Devotees of Mexico’s famed fiery liquor will pay more for their favorite tipple next year.
Producers are gearing up for an increase in the cost of tequila of between 10 and 12 percent following a spike in the price of agave – the main ingredient of the popular alcoholic beverage.
One year ago a kilo of agave sold for around four pesos. Today the plant is changing hands at 11 pesos.
Luis Velasco Fernández, president of the National Tequila Chamber, said the price hike will not kick in until after the holiday season – probably at the beginning of February 2017.
Ramón González Figueroa, director of the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), has denounced the action of some tequila producers who have resorted to using agave imported from outside the “designation of origin” zone that includes Jalisco and a few surrounding areas. Eighty percent of all agave is cultivated in Jalisco.
González Figueroa said the current high demand for agave is not just coming from tequila distilleries but also manufacturers of other products that use the plant, such as syrups and sweeteners.
Velasco said tequila prices are unlikely to rise any further as improved cultivation planning and coordination with farmers in recent years means that a significant “batch” of mature agave will come onto the market in mid 2017.
Given its increased value, agave is becoming a favorite target for thieves.
With a truck load of agave piñas (pineapples) selling from anywhere between 250,000 and 300,000 pesos, criminal gangs have sensed a remunerative opening. Distillers are especially concerned about the “gradual disappearance” of agaves from their production plants, with employees in cahoots with criminal gangs. This is compounded by the fact that few firms actually bother to count the number of agaves that arrive from the fields.
The CRT said it is working closely with public security agencies to combat the crimes.