Boots On the Ground: Opportunities Abound in Mexico

Last month, I attended the U.S. Red Meat Symposium, where 150 exporters and importers showcased U.S. products while discussing product attributes and demand.

While in Mexico City, we spotted U.S. pork in wet markets (50% of the Mexican population obtains their protein from this sector where fresh foods are sold in a non-supermarket setting), mid- and up-scale retail establishments and met with importers including a grilling workshop featuring preparation methods for pork.

National Pork Board (NPB) has a strong working relationship with US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). With 22 offices in 19 countries, they have a full team in Mexico promoting U.S. pork and beef across the value chain from processing to retail and food service.

IMPORTANCE OF MEXICAN MARKET

Mexico is not simply another export market, it’s the News & Events | April Pork Exports Largest in Nearly Three Years; Beef Exports Also Trend Higher (usmef.org)U.S.’s No. 1 export market and 37% of exports year-to-date have gone to Mexico.

Mexico’s population is growing (1.5 million annually), and its residents prefer pork with consumption growing per capita. In 2023, Mexico averaged 32.2 pounds of pork consumed per capita – the second largest protein consumed in Mexico with chicken being number one at 68 pounds per capita.

U.S. Pork currently accounts for about half of Mexico’s pork consumption. The growing demand underscores the need to strengthen relationships to capitalize on this growth.