April 1, 2016

SuKarne opens world's largest beef processing plant

Mexico-based SuKarne has opened what is being described as the world's largest beef processing plant, a 10-billion-peso (US$580-million) facility in Tlahualilo, Durango, Mexico News Daily reports.

The Agroparque Integradora SuKarne Lucero has the capacity to feed 300,000 head of cattle daily and will provide 3,552 and 2,368 direct and indirect jobs respectively.

It will also provide business opportunities to 18,000 potential suppliers, from agricultural producers to cattle ranchers.

Durango governor Jorge Herrera Caldera said that three years ago the state had the capacity to produce only 3,000 tonnes of yellow corn annually.

Today it can produce 25,000 tonnes to supply the new plant, a quantity that represents 35-40% of its requirements. The rest will be imported from the United States.

The governor said that farmers can benefit from the opportunities created by planting yellow corn under contract at a fixed minimum price.

The 474-hectare site will not only produce beef for export to Europe and Asia, but will also produce 250,000 tonnes a year of organic fertiliser and 45,000 tonnes of meat-and-bonemeal and fat.

SuKarne is a multinational corporation whose exports of beef, pork and chicken represent 76% of the market.

Mexico is the world's eighth largest beef producer, and the second largest exporter of live cattle.