With a steady increase over the past five years in U.S. pork imports to Mexico, this figure reached a record high from January through April 2026, totaling $748 million.
The Mexican market thus recorded a year-over-year increase of 5.9% in the first four months of this year and remained the top destination for U.S. pork exports worldwide.
Driven by the meat and restaurant sectors, pork in Mexico is prominent in sausages, industrially processed products, and traditional cuisine. Its consumption is growing because it is a highly cost-competitive protein, versatile for food innovation, and has an improved nutritional profile.
Trend in U.S. Pork Imports
Consumption of U.S. pork in Mexico has skyrocketed from $1,013 million in 2018 to $2,419 million.
Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Illinois rank among the leading pork-producing states in the United States and play a key role in supplying the Mexican market. Mexico is a strategic destination for U.S. exports of pork legs and shoulders. Politically, Iowa and North Carolina lean predominantly Republican, while Minnesota and Illinois are predominantly Democratic.
The following table shows the trend in U.S. pork imports to Mexico, in millions of dollars:
- 2018: 1,013.
- 2019: 974.
- 2020: 922.
- 2021: 1,355.
- 2022: 1,736.
- 2023: 1,988.
- 2024: 2,212.
- 2025: 2,419.
Diversified Markets
Other destinations for U.S. exports of this product from January through April 2026 included Japan, with $415 million and a year-over-year increase of 11.9%, followed by South Korea (254 million, -0.4%), Canada (123 million, +18.3%), and the Dominican Republic (113 million, +37.8 percent).
The United States dominates due to low fixed costs, driven by record-breaking corn and soybean production, along with competitive swine genetics. Logistically, its direct rail connectivity and land proximity to Mexico ensure freshness, immediacy, and large-scale deliveries.
Pork resonates emotionally with Mexicans through culinary identity and family nostalgia. It evokes weekends spent together, community celebrations, and the cultural roots of iconic dishes such as tacos de pastor, carnitas, and pozole.
According to the most recent projection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), pork consumption in Mexico will reach 2.8 million metric tons carcase weight equivalent (MMT CWE) in 2026, while imports will total around 1.6 million metric tons.
Worldwide, U.S. pork exports fell 2.7% in 2025, to 6,375 million dollars.
But in the first four months of 2026, these exports grew 4.2% compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 2,201 million dollars.