Pork market in Guatemala

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, the pork market in Guatemala saw initial regulatory and structural shifts. The closure of the Santa Catarina Pinula slaughterhouse increased demand for processing at the national company Cecarsa, prompting investments to expand its daily slaughter capacity by about 120 pigs and upgrade chilling facilities for carcasses. Concurrently, the implementation of Ministerial Agreement 63-2017 established a registry for pig farms, strengthening oversight of production units. However, by 2019–2020, market volume experienced a modest decline, partly influenced by disruptions in local trade due to the disappearance of the San Pedro Sacatepéquez market from illegal pig inflows from Mexico and the relocation of the San Pedro Carchá market to a suburban area.

A turning point arrived in 2021, when the market volume jumped to 65 182 t. This surge was primarily driven by growing consumer demand for fresh, high-quality pork cuts, as Guatemalan buyers became more health-conscious and selective in their food choices. Despite persistent smuggling of pork from Mexico—which reached up to 40 trucks weekly and pressured prices—the legal market expanded significantly on the back of this heightened domestic appetite.

The growth trajectory continued through 2022 and 2023, with market volume reaching 67 523 t and then 74 676 t. This was underpinned by a rise in domestic production, which surpassed 83 000 t due to increased technification in the sector and the entry of new commercial farms. Enhanced sanitary controls under updated Ministerial Agreement No. 190-2018 helped keep the country free of classical and African swine fever, protecting national output. Additionally, updated labeling regulations for prepackaged foods, emphasizing nutritional information and expiration dates, improved transparency for consumers.

Production pork in Guatemala

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of pork, 2017-2020

World map of production of pork, 2017-2020

In 2020, Guatemala produced 40 257 tons of pork, marking a modest year-over-year increase of 0.7%. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, overall production declined by 3.4%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 1.2%. The lowest production level during this timeframe occurred in 2019, with 39 958 tons, while the peak was reached in 2018 at 42 781 tons. The most significant drop in production happened in 2019, when output fell by 6.6%. Conversely, the strongest growth was observed in 2018, with a 2.6% increase.

Annual dynamics of production in Guatemala in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports pork from Guatemala

According to industry analysis, Guatemala did not export any pork between 2017 and 2020.

Imports pork to Guatemala

Imports in kind, t

Following two consecutive years of growth, Guatemala's pork import volumes experienced a downturn. In 2020, imports totaled 14 214 tons, representing a 10.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the four-year span from 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 23.9%, averaging an annual growth rate of 7.4%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 15 816 tons, with the most substantial increase occurring in 2018, when imports surged by 24.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Guatemala in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the pork import market in Guatemala was characterized by high concentration, with the United States accounting for 99.7% of all imports in volume terms.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of expansion, the value of pork imports into Guatemala declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 33 956 thousand US dollars, reflecting an 11.1% drop from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import values increased by 16.6%, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 5.2%. The peak value was achieved in 2019 at 38 184 thousand US dollars, while the largest year-over-year increase took place in 2018, with a rise of 14.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Guatemala in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017–2020 period, the United States dominated the geographic structure of Guatemala's pork imports in value terms, holding a 99.8% share of total import flows.

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

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