Mexico lifts pseudorabies restrictions on U.S. pork

When it comes to exports of U.S. pork, no other market comes close to the demand in Mexico. Through July, Mexico has imported 665,886 metric tons (mt) of U.S. pork valued at more than $1.5 billion. 

That is nearly double any other market on either the value or volume side. Japan is second on value at $832 million, while China is second on the volume side at 241,826 mt. 

While hams, loins and other muscle cuts are the main export items, pork variety meats also make up a substantial share of Mexican demand. Everything from skins to ears and hearts are used in foodservice, processing and home cooking. A recent ban on U.S. pork offal related to the pseudorabies virus (PRV) had a significant impact on trade. 

Mexico was one of a handful of countries that placed restrictions on U.S. pork following the discovery of PRV in five boars in Iowa in April. 

“It had a really tremendous impact on the trade,” said U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Vice President of Economic Analysis Erin Borror. “When you think about products like skins and jowls, snouts, stomach, tongues, hearts and also any head items like cheeks, those items are critically important for the Mexican industry. And they rely on the U.S. as their dominant supplier of these products. It’s also obviously critically important for the U.S. industry, where Mexico is our No. 2 variety meat market, second only to China. Every week that went by with these restrictions on U.S. offal exports to Mexico, we were looking at $6 million to $7 million in trade that was stopped.” 

After officials in Iowa quickly determined that the PRV incident was limited to the five infected animals, USMEF worked closely with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to get the restrictions in Mexico and elsewhere lifted. Normal trade on pork offal and variety meats resumed in mid-July. A key provision also allowed pipeline products that were processed before the restrictions were lifted to be shipped to Mexico. 

Several other countries followed suit in lifting their own PRV-related restrictions including Colombia, South Korea and Chile. 

While China – the largest destination for U.S. pork variety meat – did not formally impose PRV-related import restrictions, it did for a period of time require 100 percent testing of offal shipments, adding delays and costs for U.S. exporters. Those heightened inspections were lifted at the end of August. 

Even with the temporary trade disruption, exports of U.S. pork are on a strong pace for 2026. Through the first seven months of the year, pork exports were 2 percent above the previous year’s pace at 1.73 million mt, valued at $4.86 billion (up 1 percent). Japan in particular is seeing strong growth with volume increased 16 percent from a year ago to nearly 219,000 mt, valued at $832.1 million (up 11 percent). 

Much of that growth has come through finding new merchandising opportunities for the pork loin – the largest volume item for Japan and a key cut for building value for U.S. pork producers.