Why Mexican fresh papaya earned 13% more per kilo in 2026
- Agricola las Morenas led with US$ 8.16 million, ahead of Red Starr with US$ 5.67 million.
- Mexican fruit sold at US$ 0.61 per kilo, Colombian at US$ 1.33.
- The 25 new exporters shipped US$ 2.47 million in 2026.
From January to August 2026, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador exported US$ 101.88 million of fresh papaya. That is 26% more than in the same months of 2025.
Volume grew 12%, and the price per kilo grew 13%, to US$ 0.61. So buyers paid more for each kilo and still took more fruit.
I find that a healthy sign for a buyer. Supply grew along with the price, and 107 exporters shipped this year.
Mexico carried that growth, with US$ 101.55 million and 88 exporters. Colombia added a small, higher-priced supply.
I read the export customs records of the three countries, shipment by shipment, from January 2025 to the latest day each one has published. The price per kilo is the value divided by the net kilos, without shipments between companies of one group.
Who leads
Agricola las Morenas led the exporters of 2026, with US$ 8.16 million and 10,209 tonnes. Its declared buyer was La Imperial, in the United States.
Red Starr followed with US$ 5.67 million, 78% more than in the same months of 2025. Its fruit went to Super Starr International and Organics Unlimited.
Paradise Papaya came third, with US$ 5.47 million. It shipped 15,630 tonnes at US$ 0.35 per kilo, the largest volume among the leaders, mainly to Caraveo Papayas.
Starr Produce grew 167%, to US$ 4.92 million. Productores Corporativo Milania grew 72%, to US$ 4.50 million.
Where the price went up
So why did the Mexican kilo earn 13% more? Part of the answer is in the calendar. The Mexican price moved from US$ 0.53 in the first half of 2025 to US$ 0.65 in the first quarter of 2026.
The other part is in the mix. Several exporters that sell above the average grew fast this year.
Pinto Growers sold at US$ 1.09 per kilo and grew 78%, to US$ 3.93 million. Fiel and Harvest Mexico sold at US$ 1.07 and grew 126%, to US$ 2.81 million.
Coliman Frutas Finas got the highest price among the large exporters: US$ 1.52 per kilo, on US$ 4.28 million. Organic fruit made up 34% of that value.
Marcilia Produce, at US$ 1.30, and Big Jos Tropical Fruit de Mexico, at US$ 1.29, completed the top three by price.
Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador
Mexican fresh papaya sold at US$ 0.61 per kilo in 2026. Colombian fruit got US$ 1.33, more than twice as much.
The two origins serve different buyers. Mexico sent US$ 100.30 million to the United States, plus US$ 0.83 million to Canada and US$ 0.37 million to Germany.
Colombia worked with 12 exporters and 23 buyers, with Spain as its main market. Its value was smaller than in 2025, while its price edged up to US$ 1.33 per kilo.
Ecuador had 7 exporters in 2026, and its value grew from a small base.
If you buy for Canada or Europe, the Mexican exporters already in those markets are a good place to start. Mexican fruit reached US$ 1.27 per kilo in Canada and US$ 1.25 in Germany.
The price, quarter by quarter
The Mexican price peaked at US$ 0.65 per kilo in the first quarter of 2026. It eased to US$ 0.59 in the second quarter and US$ 0.58 in the third.
Value held up through that move. The second quarter of 2026 brought US$ 41.41 million from Mexico, the highest quarter in the series.
That gives you room to negotiate. The kilo is still above the 2025 level, but the trend since the first quarter points to a steadier price.
New exporters
In 2026, 25 companies shipped fresh papaya without having shipped in 2025. Together they exported US$ 2.47 million.
They are small next to the leaders. But they widen your choice of supplier, especially if you want a second source next to a large exporter.
Organic supply is still narrow. Two exporters shipped organic fresh papaya in 2026, at US$ 1.46 per kilo against US$ 0.60 for conventional.
What I would do
I would recommend a two-supplier plan to any buyer of this fruit. You can pair one large Mexican exporter for steady volume with one of the higher-priced exporters for a premium program.
The price moved up 13% this year, and it has eased since the first quarter. That is a good moment for you to fix volumes for the coming season.
The full list of the 148 exporters since 2025, with their buyers, their price per kilo and their markets, is in the Radar.
The numbers behind this
| Origin | US$ million, 2026 | US$ per kilo | Exporters | Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 101.55 | 0.61 | 88 | 83 |
| Colombia | 0.14 | 1.33 | 12 | 23 |
| Ecuador | 0.23 | 0.20 | 7 | 6 |
Get the list of fresh papaya suppliers
Every company that exported fresh papaya from Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador since 2025, ranked by value, with their price per kilo, their buyers and their markets.
See the supplier listFrequently asked questions
Who are the largest exporters of fresh papaya in Latin America?
In 2026, Agricola las Morenas exported US$ 8.16 million, Red Starr US$ 5.67 million and Paradise Papaya US$ 5.47 million, all from Mexico. Starr Produce followed with US$ 4.92 million.
What is the price per kilo of fresh papaya by origin?
Mexican fresh papaya sold at US$ 0.61 per kilo in 2026 and Colombian at US$ 1.33.
Which exporters get the highest price for fresh papaya?
Among the largest exporters of 2026, Coliman Frutas Finas sold at US$ 1.52 per kilo, Marcilia Produce at US$ 1.30 and Big Jos Tropical Fruit de Mexico at US$ 1.29.
How many new exporters of fresh papaya were there in 2026?
25 companies shipped fresh papaya in 2026 without having shipped in 2025, for US$ 2.47 million in total.
Where does each origin send its fresh papaya?
Mexico sent US$ 100.30 million to the United States in 2026, plus US$ 0.83 million to Canada and US$ 0.37 million to Germany. Colombia's main market was Spain, with US$ 0.07 million.