La Jornada: Mexico turns livestock crisis into bonanza for meat exports

Mexico channeled a part of the cattle that stopped crossing the border to the United States and destined them for fattening and national slaughter, a strategy that translated into historic growth in beef exports.

The closure of the US border to Mexican exports of live cattle was extended for 14 months, due to the screwworm plague, and its end was announced yesterday. During this time, the national industry took advantage of its inventory to transform it into value-added meat, at a time when the United States faces the lowest availability of cattle in decades.

Between January and June 2026, according to data from the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) processed by the Agricultural Market Consulting Group (GCMA), Mexican exports of animal protein totaled 258.9 thousand tons, an advance of 20.2 percent compared to the 215.5 thousand tons of the same period in 2025. In value, shipments went from 1.489 million to 2.46 million dollars, 37.4 percent more.

Beef concentrated the dynamism. Its exports grew 24.3 percent in volume, going from 132,568 to 164,821 tons, while its value shot up 46.9 percent, from 1,101 million to 1,618 million dollars.

The pork sector also registered progress, with an increase of 12.9 percent in exported volume and 10 percent in value. Poultry exports, although with a lower weight within the total, more than doubled in value, with an increase of 103.2 percent.

On the import side, the behavior was different. The total volume entered into the country fell 1.9 percent, from 1,554,700 to 1,525,500 tons, and its value fell 9.4 percent, from 4,228 million to 3,829 million dollars.

Purchases of beef abroad decreased 10.2 percent in volume, although their value rose 5.1 percent. Pork imports fell 16 percent in value and chicken imports fell 10.4 percent in the same category.

The GCMA estimated that the US industry reduced its beef production by approximately 500 thousand tons, with an economic impact close to 4.5 billion dollars, which deepened its dependence on imports, particularly from Mexico.

The consultant pointed out that “the reconversion strategy is working” and that the increase in exports shows that the national industry has the capacity to transform livestock into value-added meat, instead of only exporting live animals.

At the same time, Mexico maintains a relevant position as a buyer of animal protein in the international market. The country is the world’s largest importer of pork and ranks third among the largest buyers of chicken meat globally.

For the United States, Mexico represents its main export market for pork and chicken, in addition to being among the three most important destinations for beef, reflecting a trade relationship that operates in both directions.

The consulting group stated that the situation confirms the strategic integration between both countries in the beef and meat chain. The closure of the border to live cattle generated costs for Mexican producers, but also evidenced the capacity of the national industry to add value through the export of processed meat.