Market Information
Latin America and Caribbean

Overview of the Mexican Goat Sector

Prepared by Agriculture Section - Alejandro Ruiz, Commercial Officer
Canadian Embassy, Mexico

Production

The total stock of live goats in Mexico is around 9 million heads. The Mexican States that report the highest level of stocks are: Puebla (15.5%), Oaxaca (12.0%), San Luis Potosí (10.6%) and Guerrero (7.9%).

Mexico does not have a significant production of goat meat. Actually, the production of goat meat represents just about 1% of the total production of meats.

The production of goat meat in Mexico is mainly developed in low income areas which lack technology, infrastructure, quality animal food and proper sanitary measures.

On the early 90's, the goat meat production in Mexico showed a positive pattern, reaching an historic record of 43 thousand tons on 1992. However since 1993, the production had a continuous fall that lasted until 1998, when it started to show a slight recovery that has maintained until present. The annual average growth rate showed by Mexico's goat meat production during the period 1990-2001 was 0.7%.

 *Annual Average Growth Rate.
Source: Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture.

Most of the goat meat is produced on the Northern States of Mexico, mainly in Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Durango, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas which together supply about 40% of the total production. Other important producers of this meat are Oaxaca with a 10% share and Puebla with a 9% share.

Goat milk production in Mexico is also very small, It only represents about 1.5% of the total milk produced. During the period 1990-2001, goat milk moved from 124.4 to 139.9 million litters with an annual average growth rate of 1.1%.

 *Annual Average Growth Rate.
Source: Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture.

The main Mexican States that produce goat milk are Coahuila with a share of 37% in the total production, Durango (30%) and Guanajuato (23%).

Prices

During the period 1990-2000, the domestic prices of live goats and goat meat showed a significant increase.

In the case of live goats, the price moved from 4.32 MX pesos/Kg. in 1990 to 15.32 MX pesos/Kg. in 2002, showing a annual average growth rate of 13.5%. Regarding goat meat, the price changed from 10.71 MX pesos/Kg. in 1990 to 31.03 MX pesos/Kg. in 2000 with a annual average growth rate of 11.2%.

 *Annual Average Growth Rate.
Source: SNIM.

Consumption

There is a low consumption of goat meat in Mexico, basically because of the population consumption patterns, which are heavily oriented to beef, pork and poultry. Most of the goat meat is sold at local or regional markets and in small quantities at big cities.

During the last years, total consumption of goat meat in Mexico increased from 37 thousand tons on 1990 to 39.8 thousand tons on 2001. However, considering the population growth rate, the average annual per capita consumption declined from 0.46 kgs. on 1990 to 0.40 kgs. on 2001.

 *Annual Average Growth Rate.
Source: Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture.

Trade

Under NAFTA, Canadian exports of goat meat to Mexico are subject to an import duty of 1% for 2002 and will have duty free access on 2003. Canadian goat dairy products, were excluded form any preferential treatment under NAFTA.

Mexico has a low dependency on goat meat imports because of the static domestic demand and a minimum foreign offer, basically restrained by sanitary issues. It is important to remark that goats are subject to a national campaign against bruscelossis in Mexico.

During the period 1990-1994, Mexican imports of live goats maintained relatively stable between 50 and 60 thousand heads. On 1996, they reached an historic level of 116 thousand heads with a value of 1.9 million US$. However, since 1997 they have been declining to reach a level of 39 thousand heads on 2001 with a value of 2.4 million dollars.

 *Annual Average Growth Rate.
Source: Mexican Secretariat of Economy.

The U.S. supplies more than 90% of total Mexican imports of live goats. About 2% of these imports are live goats with pedigree or high registration certificate. In these particular types of goats, Canada has increased its market share in the Mexican market. Actually, on 2001, it exported 240 heads with a value of 44 thousand dollars, which represented about 50% of the total Mexican imports of these types of goats.

Likewise, Mexican imports of goat meat have been falling. On 1990, total imports of this product amounted 311 metric tons with a value of 419 thousand US$; while on 2001, they only summed 50 metric tons with a value of 96 thousand US$. These figures indicate a negative annual average growth rate of -15.3% considering the quantity and -12.6% considering the value during the analyzed period.

Australia supplies about 80% of the Mexican imports of goat meat and the rest is supplied by the United States. Mexico does not report any imports of goat meat from Canada.

*Annual Average Growth Rate.
Source: Mexican Secretariat of Economy.