Mexico increased its meat consumption by 3.1% (which includes chicken, pork, beef, turkey and cold meats), compared to the previous year, adding 9.8 million tons of protein, of which 47% was chicken despite the increase in international prices, which confirms the bird’s food as the favorite of Mexicans, said Ernesto Hermosillo, president of the Mexican Meat Council (Comecarne).
However, pork consumption became more relevant, increasing 7.3% compared to 2021, with 2.9 million tons. Meanwhile, chicken only increased 2.5%, adding 4.6 million tons.
When presenting the 2023 Statistical Compendium of the Mexican Meat Council (Comecarne), Hermosillo reported that Mexico ranks sixth in world consumption of animal protein -with 76 kilograms per capita-, below the United Kingdom (site 5); European Union (4); Brazil (3), Argentina (site 2) and the United States leading the list, with 119 kilograms.
Mexico ranks as the third largest importing country in the world, buying 26.4% of its domestic consumption from abroad, which represents 2.35 million tons. China ranks first and Japan second in the world ranking of importers.
Mexican meat imports presented an increase of 4.9%, compared to the previous year. By increasing the price of chicken, Mexico bought 10.6% more pork from other nations (mainly the United States and Spain) to match the demand, and only 1.4% more beef. Only 0.1% of chicken entered.
The trend for 2023 is that meat consumption in Mexico will continue to increase, and will surpass the United Kingdom in per capita consumption, placing it in fifth position worldwide.
The businessman said that our country is not a large producer, but it is an important consumer of protein.
Meat production increased 2.6% on average during 2022, compared to 2021, adding 7.8 million tons of meat. Of which 3.7 million tons come from chicken; 2.1 million cattle; 1.7 million pig; as well as sheep, goat and turkey.
José Abugaber, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) highlighted that the meat sector represented 2% of the Gross Domestic Product in 2022 and created more than 82,000 jobs, which represents 9% of the jobs generated by the food industry. “It is one of the most affected by the inflationary episode that has occurred worldwide, as well as by the measures taken by the Mexican government to eliminate import tariffs and regulations,” the industrialist noted.
2023, year of stabilization
The president of Comecarne said that 2023 will be the year of stabilization of meat prices, so chicken will once again be the most selected protein among the population given the cost adjustment that it already has, after having gained space on pig.
He added that the market took for granted the impact of the war in Ukraine and the prices of grains and animal feed fell, the exchange rate will push the costs of animal proteins to tend to stabilize. “As long as the dollar remains at 18 pesos, we don’t see escalation of costs,” he said.
Hermosillo called for forceful actions and close and coordinated collaboration between the productive, industrial sector and the government.
It is necessary to increase the budgets to strengthen, reinforce and promote the national supply, which translates into the promotion of small farmers, support financing for national suppliers, guarantees for the granting of credits, “he demanded.
