US Cattle Border Reopens as Beef Prices Hit Record Highs and Egg Costs Set to Fall

The USDA will resume Mexican cattle imports through Douglas, Arizona on 24 August in a phased, inspection-heavy reopening, as the US beef sector contends with a 75-year low cattle herd and all-time high wholesale prices — while egg markets head in the opposite direction with a steep projected retreat.

The United States will begin a phased reopening of its southern border to Mexican cattle imports on 24 August, starting at the Douglas-Agua Prieta crossing in Arizona following a closure of more than a year triggered by the New World screwworm outbreak. The USDA said every animal entering through reopened crossings will undergo full inspection for signs of screwworm infestation, with subsequent reopening of the Santa Teresa and Columbus crossings in New Mexico contingent on improving risk assessments.

The resumption comes at a critical moment for US beef markets. The USDA’s Economic Research Service July Food Price Outlook reports the US cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in 75 years, keeping wholesale beef values at all-time highs for this time of year. With domestic supply severely constrained, Mexican cattle imports represent an important relief valve for feedlots and processors already operating under sustained margin pressure.

The egg market tells a contrasting story. After a prolonged period of elevated prices driven by HPAI-related flock losses, the USDA projects a steep retreat in egg costs — a rare piece of positive news for food inflation-weary consumers and food service operators.

Together, the two trends illustrate the uneven recovery of US animal agriculture: beef remains structurally tight with no near-term supply resolution in sight, while poultry sectors are beginning to stabilise as flock rebuilding takes effect.