Durazo Celebrates Resumption of Sonoran Cattle Exports to U.S.; Attributes It to Claudia Sheinbaum's Efforts

Sonora, Mexico, is set to become the first state in the country to resume live cattle exports to the United States. The U.S. government has authorized the reopening of the Agua Prieta-Douglas border crossing, with exports slated to begin on August 24.

Governor Alfonso Durazo Montaño credited the reopening to the diplomatic efforts of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo with U.S. authorities. He highlighted that this agreement will revitalize one of the state's primary economic activities, benefiting thousands of livestock producers. Initially, the authorization permits cattle crossings through the Agua Prieta quarantine station, bordering Douglas, Arizona, marking a significant return of commercial trade after a previous closure.

Durazo asserted that Sonora possesses the necessary sanitary conditions and infrastructure for the export resumption. This readiness is the result of coordinated work between federal and state authorities, sanitary organizations, and the livestock sector, alongside investments made to strengthen the quarantine station. The Mexican government plans to continue negotiations for the gradual reopening of other border crossings for cattle exports as sanitary evaluations progress.

Before the border closure, Sonora exported approximately 320,000 head of cattle annually, with Mexico as a whole sending about 1.2 million head to the U.S. market, its primary destination. Durazo described the authorization as long-awaited news for Sonora's cattle ranchers, and further details on the operational aspects of the export restart will be announced soon.

The U.S. suspended cattle imports on November 22, 2024, after screwworm cases were detected near Mexico's southern border. Although Sonora managed to export its first 400 head of cattle on February 6, 2025, following initial restrictions, the border reopening had been intermittent until this latest development.