Southeast Advances in Dairy Production to Replace Imports

In Mexico, the dairy sector currently produces over 19.4 billion liters annually, yet it only satisfies 70% of the national demand. This shortfall necessitates the import of 5.82 billion liters, predominantly from the United States, as reported by the National Chamber of Milk Industries (Canilec). The country's southeastern states, like Campeche, Tabasco, and Yucatán, with their rich water resources and arable land, offer promising prospects for boosting local production.

Efforts to diminish import dependency are supported by governmental initiatives, such as a new pasteurization plant in Campeche, expected to be operational by November, following a 140 million peso investment under the Milk Self-Sufficiency Plan. This facility, with a daily processing capacity of 100,000 liters of milk, is intended to stimulate the regional dairy industry.

Conversely, northern states like Chihuahua face industrial and climatic challenges. Despite being capable of processing 3 billion liters annually, their production hovers around 1.5 billion due to harsh arid conditions and insufficient technology. With 95% of producers being small-scale without proper infrastructure, the sector grapples with quality and profitability issues.

Addressing these discrepancies, the Mexican government is investing to foster growth and reduce the need for imports, aiming to elevate production standards and support small producers.