

Mexico blocked all shipments from the world’s largest pork plant in North Carolina due to concerns about the quality of hog skins from the Smithfield Foods facility, the company said on Monday.
The halt in shipments from the plant in Tar Heel, in eastern North Carolina, is a hit to the U.S. pork sector. The facility became ineligible to export to Mexico last Wednesday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Mexico was the biggest export market for U.S. pork by volume before being surpassed by China in 2020. A major buyer of hams, Mexico in 2019 purchased about 708,00 metric tons of U.S. pork worth nearly $1.3 billion.
Smithfield, owned by Hong Kong-listed WH Group, said the halt is temporary and the company is working with authorities to resume shipments from Tar Heel. The plant can slaughter about 34,500 hogs a day, about 7% of total U.S. slaughtering, according to industry estimates.
Mexico had concerns about the quality of a specific lot of hog skins the plant sold to a third-party company based in the United States, said Keira Lombardo, Smithfield’s chief administrative officer. The third-party company ultimately exported the skins to Mexico, she said.
“We have conducted a thorough internal inquiry and have determined that the issue originates with the third-party company, not with Smithfield nor the facility,” Lombardo said.
Lombardo did not identify the third-party company in a statement.
The press office for Mexico’s Agriculture Ministry said health safety agency Senasica was reviewing the matter. The office said it could not confirm the agency’s role, if any, in the plant becoming ineligible to ship products to Mexico.
Smithfield, the world’s biggest pork processor, has multiple U.S. plants and could ship pork to Mexico from facilities other than Tar Heel if necessary, said Steve Meyer, economist for consultancy Partners for Production Agriculture.
“I don’t get real worried about one plant on a multi-plant firm, even though it’s still not a good thing,” Meyer said.
Source: Reuters
more recommended stories
Netflix Casting in Yucatan and Quintana Roo! They’re looking for you!
Yucatan and Quintana Roo will be.
2 journalists and a former municipal official disappear in Bacalar, Quintana Roo
BACALAR, QRoo, March 18, 2023.- Three.
Mérida Metropolitan Circuit will continue to be free of charge for people with disabilities
MÉRIDA, Yucatan, March 17, 2023. –.
10 deaths in 10 days due to traffic accidents in Yucatán
The last 10 days for Yucatan.
INDEMAYA promotes the identity and traditions of Yucatán
MÉRIDA, Yucatan, March 19, 2023.- In.
Archaeological treasure discovered in Chichén Itzá
March 18.- A disc was found.
Mayan Train provokes arrival of illegal dump trucks in Chetumal, warning
Dumpers’ syndicates warned of the arrival.
Fugitive kidnapper captured in Yucatán
MÉRIDA March 19.- A fugitive from.
Mexican banks at the Merida Convention: “The Mexican system is not contaminated”
Fears of global banking spread by.
Suspect on trial for femicide in Chichimilá
Following the death of a woman.
Leave a Comment