While China remains the top destination for U.S. ag products overseas, Mexico has steadily increased imports since pandemic interruptions in 2020, according to speakers at the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s webinar last week on global meat and grain markets.

Since 2021, Mexico has been the second-largest buyer of U.S. agricultural products, with corn, soybeans and pork leading the way. Last year, U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico were valued at $28.45 billion, about $10 billion below China’s purchases.

“Mexico has been an absolute home run for meat exports,” noted Dan Halstrom, CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). 

“Demand from Mexico and South America, especially for pork,...