Indonesia greenlights 14 more meatpacking plants in Brazil

The total number of meatpackers authorized to sell beef to Indonesia has increased to 52. “In six months, we went from 21 to 52 authorized plants,” Rua told Valor.

The news was already expected by the Brazilian meatpacking sector and was well received amid concerns from business leaders about China’s 2026 import quota of 1.1 million tonnes for Brazil.

The president of the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC), Roberto Perosa, welcomed the authorization of additional plants to export to the Asian country. “The new authorizations for Indonesia represent an important step forward in a challenging year, strengthen the market diversification strategy, and expand opportunities for Brazilian beef in a market with great potential,” he said.

The authorized units were audited by a mission from Indonesia in December 2025, according to ABIEC. The authorized plants were the following: Frigol, in São Félix do Xingu, Pará; Frigorífico Pantanal, in Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso; Cooperfrigu, in Gurupi, Tocantis; Primafoods, in Araguari, Minas Gerais; Mercúrio, in Castanhal, Pará; Zancheta, in Bauru, São Paulo; Fisacre, in Rio Branco, Acre; Minerva, in Barretos, São Paulo; Fribal, in Imperatriz, Maranhão; Distriboi, in Ji-Paraná, Roraima; and three JBS units, in Andradina, São Paulo, Anastácio, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul.

The 52 meatpacking plants authorized to export to Indonesia are distributed across Brazil’s five regions. Until now, no plant in the Northeast had been authorized, but approval was granted for the Fribal unit in Maranhão.

Brazil has a quota of 188,000 tonnes of beef to export to Indonesia, according to ABIEC. Brazilian exports to the Indonesian market meet halal certification standards, in accordance with Islamic law. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world.

The expansion and authorization of new plants are beginning to affect the business. In 2023, Brazilian beef exports to Indonesia totaled only 2,700 tonnes and $13.9 million in revenue. The amount shipped jumped to 42,900 tonnes in 2025, with revenue of $153.9 million, according to Ministry of Agriculture data.

Source: Valor International