Beef Suppliers Clash Over Uruguay Plants as Brazil Faces Tariffs

(Bloomberg) – Marfrig Global Foods SA and Mineva SA clash over Uruguay beef plants at the center of an antitröst examination – at a time when US tariffs make these assets more valuable for Brazil Meatpacackers.

SAO Paulo -based Marfrig said on Friday, Mineva’s two -year deadline in Uruguay after not securing the antitröst approval of the smaller opponent after a small competitor was automatically terminated. In a separate file, Mineva said that the agreement was fully in force ”.

Uruguay’s antitröst officials blocked the agreement because of concerns that Mineva would gain extreme strength in the country’s cattle market. Mineva objected to the decision.

Uruguayan plants have now become more important for both companies because they faced US tariffs in their exports from Brazil. The completion of the 2023 agreement will increase the exposure of President Donald Trump to trade barriers, leaving Marfrig with a non -Brazilian beef plant in South America. For Mineva, which operates in countries such as Paraguay and Argentina, the purchase will provide more space to navigate tariffs.

According to IHS Markit customs data, Marfrig, one of the largest US beef suppliers, imported meat from Uruguay. The data also sends Mineva Uruguayan beef to the USA.

Uruguay’s Antitröst Commission did not immediately respond to an e -mail looking for comments about the agreement.

Marfrig shares increased on Friday up to 6.1% in Sao Paulo. Mineva won up to 2% before erasing earnings.

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