Livestock and grain producers recently traveled with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to Monterrey, Mexico, to look at market conditions and participate in the Expo Carnes trade show. The group also visited retail outlets featuring U.S. beef, pork and lamb, ranging from traditional markets to Costco, as well as high-end grocery stores and butcher shops.
David Hardin, a corn, soybean and pork producer from Indiana, sees the potential growth in volume, but also for higher grade products in the market.
“Obviously, if we can move the higher end products here, that’s going to put more dollars back in the pockets of the growers on the other end of the chain,” Hardin says. “We’ve had very good discussions with processors that buy our Indiana animals and are moving product into the Mexican market. While they are just as concerned about the impact of tariffs and how that is going to impact the market, we feel that there’s still enough demand for good American pork and beef here in Mexico, that hopefully we’re going to be able to get things sorted out.”
Another Indiana grain and pork producer, Matthew Lucas, also attended the trip. He says he learned more about the work USMEF does on behalf of the U.S. red meat producers.
“I think the biggest thing that’s jumped out at me at the convention center is just the amount of effort that USMEF pours into helping our U.S. companies export meat into Mexico,” Lucas says. “Mexico is one of our biggest markets. I think the statistic is that 40% of Mexico products are imported, and then of that, 80% is originating from the U.S.”
He recognizes the work that goes into keeping export markets strong.
“There is clearly a lot of competition that is starting to arise in this market, and we certainly don’t want to lose the market share that we currently have,” he adds.
The Expo Carnes is the largest red meat trade show in Latin America and hosted every other year in Monterrey. In addition to hosting a pavilion of U.S. exporters inside the show, USMEF also conducts large grilling demonstrations outside the show’s entrance, featuring the USMEF mobile grill truck.
Mexico was the leading destination for U.S. pork in 2024 at a record-setting 1.15 million metric tons, valued at $2.6 billion. Beef exports to Mexico climbed 13% in value to $1.35 billion in 2024, with volume up 10% at 232,488 metric tons, USMEF reports.
