USDA data shows 71.3% drop in Mexican beef cattle imports for 2026

Mexican cattle shipments to the United States fell 71.3 percent in the first ten months of 2026, according to data released by the USDA. The agency recorded 65,409 Mexican beef cattle entering the country from January through October 30, 2026. That total compares to 228,194 head during the same period in 2025.

The Mexican Meat Council, known as Comecarne, cited a much lower daily pace in a press conference held this week. The group reported that only 22,000 head have been exported since trade resumed. That figure equates to an average of 364 animals per day over the last 60 days. This rate sits 76 percent below the 1,500 head per day target that the Mexican government initially projected after the border reopened.

Weekly USDA figures indicate a slight recent uptick in volume. The agency logged 13,636 animals entering the market between October 26 and October 30. That number is higher than the 10,647 head recorded in the previous week. Mexican agricultural authorities, specifically Senasica, stated on October 26 that daily flow through active crossings had reached approximately 3,500 head.

The recovery has been uneven due to phased relocations at the border. Douglas, Arizona, reopened on August 24. Santa Teresa, New Mexico, followed on September 24. Columbus, New Mexico, opened on October 26. All three locations operate with reinforced inspections to monitor for the cattle tick parasite. Nogales is scheduled to resume operations on November 30.

Trade shifts have altered the balance of exports. Comecarne noted that restrictions on live cattle have driven a 20.1 percent increase in Mexican beef meat exports from January to September. Pork exports rose 15.5 percent over the same period. The council urged the government to finalize new import quotas for 2027 before the end of the year. Current quotas for pork and beef are only 50 to 60 percent utilized, a gap attributed to administrative and transport delays.

The existing quota system expires on December 31. Comecarne warned that proteins falling outside these quotas could face costs up to 75 percent higher for chicken and over 20 percent higher for beef and pork. The council linked these potential cost increases to higher prices for consumers and broader inflationary pressure.