As the Mexican market opens for British pork for the first time, Defra has estimated a potential £50 million boost over the first five years of trade.

According to the government department, British farmers and food producers are set to benefit from access to “a valuable new market”, as Mexico has now officially opened its doors to British pork for the first time. The market is believed to boast high demand for “high-quality pork meat.”

In 2020, global UK pork exports were worth over £421 million to the British economy, reaching 75 export markets worldwide. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), access to the Mexican market alone is estimated to be worth £50 million to UK pork producers over the first five years of trade.

This move follows the UK’s recent action in gaining access for UK beef to the USA; UK poultry, beef and lamb to Japan; and pork to Taiwan.

The development follows over four years of negotiations and inspections. The Mexican National Department for Health, Safety and Agricultural and Food Quality (SENASICA) inspected numerous premises throughout the UK during a visit which occurred in February 2020. The visit led to a decision to approve four processing facilities and four associated cold stores in England and Wales.

The UK and Mexico have committed to begin negotiating “a new and ambitious” free trade agreement this year. Defra said that the negotiations aim to complement Britain’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific partnership, a trade network of 11 economies spanning from the Indo-Pacific region to the Americas.

AHDB international market development director Dr Phil Hadley said the announcement was “a fantastic boost” for the UK’s pork industry.

Hadley added: “Pork from the UK is trusted and favoured worldwide due to its exceptional quality, high welfare and food safety standards. This new approval will offer a wealth of opportunities for our exporters and is a testament to the hard work of industry and government to open new markets as we look to the future.”