July 3, 2010

Tyson plans poultry expansion in Brazil

Tyson Foods' subsidiary Tyson do Brasil confirmed it is looking to expand in Brazil's southern region, as well as boost international sales from its three poultry operations in the area.

"Tyson do Brasil's target is to expand domestic market sales in the south region of Brazil, in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul," the company said. "Regarding international sales, our main goal is to get the export certification to all three plants in order to open the market as much as we can."

"We are going to invest here (Brazil), focusing on poultry then adding value with pigs... in a final stage we will enter the beef segment," Tyson do Brasil's president Vitor Hugo Brandalise said.

In 2008, Tyson acquired three poultry companies in southern Brazil to form Tyson do Brasil. Tyson's plan since the purchase has been to vertically integrate the operations to supply domestic growth in addition to serving as an export platform to Europe and other markets, according to the 2009 Tyson Fact Book.

The company has already invested about US$137 million and has a further US$22 million to spend before the end of the current fiscal year in July, according to reports.