Brazil's Aurora shuts meatpacking plant, cuts 218 jobs

Brazilian meatpacker Aurora has axed 218 jobs at its Joacaba slaughtering plant in Brazil's Santa Catarina state, local newspaper Valor Economico reported Friday (Apr 3).

The plant closure will lead to savings of around seven million Brazilian real (US$3.1 million). The plant's capacity to slaughter 1,100 pigs per day will be shifted to two other plants, the newspaper reported.

Aurora blamed the global economic downturn and recent water shortages at the plant for the closure, the newspaper said.

Aurora will maintain its overall capacity to slaughter 12,000 pigs per day in Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul states, Valor reported.

The company was unavailable for further comment.

Brazil is the world's top pig exporter.