Fernando Mares | 20 de julio de 2026.
Between January and May 2026, Mexican meat exports surged 36.3% to US$1.69 billion, catalyzed by historically low US cattle inventories and strong northbound beef demand. However, structural trade and sanitary disruptions—notably border closures to live cattle exports and reemerging screwworm risks—pose operational challenges for Mexican livestock producers, meat processors, and international trade authorities. Consequently, agricultural stakeholders and market regulators are prioritizing biosecurity investments and local processing capacity to preserve cross-border commercial resilience.
Mexican meat exports totaled US$1.69 billion between January and May 2026, representing a 36.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025, says the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA).
According to GCMA, total outbound volume expanded 17.6% year-over-year to reach 211,930t. The average price per exported metric ton rose 15.9% from US$6,877 to US$7,971. Beef was the primary catalyst for the trade expansion, with export value increasing 46.6% from US$911.1 million to US$1.34 billion. Exported volumes rose 21.2% to 134,510t, while the average price per t escalated 21% to US$9,933.
GCMA attributes this performance to robust demand from the United States, which absorbs approximately 91% of Mexican beef exports. The price strength reflects the lowest domestic cattle inventory recorded in the United States in seven decades.
Despite the growth in processed beef sales, the livestock sector experienced trade disruptions due to the closure of the border to live cattle exports, resulting in US$287 million in direct losses. According to GCMA, these export restrictions prompted domestic producers to redirect a higher proportion of animals toward local slaughterhouses.
Regarding the sanitary landscape, Jorge Esteve, President, National Agricultural Council (CNA), called for strengthening prevention, surveillance, and response systems to anticipate emerging pests and diseases that could threaten food production, agricultural exports, and millions of jobs. He stated that the country must move beyond a reactive approach and prioritize prevention, warning that climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and increasing flows of trade and people are creating favorable conditions for the spread of new pests and diseases.
“Prevention costs one, remediation costs 10 and a catastrophic failure costs 100,” Esteve said, noting that losses associated with the reemergence of the New World screwworm have already exceeded US$2 billion while containment costs continue to rise.
Total livestock imports during the five months increased 0.9% in value to US$3.16 billion, even as overall physical volume contracted 2.1% to 259,473t due to higher global commodity prices.
Pork remained Mexico’s primary livestock import, with volumes remaining steady year-over-year at 766,180 metric tons, valued at US$1.66 billion, a 1.8% value increase. The United States continues to supply eight out of every 10t of pork imported into Mexico, supported by production cost efficiencies and supply availability. Conversely, poultry imports declined 14% in value to US$525.9 million and fell 4.5% in volume, influenced by expanded domestic supply and lower global prices. While domestic poultry exports surged 93.3% in value and 63.1% in volume, the group noted that overall export volumes remain marginal relative to total national market size.
Mexico’s 2025 Top Meat Buyers
According to the Mexican Meat Council (COMECARNE), in 2025, Mexico’s total meat trade flow reached 3.8Mt, generating a total value of US$12.47 billion. Total meat exports stood at 462,660t valued at US$3.29 billion, representing a 0.4% decrease in volume but a 10.1% increase in total export value year-over-year.
The top 10 destination markets accounted for 99% of total outbound volume 457,922t and 99.6% of total export value US$3.28 billion. The United States maintained its position as Mexico’s primary trade partner, purchasing 303,652t, over 65.6% of the total export volume, valued at US$2.51 billion, which was 76.3% of the total value. This represented a year-over-year increase of 9.7% in volume and 20% in value. Japan ranked second, receiving 117,606t, a 25.4% share, valued at US$546.2 million, a 16.6% share, despite annual declines of 17.5% in volume and 18% in value. Canada followed in third place with 13,274t, a 2.9% share, valued at US$133.7 million, a 4.1% share, expanding 7.6% in volume and 13.1% in value.
Other destinations included South Korea with 12,094t valued at US$47.6 million, Hong Kong with 3,442t valued at US$18.8 million, Guatemala with 3,086t valued at US$8.9 million, Singapore with 1,567t valued at US$6.5 million, Ivory Coast with 1,522t valued at US$1.3 million, Vietnam with 859t valued at US$2.6 million, and El Salvador with 821t valued at US$1.5 million. All remaining export destinations combined accounted for 4,738t, a 1% share of volume, valued at US$11.6 million, a 0.4% share of value.
Fuente: El Tiempo en Monclova
