Frimesa opens largest pork plant in Latin America

Frimesa
The Brazilian cooperative Frimesa invested €230 million to slaughter 550 pigs per hour. Photos: Frimesa

Frimesa inaugurated the largest pork plant in Latin America last december. It is situated in Assis Chateaubriand, Paraná state, The plant has an initial daily slaughter capacity for 7,880 animals, which is equivalent to 550 animals per hour or 1,800 of meat tonnes/day.

The project received € 230 million in investments, and may generate 8,500 direct and indirect jobs. The expected start of activities is in March 2023, with estimated revenues of € 1 billion per year.

Frimesa believes that the new plant will triple its pork production, since the new structure will reduce distance and transport costs. This might happen in 3 steps.

After the start of operations, between 2023 and 2025, the production estimate is 3,700 animals per day. Between 2026 and 2028, this number should rise to 7,800 head.

In the third stage, between 2029 and 2031, the goal is to reach more than 11,000 animals per day after further structural investments. As of 2032, the goal is for the number to rise to 15,000 pigs processed per day.

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Key piece

Frimesa says that the project is a key piece for the future of the pork production chain with regard to its associated growers.

The choice of location for the new unit was made because of the concentration of producers in that region. Assis Chateaubriand is about 150 kilometers away from the headquarters, in Medianeira city.

“As we bring more people to the region, one thing leads to another. In a few years we will have a radical change because we create opportunities for working and generating wealth for everyone in Assis Chateaubriand”, highlighted Valter Vanzella, director-president of Frimesa.

Export is growing

Frimesa still focuses on the domestic market, however, the cooperative’s exports have grown from 5% to 25% of the total produced since some years for now.

“Our production chain is organised, has a traceability system, and we have plans to grow. This new agro industry has solutions of 200 different companies. The work lasted three years and now we have achieved an encouraging outcome for everyone”, he added.

Azevedo
Daniel Azevedo Freelance journalist Brazil