Browse Data and Analysis

Mexican cattle exports to the United States resumed in February 2025 after a 70-day pause due to a New World screwworm detection.

India’s 2025 beef production (mostly carabeef) is forecast at 4.64 million metric ton (MMT), up from 4.57 MMT in 2024. The large cattle inventory, Post forecasts at 307.5 million head in 2025, is expected to continue facilitating the increased slaughter and carabeef production.

India’s 2025 beef production (mostly carabeef) is forecast to reach 4.64 million metric tons (MMT), up from 4.57 MMT in 2024, on steady domestic and increased export demand.

In 2025, high domestic meat demand and lower prices of animal feed for both cattle and swine are expected to drive up overall cattle, beef, pig crop, and pork production. Despite relatively high inflation levels for food products, beef consumption is expected to grow as consumers shift purchases to more affordable meat cuts.

The 2023 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2023 calendar year.

Lower feed prices are expected to boost producer profits in 2024, thereby increasing domestic beef and pork production. Beef imports are forecast to decrease, and pork imports are expected to remain nearly flat.

FAS New Delhi (Post) forecasts India's market year (MY) 2024 (January-December) cattle herd at 307.42 million head, up marginally from 307.4 million head in 2023. A gradual pace of growth is likely to persist in the short- to medium-term.

FAS New Delhi (Post) in market year 2024 (January-December) forecasts India’s national cattle herd growing to 307.6 million head, up by some 135 thousand head from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) official 2023 estimate of 307.5 million head.

Beef and pork production in 2024 is forecast to increase due to stronger producer returns from lower feed prices, as well as increased domestic and international demand.

The 2022 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2022 calendar year.

The expansion of India’s dairy sector is driving the increase in the cattle (both bovine and Asian domestic water buffalo) herd numbers. In marketing year (MY) 2023 (January-December) herd numbers have grown to 307.5 million head as compared to 306.7 million head in 2022.

In 2023, Mexico’s beef production is forecast to slightly increase, but faces slower consumption growth on a year-to-year basis as food inflation soars. As herd numbers increase, overall cattle slaughter is expected to rise. Carcass weights are expected to marginally decrease in 2023 and are offset by larger slaughter numbers of slightly younger animals.