Background Pigs
Mexico research could shake up global market
The global pork market has come under increasing pressure in recent months, having been hit by new Chinese import tariffs and avian flu outbreaks in Spain, among other factors. And there's an additional risk looming over the market. Mexico recently launched an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into the import of American hams and shoulders. Any measures taken against the United States could have a significant impact on the global market.
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Any measures against the United States could have significant effects on the global market. The investigation is prompted by complaints from domestic producers, who allege that American suppliers are offering their products at unfairly low prices and benefiting from government subsidies.
The investigation focuses on imports from 2022 through 2024 and their impact on the Mexican pork sector during those years. The measure follows requests from five Mexican pork companies and applies to pork of U.S. origin, including imports via third countries. Possible levies are possible, despite existing tariff exemptions. The complaining companies argue that these imports were sold below cost or supported by subsidies, which is putting pressure on the competitive position of the Mexican pig farming industry.
According to the Mexican Ministry of Economy, imports from the United States have steadily increased in recent years. This is substantiated by figures. In 2015, the United States exported approximately 719.000 tons of pork to its southern neighbors, according to data from the American meat export federation USMEF. By 2024, this volume had increased to approximately 1.155.000 tons.
Serious consequences
Any measures against the United States could have a significant negative impact on US exports. Mexico has been the most important market for American pork for years. The United States exported more than 1 million tons of pork in the first ten months of 2026 alone, representing 41,6% of total exports during that period.
If exports to Mexico become significantly less attractive due to measures, this will have clear consequences for the global market, as these volumes will have to be reallocated elsewhere. For Europe, the consequences will be particularly visible in South Korea and Japan, where competition between American and European exporters is very fierce. For example, the European Union exported approximately 332.500 tons of pork to Japan in 2024, compared to US exports of 336.500 tons. EU exports to South Korea that year amounted to 237.000 tons, compared to 214.500 tons of US pork. Lower US prices in these markets will likely have a greater impact than any new opportunities in Mexico, which, in fact, only amounted to approximately 13.700 tons in 2025.