ALEXANDRIA, VA, August 1, 2024 – The North American Renderers Association (NARA) has joined a coalition of Ag exporters calling on the Biden Administration to direct U.S. agencies to engage with their Mexican counterparts to work collaboratively with railway companies to swiftly address and resolve the capacity constraints that are currently obstructing U.S. agricultural exports.
The association has signed a letter with 25 other organizations, addressed to key U.S. agencies including the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the United States Trade Representative (USTR), further highlighting the urgent need for increased investment and capacity in Mexico’s rail infrastructure.
“Mexico is one of our top export markets for rendered products and the current rail situation impedes our ability to compete with other suppliers in the region,” said NARA President & CEO Kent Swisher. “NARA worked with USDA and USTR to open the Mexico market for U.S. bovine meat and bone meal a few years ago and exports shot up as a result. We are concerned that these rail service issues could erode the progress that we’ve made.”
Last year, the U.S. exported approximately 155,000 metric tons of rendered animal protein meals to Mexico. Ensuring efficient and reliable rail service is crucial to maintaining the strong trade relationship between the U.S. and Mexico and to preventing a shift in Mexican sourcing preferences towards other countries.
