Halal a priority for Brazil’s BRF, seeks partner in Saudi Arabia – report

The halal sector is a “priority” for Brazil’s meatpacking giant BRF, according to a Reuters report on July 19.

The report, in Portuguese, cited BRF chief executive Lorival Luz as saying the priority involves finding a partner for local production in Saudi Arabia.

“We want a partnership to solidify our position there …  where we can get in with our distribution,” Reuters cited Luz as saying.

Luz visited the Gulf region in the first half of this year and is expected to return in the second.

“The goal is not to put money into a non-cash partnership,” said Luz.

He also referred to Saudi Arabia’s strategic plan to reduce imports and increase local food production.

“We are talking to different groups that produce locally and are interested in making investments there,” said the CEO.

BRF suffered three consecutive annual losses, bleeding a combined 5.9 billion reais ($1.58 billion) through 2018, according to the report. 

The company expects to soon receive as many as four new export permits to sell chicken and pork to China, which could help its turnaround, it added.

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