Yerba mate industry in Latin America – statistics & facts
Mate, a caffeinated herbal drink deeply embedded in South American culture, has perhaps surprisingly, found its way into homes across Syria and Lebanon. This is a beverage made to be shared and consumed communally over hours. Having been brought by returning Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, it is now part of their culture and social gatherings, and on a smaller scale, it is making its way to other countries as well, such as Turkey. This, as well as regional trade, has made yerba mate exports an important part of the industry. In 2022, for instance, yerba mate exports from Latin America generated a surplus of over 80 million U.S. dollars.
Regionally, mate trade is quite important, as some of the biggest consumers are not large producers. The most notable example is Uruguay, where in 2023, almost 30 thousand metric tons of yerba mate were imported. Chile imports mainly from Argentina and Brazil, while Bolivia imports mainly from Paraguay and Brazil.
The mate industry is likely to remain stable, especially among those for whom mate drinking is already a habit, both in South America and abroad. Although there has been some increased interest thanks to its popularity among some global celebrities, this has not translated to an increase in production and exports. It remains to be seen whether these early signs of interest are enough to spark a trend or whether it will continue growing in already established markets.
Mate: made in South America
Mate is an important part of daily life in mate drinking cultures such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as well as Chile and Bolivia. When it comes to production, Argentina and Brazil are the undisputed leaders. In the past year, Argentina produced over 770 thousand metric tons of yerba mate, while Brazil’s yerba mate production amounted to over 600 thousand metric tons in recent years. While it is considered the national beverage of Uruguay, it is not produced there but imported instead. A cold-brewed variation, called tereré, is also quite popular in Paraguay and in some parts of Bolivia.From South America to the world
Thanks to migration patterns, mate is already popular in some countries in Europe and the MENA region. Argentina, for instance, exports yerba outside of the Americas to Syria, Spain, and Lebanon; while Paraguay also exports to Turkey. Brazil, on the other hand, exports mainly to its neighbors, Uruguay and Argentina.Regionally, mate trade is quite important, as some of the biggest consumers are not large producers. The most notable example is Uruguay, where in 2023, almost 30 thousand metric tons of yerba mate were imported. Chile imports mainly from Argentina and Brazil, while Bolivia imports mainly from Paraguay and Brazil.
The mate industry is likely to remain stable, especially among those for whom mate drinking is already a habit, both in South America and abroad. Although there has been some increased interest thanks to its popularity among some global celebrities, this has not translated to an increase in production and exports. It remains to be seen whether these early signs of interest are enough to spark a trend or whether it will continue growing in already established markets.
