The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in early February that the U.S. is resuming cattle and bison imports from Mexico.
Following the detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Mexico in November 2024, U.S. authorities closed the border to shipments of Mexican cattle and bison. After months of discussion, Mexican and American authorities have settled on a ramped-up inspection protocol that has increased safety measures to make imports possible again.
According to USDA sources, per the agreed-upon safety measures, Mexico has set up pre-export inspection pens in San Jeronimo, Chihuahua and Agua Prieta, Sonora, which are APHIS-inspected and approved. Animals will be inspected and treated for NWS by trained and authorized veterinarians before entering the pre-import facilities. Once there, they will be inspected by Mexican officials, then undergo a final APHIS inspection before crossing the border at the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, or Douglas, Arizona, ports of entry. Cattle and bison approved for importation will also be dipped in a solution to ensure they are otherwise insect- and tick-free.
U.S. and Mexican officials are working to establish more pre-export inspection systems and reopen trade through other entry points.
Beef export value trends higher through the end of 2024
Beef exports made a stronger finish through the fourth quarter of 2024, according to a report from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While most of our primary export markets decreased volume-wise, export value increased, even reaching historic levels in some Asian markets.
Exports to Mexico increased by 10% year over year, reaching 232,488 metric tons (MT), valued at $1.35 billion, an increase of 13% and the highest since 2009. Although some experts believed the strong value of the peso was a major driver behind high exports to Mexico, volume levels stayed relatively steady through the second half of 2024 despite the peso weakening by about 20% compared to the dollar.
Beef exports to Korea decreased by 6% of volume, hitting 232,481 MT, but value-wise reached $2.22 billion, a 4% year-over-year increase. The USMEF report says it is a weaker Korean currency due to the political unrest triggered by the impeachment and arrest of embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol following his declaration of martial law in early December. The turmoil hasn’t dampened consumer demand for beef, but it has hampered their currency and economic outlook for at least the rest of 2025.
Beef exports to Taiwan finished strong in the second half to reach 62,503 MT, up 4% year over year, valued at $709.2 million – up 13% and the second highest on record. The U.S. is the dominant supplier of chilled beef to Taiwan, holding 71% market share.
Japan’s demand for U.S. beef held fairly steady in 2024 and reflected the same pattern of other export markets: lower volume and higher values. Export volume was down slightly from year-ago levels at 242,869 MT, but value increased 3% to $1.87 billion. While Japan’s food service sector has benefited from record-high tourist arrivals and strong year-end wage increases (largely through bonuses), some segments like pub dining have yet to recover to pre-COVID-19 sales levels.
And to round out the Asian markets, beef exports to China/Hong Kong trended lower in 2024, with shipments rallying late in the year to just under $2 billion in value (down 2% from 2023). Export volume fell 6% to 215,603 MT.
This does not mean China has been beef-deprived. The country’s overall beef imports set another record in 2024, mainly due to growth from South America. On a similar note, Brazil was the second-largest beef supplier to Mexico with shipments of 46,000 MT, benefiting from duty-free access. This, the USMEF report noted, illustrates that it is imperative to maintain duty-free access for U.S. beef in Mexico and other markets covered by trade agreements.
