Yucatán and Quintana Roo lead national lobster production

Yucatán and Quintana Roo maintained their positions as the second and third largest lobster producers in Mexico during 2024, despite a 25 percent decline in national production due to lower catches in these leading states.

The Panorama Agroalimentario 2025, coordinated by the Agricultural and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, revealed that national lobster production reached 3,361 tons in 2024, representing a 24.9 percentage point decrease compared to 2023.

Baja California Sur ranked first with a total volume of 1,318 tons, experiencing one of the highest declines among the top 10 states at -32.2 percent compared to the previous year, according to SIAP data. Yucatán, however, maintained second place with a catch volume of 662 tons, representing a 6.6 percent growth compared to 2023.

Quintana Roo placed third with 592 tons, a -32.7 percent decrease compared to 2023. Baja California ranked fourth with 544 tons (-26 percent), followed by Jalisco with 55 tons (-0.3 percent). The other states in the top 10 lobster production ranking were Sonora with 47 tons, Sinaloa with 45, Guerrero with 29, Veracruz with 18, and Nayarit with 16.

The rest of the country produced 35 tons of lobster, according to the Panorama Agroalimentario. The four leading states (Baja California Sur, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Baja California) generated 93 percent of national catches throughout 2024. Additionally, Baja California Sur fishermen recorded the highest price per ton sold at 463,220 pesos, generating a production value of 610 million pesos, representing 57.8 percent of the national value.

Regarding exports, China concentrated the largest volume with 942 tons of lobster, followed by the British Virgin Islands with 291 tons, the United States with 275 tons, Hong Kong with 87 tons, and Australia with 65.5 tons.

The lobster fishing season runs from July 1 to February 28 of the following year, meaning the 2025 production will be known until March 1, 2026.