October 8, 2007

Brazil's Grupo Bertin to pour US$125 million for new facility

Brazilian beef company Grupo Bertin said Friday (October 5) that it plans to invest 230 million Brazilian reals (US$125 million) in the Mato Grosso state.

Mato Grosso is Brazil's second cattle ranching state behind southern neighbour Mato Grosso do Sul. This is Bertin's third investment in the state.

The company signed an agreement with Mato Grosso to build a new meat packing facility in the centre of the state.

In the protocol agreement, Bertin said, along side with the government, it would build an additional biodiesel unit near the facility and a "wet-blue", finished and semi-finished leather factory as well.

The meatpacking facility will cost about BRL130 million and have the capacity to slaughter 3,000 bovines daily for local and international beef consumption.

The biodiesel unit will require an estimated BRL50 million and produce roughly 100 million litres of biodiesel made from beef fat.

Brazil is the world's No. 1 beef exporter.