Mexico is being placed more centrally in Canada’s beef export planning, according to Canada Beef’s regional director, Claudia Herrera Blanc. At the Annual Meat Industry Convention 2026 in Punta Mita, Nayarit, Herrera said Mexico helps spread export risk. She called the bilateral relationship a priority. The message comes as uncertainty builds ahead of the 2026 review of the Mexico–United States–Canada Agreement. Herrera said Mexico represented about 7% of Canadian beef exports, making it Canada’s third-largest destination. She said Mexico imported about 320,000 tonnes of beef last year and Canada supplied about 7.5% of that. For 2025, she put Canadian shipments to Mexico near 24,000 tonnes, valued at $256 million. She said the year’s volume rose 7% and value rose 35%. For residents in Mexico, including many expatriates, the numbers matter because imported beef is part of the supply mix. Any shift in sourcing can affect what retailers and restaurants stock.
Mexico’s share is about 7%, but it sits inside a concentrated export picture. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada estimates Canada shipped 494,358 tonnes of beef and veal in 2024, valued at $4.9 billion. The same tables show that the United States accounted for about 76% of exports that year. That dependence is why Mexico attracts attention as a nearby market under the regional pact. Mexico also offers shorter routes than most overseas markets. That can matter for chilled beef programs. In 2024, government figures show exports to Mexico fell 10.7% from 2023.
The 2025 numbers point to a rebound. Through November 2025, Canada’s beef and veal exports to Mexico totaled about 29.9 million kilograms, worth about C$304.7 million. That was up 11% by weight and 25% by value from the same period in 2024. Product definitions and currencies can shift totals across datasets. Even so, Mexico remains one of Canada’s three largest beef destinations.
Mexico’s import growth draws suppliers
Mexico’s rising import demand is also part of the equation. An agricultural market consultancy estimated Mexico imported 317,015 tonnes of beef in 2025, up 21.8% from 2024. The report linked the jump to lower domestic supply and other constraints in the cattle sector. Against that backdrop, Herrera’s estimate of 24,000 tonnes shipped in 2025 puts Canada near 7.5% of Mexico’s imports. For Canada, that volume supports marketing and distribution while leaving room for growth.
For Mexico, more suppliers can help stabilize availability when domestic production tightens. For expat households, that can mean more Canadian-origin labels in supermarkets and club stores, often on higher-priced cuts. Canadian officials also cited an October 2025 launch in 42 Costco stores across Mexico. Still, import flows respond quickly to price and exchange rate changes. A stronger peso can make imports cheaper, while drought-driven herd changes can pull supply the other way. Demand remains price sensitive.
Traceability and grading as selling points
Herrera’s pitch to Mexican buyers leaned on process as much as price. She highlighted a traceability system that tracks cattle from birth to slaughter or export. In Canada, cattle leaving the farm of origin must carry an approved identification ear tag, including RFID options. That creates a national ID number that can be scanned and recorded during movements. For importers, traceability supports recall readiness and helps verify compliance with animal health requirements.
Canada also points to federal food inspection, with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency overseeing meat safety rules. On the quality side, Canada uses carcass grading that separates yield and eating quality. The Canadian Beef Grading Agency says quality grades cover eating traits, while yield grades estimate retail cut output. For Mexican retailers and food service buyers, that can translate into more consistent specifications. It can also help restaurants and butchers describe cuts to customers, including visitors and long-term residents. The approach does not eliminate price swings, but it aims to reduce surprises in size, trim, and eating quality.
T-MEC review adds uncertainty
The trade backdrop is shifting even as exporters seek growth. The regional trade pact contains a review and extension mechanism in its Article 34.7. On the sixth anniversary of its entry into force, the three governments must meet for a joint review. That date falls on July 1, 2026. At the review, each government must confirm in writing whether it wants to extend the agreement for another 16 years. If any party does not confirm, the pact stays in place, but annual reviews follow until it expires in 2036.
Canadian officials have said they want the process to end with a continued trilateral agreement. A Canadian trade mission to Mexico this week included more than 370 delegates and focused on building commercial ties. Herrera framed beef exports as part of that wider push. For Mexico-based consumers, the question is how much uncertainty shows up in prices. Tariffs or new border frictions could raise the cost of imported food, including beef.