Mexican pork industry at a crossroads

The Mexican swine industry finds itself at a crossroads. The industry’s transformation from a low-tech, fragmented production sector into a globally competitive pork supplier in just a few decades is laudable. Yet in order to meet future market expectations and provide consistent financial results, the sector must continue its modernization process.

The industry has two main options as it looks to the future, according to Rabobank. Through additional investment, it has an opportunity to stabilize production and to generate more predictable financial returns if it proceeds to:

• accelerate investments in biosecurity and worker skills and capabilities,
• consolidate weaker players and move toward further vertical integration, and
• raise carcass values through sales of higher value, convenience products and growth in exports.

Alternatively, if the appetite for further investment has been exhausted, the industry can pause on its modernization pathway, leaving itself exposed to the volatility that has been associated with herd health challenges and the tighter margins associated with inconsistent pork quality.