June 2, 2011

Tyson Brazil to export poultry to EU

The Brazilian unit of US group Tyson Foods, Tyson do Brasil, has been qualified by the Agriculture Ministry to export chicken from its facility in the southern state of Paraná to the EU.

The plant, based in the municipality of Campo Mourão, currently exports chicken to the Middle East, Japan and Hong Kong. It is responsible for 40% of Tyson's exports from Brazil.

"Brazil is the world's largest chicken exporter. We want to be among options of Brazilian exporters and Campo Mourão is crucial in our strategy to develop new external markets," Tyson's commercial director Raphael Martins said in the statement.

In addition to the Paraná plant, Tyson do Brasil has two facilities in Santa Catarina state and five distribution centres. By 2013, the company plans to be producing about 800,000 chickens a day in Brazil.