Brazilian meatpacker JBS to build 2 plants in Vietnam

Brazilian meat giant JBS S.A. will invest in two export-oriented food processing plants in Vietnam following a plan first announced in March.

The investment plan was confirmed at a meeting between Au Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Vietnam Customs, and JBS’s investment director Fabio Maia de Oliveira in Hanoi on Thursday.

The Brazilian meatpacker will start with a facility in the northern port city of Hai Phong, followed by a second plant in Ho Chi Minh City.

The plan builds on remarks by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during his visit to Vietnam in March, when he revealed that a Brazilian company would invest $100 million in beef processing manufacturing in the country. Reuters later identified the investor as JBS, one of the world’s largest meat producers.

At the meeting, the JBS executive asked for information on customs regulations for importing meat, offal, and meat by-products from Brazil into Vietnam for processing and then re-export to China and other markets.

Tuan, in reply, stressed that Vietnam Customs pledged maximum support in terms of customs procedures, while also reminding JBS to comply with veterinary inspection regulations and other sector-specific requirements.

Highlighting that Vietnam is a member of 17 free trade agreements, the Vietnamese official also encouraged JBS to explore preferential tariffs for its import and export activities.

Founded in Brazil, JBS is a multinational food processing corporation specializing in beef, poultry, and other meat products. It operates more than 250 production facilities worldwide, employs over 280,000 people, and serves customers in over 180 countries.

The planned investment is expected to strengthen Vietnam’s position as a manufacturing and distribution hub for JBS in Asia, while creating significant job opportunities for the local workforce in the coming years.

At a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 6, Fábio Maia de Oliveira, a representative of JBS, emphasized that Vietnam offers a promising consumer market with a population of over 100 million and a rapidly growing middle class.

He highlighted the country’s strategic location as a gateway to both the ASEAN region and Northeast Asian markets like China.

The meeting took place when the Vietnamese leader paid a visit to Brazil to attend the 2025 BRICS Summit and had bilateral activities in the country from July 4-8.