Cargill has agreed to sell its animal nutrition operations in Spain and Portugal to Nutreco, with the assets including 12 production facilities and offices.

The sale is subject to the approval of the European Commission competition authority, and is expected to close within the next few weeks.

''Cargill has been in animal nutrition in Spain and Portugal for many years but now we have decided to reassess our portfolio,'' said Joe Stone, president of Cargill's animal nutrition business. ''We are a longstanding provider of raw materials to Nutreco for their animal feed production and will continue to supply them from our other operations in Spain. The sale of the business to Nutreco represents an opportunity to better position it for future success.''

Cargill's animal nutrition business has production facilities in 28 countries worldwide. Its European operations include a wide network of feed mills and premix plants in Italy, Switzerland, Romania, Russia, Hungary, Poland and the Netherlands.

Francisco Irazusta, managing director of Nanta, Nutreco's animal nutrition business in Iberia, said: ''This acquisition will strengthen Nanta with a team of professionals with significant know-how of the business. The addition of this new team will generate important synergies and will enhance the level of the industry in terms of food safety, quality and innovation for the benefit of our existing and new customers.''

Cargill's operations in Spain include grain and oilseeds, starches and sweeteners, malt, edible oils and specialty food ingredients such as texturisers. The company also has an olive oil joint venture with Hojiblanca, named Mercaoleo.

Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services.