U.S. to reopen Santa Teresa port for Mexican cattle imports

The United States is set to reopen the Santa Teresa port in New Mexico to live cattle imports from Mexico on September 24. The port had been closed earlier in 2024 due to concerns regarding the spread of the New World screwworm. This facility is significant as it previously handled nearly 40% of U.S. cattle imports from Mexico.

The reopening is already impacting regional markets. In Coahuila, Mexico, cattle prices have risen by approximately 18% due to the gradual resumption of border exports. Jesús María Montemayor Garza, head of the state's Rural Development Secretariat, noted that high-quality 200kg specimens now exceed 90 pesos per kilogram.

To manage biological risks, the U.S. is implementing biosecurity measures, including the release of sterile male flies to control the screwworm population. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also evaluating the potential reopening of other ports, such as Columbus in New Mexico and Nogales in Arizona, to further stabilize the meat processing industry and consumer prices.