August 4, 2020

COFCO Argentina grains plant resumes operation after COVID-19 closure

COFCO's oilseed crushing and export plant in Timbues, Argentina has resumed operations after it was temporarily closed when 12 workers were detected with COVID-19, Reuters reported.

The outbreak was discovered at the sampling station of the plant, where agriculture products are received from the Timbues port facility located on the Parana river. 77 other workers at the sampling station tested negative for the virus.

350 workers are employed at the COFCO Timbues plant, with a yearly capacity of 6.5 million tonnes for grains and oilseeds.

The plant was temporarily closed from July 27 and caused concern in Argentina's grains industry. The sector provides the biggest revenue for the country, especially as it drops deeper into recession because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

Allan Virtanen, global communications director at COFCO International said the plant has resumed major operations, with the sampling station to begin operations by August 5. Virtanen said there is sufficient stocks to crush and load vessels even though the sampling station remains closed.

United States-based Bunge had also temporarily shut down its Argentina plant in Puerto General San Martin after a worker was detected to be infected with COVID-19. A Bunge spokeswoman said operations were back online on July 31 with no other cases detected.

Both the COFCO and Bunge cases were the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in Argentina's grains port facilities.

-      Reuters