Mexico: Livestock and Products Semi-annual

In 2026, Mexican cattle production is forecast to remain flat due to recent production challenges in the sector and the continued suspension of live cattle exports from Mexico to the United States due to New World Screwworm. Cattle slaughter is forecast to rise by five percent due to the closure of this export market, which is redirecting over one million head into domestic feedlots, supporting an increase in beef production. The increase in domestic supply is forecast to soften retail prices and support a rise in beef consumption. Simultaneously, the pork sector is forecast to grow, bolstered by improved genetics and stable feed costs. This growth is spurred by a robust processing sector that is substituting higher-cost beef with pork, resulting in record-high domestic protein availability, even as new import quotas on non-FTA partners like Brazil begin to tighten.