JBS has announced a US$85 million investment to expand its poultry operations in Saudi Arabia as part of a plan to develop the country into a regional and international center for halal food production and exports.

The company said the funding will be directed toward its facilities in Jeddah and Dammam and will support a partnership with the Arabian Company for Agricultural and Industrial Investment, also known as Entaj, to introduce new processing lines for whole chickens and a range of poultry cuts produced in line with halal and global quality requirements.

Through these upgrades, JBS aims to increase output for markets across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other regions, reflecting rising demand for halal-certified poultry products and growing trade links between Saudi Arabia and international food markets.

The Jeddah facility, which currently supplies poultry products to Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, is expected to double its production capacity by the end of 2026, according to the company, following a period of rapid scale-up since operations began.

JBS began operating the Jeddah plant last year after building the site from the ground up, and the facility has already increased the company's total production capacity in Saudi Arabia by fourfold.

All of JBS's activities in the Saudi market are carried out under its Seara brand, launched locally in 2021 and since grown into one of the three largest beef and poultry brands in the country by market share, according to company data.

The expansion comes as Saudi Arabia intensifies efforts to increase domestic food manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports, a policy direction that has attracted Brazilian food producers seeking long-term positions in the Gulf market.

Joao Campos, chief executive of JBS's Seara division, told Reuters that the company considers Saudi Arabia a long-term market and is continuing to increase local production to meet domestic demand while also supplying neighboring countries.

Beyond the Jeddah site, JBS confirmed that its collaboration with Entaj will involve manufacturing products for the Seara brand within Saudi Arabia, forming part of a broader approach to expand local partnerships and deepen its operational footprint in Saudi Arabia.

Gilberto Tomazoni, global chief executive of JBS, said the investment reflects the company's focus on Saudi Arabia as a priority market and its intention to maintain a sustained presence across the Middle East and North Africa region.

- Food Business Middle East & Africa

JBS to expand poultry operations in Saudi Arabia with US$85 million investment

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