Mexico is now the leading importer of pork.

Mexico has become the world's leading importer of pork, overtaking Japan, and the trend is on the rise. Mexico's imports of this product have grown by 8.8%, while Japan's have fallen by 1.8%. As a result, Mexico's imports have reached a record high of 1,600,000 metric tons, compared to Japan's 1,460,000 metric tons.

According to data recorded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Mexico has seen a steady and growing trend in its total pork imports, up from the 945,000 metric tons previously recorded.

Imported pork is typically used primarily for industrial processing (such as the production of sausages, cold cuts, and canned meats), as well as for the foodservice sector, optimizing operating costs through primary cuts and frozen trimmings with high technical yield.

According to data recorded by the World Trade Organization (WTO), Mexican pork imports totaled US$3.9 billion, with the United States as the leading supplier (US$3.1 billion), followed by Canada (US$552 million) and Brazil (US$218 million).

The recent USDA report noted that while Mexico was previously the leading destination for U.S. pork exports, shipments were down 5%.

The USDA added that the United States has faced stiff global competition from other pork-exporting countries and regions (such as Canada, Brazil, and the European Union), thereby limiting U.S. sales. It also noted that this situation is likely to persist through the second quarter before beginning to recover in the summer quarter.

From a holistic perspective, Mexico has produced 1,365,000 metric tons of pork, imported 1.6 million metric tons, and exported 190,000 metric tons, which means that total consumption stands at 2,775,000 metric tons.

Ricardo Santin, president of the ABPA, noted that Brazil has achieved a track record of success in the meat sector since it exported its first shipment of chicken in 1975. However, Brazil is the world's leading exporter of chicken and beef and the third-largest exporter of pork.

“Everything has been built step by step, from small-scale to large-scale producers, from the public sector to the private sector,” said the president of the ABPA.