortion.

“The inflationary pressure for 2026 is concerning, the country’s economic slowdown, the outflow of capital to Spain, the deterrence of potential foreign investments citing the normalization of violence…” he emphasized.

In this regard, the association added that “this is the perception of Mexico abroad at this moment; they see us as a country of drug traffickers and violence, without energy guarantees, legal certainty, or clear rules for investment, leading to marginal growth that places us at the bottom of Latin America, only above Haiti and Venezuela.”

He explained that “for 2026, inflationary pressure could intensify in a context of economic slowdown, capital flight, and a complicated international environment. Even the renegotiation of the USMCA (Agreement between Mexico, the United States, and Canada) is anticipated to be complex,” he stated.

This is especially due to energy, security, and migration issues that the United States will put on the table.

Therefore, he called on the federal government to “correct the course before the situation worsens.”