The brewing industry in Mexico is a key sector in the national economy. This is demonstrated by its economic performance: it generates 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs, produces a turnover of 6 billion dollars and incorporates 100 000 national farmers into its supply chain. The objective of this research was to analyze the factors that determine the competitiveness of the barley value chain (VC). Thus, links and strategies that contribute to strengthening competitiveness were characterized. Analytically, we started from Porter's four components that explain the competitive advantages of an economic actor, and the method formulated by ECLAC to identify internal and external variables of the VC, as well as their control or absence. It was found that the VC-cebada is made up of five links and its articulation is the result of the governance exercised by Grupo Modelo-ABInBev and Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma-Heineken México. Four factors explain the chain's competitiveness: level of articulation, innovation, physical infrastructure and organization. The VC is well articulated in the production zone; however, the brewers generate strong links only with large and medium)sized producers and limit the participation of small producers, generating an asymmetrical and exclusively functional vertical VC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]