Pilgrim’s Pride to Invest US$1.3 Billion in Mexico

The Ministry of Economy (SE) announced that Pilgrim’s Pride will execute a US$1.3 billion investment through 2030.  The company aims to generate over 4,000 jobs and help offset the deficit in chicken production in Mexico. This capital deployment is part of Plan México and aims to strengthen domestic production to achieve food security, said Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard. "Mexico will stop 35% of its total chicken imports. Chicken will be produced in our country; this is one of the main objectives of Plan México,” Ebrard added.

The investment is divided into three geographical zones. In the North, the company will spend US$200 million in Durango and Coahuila to modernize plants and install solar and biogas infrastructure. In the Central region, US$150 million will be allocated for technological upgrades in Queretaro and Hidalgo. The largest portion of US$950 million is designated for the South, specifically Veracruz, Campeche, and Yucatan, to double production capacity and establish a new center in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where the company will build a new food plant and an incubator.

This expansion will increase annual production by 373,000t and create over 4,000 direct jobs in rural communities. "We are increasing production capacity by more than 373,000t per year, which represents a 38% growth for our company in Mexico," said José de Jesús Muñoz, President and Director General, Pilgrim's Mexico.

The company currently employs 12,600 people in Mexico and supports 50,000 indirect positions across its supply chain. "These are jobs brought to rural communities where it is not easy to generate employment," said Muñoz, adding that the company is also creating opportunities for its team to grow, allowing for the creation of new supervisors and managers who can build a career within the company.

Chicken Consumption in Mexico

According to the Mexican Council of Meat (COMECARNE), chicken consumption in Mexico reached 4.9Mt in 2024, representing a 2.3% increase compared to 2023. However, the sector experienced a deceleration during the second half of the year as weak internal production led to price increases.

In terms of trade, Mexico’s chicken meat volume totaled 1.06Mt in 2024. This figure was heavily dominated by imports, which rose 1.3% to reach 1.04Mt, while exports contracted by 6.3%, falling to just 2,000t.

The primary source of Mexican chicken imports was the United States, which accounted for 59.1% of the country’s imports. The country was followed by Brazil, with 36%; Chile, with 4.2%; and Argentina, with only 0.002%.