Market research

Pork market in Central America

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Central America" region includes following countries:

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the Central American pork market was influenced by Mexican import quota regulations, which allowed duty-free imports to manage supply and prices. This period saw market volume reach 2 202 thousand tonnes in 2019 before contracting to 2 098 thousand tonnes in 2020, a shift that occurred alongside these ongoing trade controls.

The market entered a phase of strong expansion after 2020, growing by 27% to 2 672 thousand tonnes in 2021 and reaching 3 134 thousand tonnes by 2023. This surge was primarily driven by shifting consumer preferences toward fresh, nutritious meat products and the region's continued reliance on imports to meet domestic demand, factors that became particularly evident from 2022 onward.

The consumer trend favoring fresh and chilled pork products further supported market growth in 2023. Looking ahead, a new import quota of 51 thousand tonnes was established for 2024, designed to regulate pork supply into the regional market until the end of 2026.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Central America
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production pork in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of pork, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of pork, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Central America's pork production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 1 818 thousand tons of pork, representing a modest year-over-year increase of 3.0%. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 12.5%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 4.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.3%	4.7%	3.0%	4.0%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

After two years of growth, Central America's pork production value declined. In 2020, pork output was valued at 5 149 million US dollars, showing little change compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production value increased by 16.9%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 5.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 5 157 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 13.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.2%	13.4%	(0.2%)	5.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports pork from Central America

Exports in kind, K t

Central America's pork export volumes have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 323.8 thousand tons, marking a significant year-over-year rise of 36.2%. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 72.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 19.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.2%	21.3%	36.2%	19.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Japan accounted for 70.7% of Central America's total pork exports by volume, while the remainder was spread across various smaller trading partners.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Central America's pork export value has risen for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 917 million US dollars, reflecting a substantial year-over-year increase of 32.0%. From 2017 to 2020, export value grew by 78.9%, corresponding to an annualized rate of 21.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.1%	31.4%	32.0%	21.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Japan remained the primary destination for Central America's pork exports, representing 70.4% of total export value, with the rest distributed among other countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports pork to Central America

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Central America's pork import volume stood at 603.1 thousand tons, down 10.5% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 7.5%, with an average annual decline of 2.6%. The peak volume was recorded in 2019 at 674.0 thousand tons, which also saw the largest increase of 6.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.8%)	6.4%	(10.5%)	(2.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States supplied 87.5% of Central America's pork imports by volume, while the remaining imports came from a diverse group of smaller countries.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Central America's pork import value was 1 548 million US dollars, declining by 10.5% year-over-year. The lowest value during this period was in 2018 at 1 490 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2019 at 1 731 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 16.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.3%)	16.1%	(10.5%)	(0.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States accounted for 87.3% of Central America's pork import value, with the remainder sourced from a broad range of smaller countries.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io