What changed
2026-10-14 02:51 UTC → 2026-10-28 17:00 UTC ·
added
removed
The Unión Ganadera Regional de Chihuahua (UGRCH) continues Following a 21-month suspension due to expand New World screwworm concerns, cattle exports from Chihuahua to the United States following resumed at the Santa Teresa port on September 24, 2026. The reopening of was facilitated by enhanced sanitary measures, including the San Jerónimo-Santa use of detector dogs, radiofrequency readers, and redesigned pre-inspection lines to mitigate biological risks. Initial export volumes at Santa Teresa crossing. began with approximately 800 head per day, with plans to scale up to 1,500 animals daily by the fourth week. To support this growth, manage these flows, the UGRCH Unión Ganadera Regional de Chihuahua (UGRCH) implemented a ‘mirror operation’ to shift capacity from quarantine zones to pre-inspection areas, aiming to reduce accumulation times. Capacity at areas. While the Santa Teresa crossing has recently increased seen capacity increases to 1,200 head per day, a 9% rise from the previous week. Despite this increase, trade activity has shown fluctuations; while fluctuated, with weekly totals reached reaching 1,350 head, individual head despite some days have seen seeing as few as 400 animals crossing. This uneven flow is noted against animals. On October 26, 2026, the port’s historical role Palomas–Columbus border crossing also reopened for livestock exports. On its first day of handling operation, approximately 40% 700 head of Mexican feeder cattle entering the U.S. Further expansion is scheduled for October 26 with the reopening crossed, utilizing a portion of the Palomas–Columbus border crossing. port’s 1,400-head daily capacity. This marks the third port is expected to incorporate 800 additional daily spaces. If successful, the combined capacity of Santa Teresa and Puerto Palomas could reach 2,000 cattle per day. Álvaro Iván Bustillos Fuentes, president of the UGRCH, has encouraged producers in ‘Block One’ with tested resume imports under new protocols involving mandatory testing and castrated animals to begin scheduling crossings. vaccinations. The finalization UGRCH is working to gradually expand total capacity, with long-term goals of the Palomas reopening remains pending formal communication reaching 2,500 head daily through coordinated efforts between Mexico’s SENASICA and the U.S. Department USDA. The resumption of Agriculture (USDA). trade aims to support Chihuahuan producers and assist in rebuilding drought-depleted U.S. herds.