Minerva Foods, a Brazilian protein producer, has announced the purchase of the state-of-the-art Breeders and Packers Uruguay (BPU Meat) abattoir and processing plant for USD 40 million. The deal is pending approval from the Uruguayan authorities.

BPU Meat is one of the most modern meatpacking plants in South America and has a slaughtering capacity of 1,200 cattle per day. 85% of the company’s sales are exported to high-income countries that demand premium products and strict sanitary conditions, such as Europe, the US, Japan, South Korea, and China.

The acquisition makes Minerva Foods the leader in beef production in Uruguay, with a total slaughtering capacity of 3,700 head of cattle per day across four processing plants.

However, farmers associations fear that this concentration of power could lead to collusion in cattle prices. Uruguay is one of the largest global exporters of premium beef, accounting for 5% of the market, and is known for its tradition and quality of products, as well as strict sanitary conditions.