Lime
Limes are in high demand worldwide, with key markets in Europe, North America, and the Middle East consuming increasing volumes yearly. Latin America dominates global lime exports, particularly Mexico and Brazil, while East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania are expanding their production.
Nevertheless, exporting limes is not always a straightforward process. Despite robust demand, growers and exporters encounter significant price volatility, weather-related crop losses, security threats, and logistical disruptions. These challenges for small and medium-sized producers result in financial instability and erratic earnings.
Lime trade challenges
While demand for limes remains high, market volatility makes exporting a high-risk business.
Unstable Pricing → Lime prices fluctuate wildly based on climate conditions, supply volumes, and global demand shifts. A promising start to the season doesn’t guarantee stable profits.
Weather-Driven Production Losses → Limes are highly sensitive to droughts, storms, and heavy rainfall, which cause lower yields and quality issues that impact export pricing.
Market Power Imbalances → Large buyers, particularly in Europe and North America, dictate purchase terms, leaving smaller exporters vulnerable to sudden price drops.
Security & Logistics Risks → In some regions, lime growers face extortion and theft, increasing the cost and risk of production and trade. Logistical delays due to transport and customs bottlenecks can lead to financial losses.
Without protection from these market forces, lime growers and exporters face serious financial instability.
2022
2022
In 2022, Kenya experienced a significant decrease in lemon and lime exports. The volume of exports contracted notably, indicating challenges in maintaining export levels. This decline posed financial difficulties for Kenyan lime growers and exporters, highlighting the volatility and challenges within the market.
Decline in Kenyan Lemon and Lime Exports
2023
2023
In 2023, climate change posed significant challenges to lime production globally, including in Latin America. Shifts in temperature and rainfall patterns impacted both crop yields and quality, leading to increased volatility in the market. Growers faced difficulties in adapting to these environmental changes, which affected their production and profitability.
Brazil’s Lime Exports Hit by Climate Volatility
2024
2024
In 2024, the value of exports from Latin America and the Caribbean grew by an estimated 4.1%, recovering from a 1.6% decline in 2023.
However, this growth was accompanied by challenges, including market volatility and external economic factors, which continued to impact lime growers and exporters in the region.
Export Growth and Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean
When Prices Drop, Growers and Exporters Pay the Price
Price instability is not just an economic issue—it directly impacts the livelihoods of lime growers and exporters. Conversations with industry professionals have made one thing clear:
Lost Investments → Farmers invest months of labor, fertilizers, and irrigation, only to sell at a loss when prices drop unexpectedly.
Unpaid Loans & Debt Risks → Many small and medium-sized exporters take out loans to cover farming and logistics costs, only to struggle with repayments when markets shift.
Security & Extortion Risks → In some regions, growers are forced to pay criminal organizations for "protection," which adds unpredictable costs to production.
Shipping & Storage Losses → Limes require fast shipping, and delays at ports or in transit lead to spoilage and lost revenue.
Smaller Growers Are Pushed Out → Farmers who cannot absorb multiple bad seasons are forced to exit the industry, leaving large-scale corporate farms in control.
The lime trade should not be a gamble—but for too many exporters, it is.
You Work Hard. You Deserve Stability.
You put everything into your harvest—your time, your resources, your future. But when prices drop, you’re the one left carrying the loss. It shouldn’t be this way.
At SAFTA, we make sure you’re never alone in the trade cycle. Our model protects growers and exporters from market swings, securing fair pricing and stable income, so you can focus on growing, not just surviving.
How SAFTA makes a difference
SAFTA provides stability in an unpredictable market, ensuring that lime exporters get fair prices and secure trade conditions.
Stable Pricing Model → SAFTA’s pricing is based on real production costs and fair margin (FOB+), not market speculation. This means exporters get predictable income instead of gambling on price swings.
Direct Access to Buyers → With SAFTA Plus, we connect growers with reliable European buyers, ensuring long-term contracts over risky spot market sales.
Logistics & Trade Support → SAFTA Standard helps exporters navigate shipping costs, customs regulations, and compliance, reducing unexpected costs and delays.
SAFTA Rescue → When shipments get stuck at ports due to delays or compliance issues, SAFTA steps in to resolve the problem, protecting exporters from financial losses.
By focusing on fair pricing, stability, and real support, SAFTA allows growers and exporters to focus on what they do best—producing top-quality avocados—without the fear of sudden market collapse.
SAFTA vs. Fairtrade: Two Approaches to Fairer Trade
Fairtrade and SAFTA both aim to support farmers, but they take very different approaches.
