Rising demand prompts JBS investment in hamburger production lines
The meat firm will provide R$9m to its Lins unit in the western region of São Paulo for new equipment and to make structural changes to accommodate the machinery. The investment will also allow the business to hire 130 additional staff members to help boost output.
The remaining R$4m figure will be used at its plant in the Osasco area, located in the greater region of São Paulo, to maintain high standards and to modernise its production lines.
JBS said it planned to continue expanding its retail and foodservice operations through ongoing efficiency improvements.
Despite a turbulent 2017 following its corruption scandals across Brazil, the business is reporting rising demand from its other beef business unit JBS Carnes, setting a new record for exports of industrialised products in the first quarter of 2018.
The beef business unit sold 16,800 tonnes (t) of products during the quarter, an average of 5,600t a month, to international markets, including the UK, the US and Hong Kong. Total exports between January and March 2018 were up 33.3% year-on-year.
JBS said working with specialist teams in existing and expanding markets had contributed significantly towards the record results, as well as strong external demand from its customers.
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply also reported a record month for beef exports in March totalling US$591.97m. The main contribution to growth came from successful trading with China, Hong Kong, Egypt and Chile.
