BRF to build US$160M meat processing plant in Saudi Arabia
The facility is to be located in Jeddah, with production aimed at Saudi and regional markets. The project is a joint venture with BRF and Saudi Arabia’s Halal Products Development Company
SAUDI ARABIA – Brazil-based food company BRF is investing up to US$160 million in a new meat processing facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The company revealed the plan on April 21 through an official statement and a market notice posted on its investor relations page.
The project will be executed through BRF Arabia Holding Company, a partnership between BRF and Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), a firm owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
According to BRF, the plant is expected to start operations in mid-2026 and will produce around 40,000 tonnes annually of halal-certified beef and poultry products.
Initial output from the facility will primarily serve the Saudi market, although BRF states it is open to supplying other regional markets as demand increases.
The plant has been designed to accommodate future growth, with infrastructure in place to double the current production capacity if required.
Once operational, this facility will become BRF’s third manufacturing site in Saudi Arabia and the seventh across the Middle East.
The project is also expected to create over 500 direct jobs in Jeddah and the surrounding area, with production initially using imported raw materials from Brazil.
Investment in the project is planned over two years, with approximately US$63 million to be spent in 2025 and around US$98 million allocated for 2026.
According to BRF board chairman and controlling shareholder Marcos Molina, the investment fits into the company’s broader plan to increase its international footprint and enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia on food production.
HPDC CEO Fahad Alnuhait said the initiative aligns with the country’s ambition to develop a domestic halal manufacturing base and reduce its dependence on imported food.
He added that working with BRF allows HPDC to meet the rising demand for processed meat products in the Kingdom while also supplying high-quality alternatives produced locally.
This development is part of Saudi Arabia’s wider effort to strengthen its food production infrastructure and participate more actively in the global halal market.
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