MBRF expands Saudi supply deal to include beef, doubles poultry volumes
Beef added with capacity of up to 270,000 tonnes per year
SAUDI ARABIA – Brazil’s newly formed meat group MBRF Global Foods has revised its supply agreement with Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company to include beef while increasing poultry export volumes to Saudi Arabia.
Under the updated terms, poultry shipments from Brazil to the Gulf country will rise to a maximum of 600,000 metric tonnes each year, reflecting a significant increase from the previous ceiling agreed in May 2024.
The revised deal also introduces beef into the arrangement, with annual volumes set at up to 270,000 tonnes supplied by MBRF through its integrated operations.
Merger enables multi-protein expansion
The expanded agreement follows the creation of MBRF in 2025, following the merger of Marfrig Global Foods and BRF, which combined beef, poultry, and processed food capabilities within a single structure.
MBRF chairman Marcos Molina said the merged entity enabled the Salic contract to broaden its scope by adding beef alongside poultry.
He added that the increase in committed volumes reflects the company’s ability to scale production while maintaining the supply standards required by its Saudi partner.
The agreement is part of ongoing efforts by Saudi Arabia to secure stable food imports, with Salic operating under the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth vehicle, the Public Investment Fund.
Regional footprint expands through partnerships
The merger has also given MBRF access to BRF’s joint venture in Saudi Arabia with the Halal Products Development Company, which focuses on halal meat production and distribution across the region.
BRF previously announced plans to consolidate its distribution operations across Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates into BRF Arabia Holding, a regional platform linked to that partnership.
Elsewhere, Salic has existing ties with Minerva Foods, including a 2021 joint venture that led to acquisitions in Australia, such as Shark Lake Food Group Abattoir and Great Eastern Abattoir, followed by the Australian Lamb Company in 2022.
Separately, Marfrig agreed in 2023 to acquire cattle and lamb processing assets from Minerva across South America, including facilities in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
However, regulators later halted the Uruguayan portion of that transaction.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
