In recent weeks, Mexico’s farmers launched one of the country’s largest protest movements in years, demanding higher prices for corn and sorghum as production costs have soared and government support programs have fallen short.
The protests began on October 14, when farmers in several states blocked major highways to demand fair prices for their crops. On October 27, the movement quickly spread to at least 17 states and turned into a national strike, led by the Agricultural and Peasant Movement (MAC) and the National Union of Agricultural Workers (UNTA).
Protesters set up roadblocks, blocked access to toll booths, and even threatened to occupy customs offices to pressure the government. Tensions were highest in the Bajío region, especially in Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Jalisco, where farmers blocked highways, railway lines, and the entrance to major grain processing plants like Maseca in Silao. These actions disrupted transport routes and left trucks stranded for hours.
Agreement reached with corn producers, but unresolved issues remain
On November 7, the Mexican government reached an agreement with corn producers after weeks of nationwide protests. The deal includes a 25% increase in payments to farmers, a subsidy of MXN 950 (EUR 44.57 / USD 51.88) per ton of corn, and the creation of a new system to organize corn marketing and stabilize prices by March 2026.
However, farming and agricultural organizations have announced a new national strike on November 24, led by the National Front for the Rescue of the Countryside (FNRC), the Agrarian Peasant Movement (MAC), and the National Association of Transporters (ANTAC), citing unresolved disputes over guaranteed prices and broader concerns about the neglect of the agricultural sector.
The groups have warned that the strike will include road closures, customs blockades, and targeted stoppages of freight movement. Widespread delays could occur across major trucking corridors, border crossings, and logistics hubs if the planned actions are carried out.
Blockades disrupt logistics and production throughout Mexico
Between October 14 and November 6, farmers carried out widespread blockades across several parts of the country, with Jalisco being the most heavily affected. Major routes such as the Guadalajara–Tepic Highway, the Guadalajara Bypass, the Mexico–Guadalajara corridor, and toll plazas around Ocotlán, La Barca, and Zapotlán del Rey experienced full closures, toll-booth takeovers, and long traffic jams, in some cases stretching up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles).
Similar blockades were reported in Sinaloa at the Sinaloa Bridge toll plaza, on the Mexico–Cuernavaca Highway near Mexico City and Morelos, and along the Jantetelco–El Higuerón route.
Farmers also disrupted the Mexicali Bypass in Baja California, key agricultural roads in Guanajuato, and several points on the Maravatío–Zapotlanejo route in Michoacán. While all these blockades have since been lifted, they caused significant delays for trucks, rail operations, and cargo flows during the protests.
Farmers also blocked rail and port operations, leading to further logistics disruptions. A key rail disruption occurred in the Arco Norte corridor, where piles of mud and corn stalks were placed on the tracks near the Teocalco bridge to stop train movements.
Additionally, protestors blocked access to the Port of Manzanillo on October 27, causing delays in truck and rail entry, slowing container handling, and extending truck import processing times to nearly seven days.
Protests impact production operations in food-processing, animal feed, and automotive sectors
These protests also affected production operations in several regions, as blockades prevented workers, trucks, and raw materials from reaching industrial sites. Facilities in Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Puebla saw temporary slowdowns in production, with the most notable impacts occurring in the food-processing, animal feed, and automotive sectors.
In Guanajuato, farmers blocked access roads to major agribusiness and food-processing plants, while demonstrations near Silao and Salamanca disrupted activity at various automotive sites.
Although most sites did not halt production entirely, reduced staffing, delayed inbound materials, and restricted truck movements contributed to intermittent slowdowns across multiple industries.
Agricultural unions call for new nationwide protests on November 24
Farmers’ unions, together with trucking groups, have called for a new nationwide strike on November 24 after talks with the government broke down. Organizers argue that the latest government offer of MXN 5,050–5,200 (EUR 237-244 / USD 276-284) per ton is still far below their demand of MXN 7,200 (EUR 338 / USD 392) and further maintain concerns over a proposed National Water Law, which would prevent farmers from transferring water-use concessions, raising fears that land without water rights would lose its value.
Given the scale of the previous blockades, the planned mobilization on November 24 is expected to create another round of significant disruption across 25 states. Organizers are preparing to block custom offices, key federal highways, major border crossings, entry points into Mexico City, and routes connecting to the country’s main ports.
Private cars and buses are expected to move through, but freight trucks will be the primary target. Some trucking organizations have also announced that they will join the movement, with a full work stoppage planned.
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