“We’ve weathered many storms and know how to navigate them”

Speaking from the Sial fair in China, Carlos Fuidio, head of the Casa Blanca (Fricasa) plant in Paysandú, said that “China today is not what it was 2–3 years ago.” For Casa Blanca in particular, “the composition of exports has changed — China now ranks third after the United States and Europe.” Still, there are certain products — such as bone-in cuts and offals — that necessarily have to go to China.

Asked about current market conditions, Fuidio said he sees them as “stable, with some clients trying to push prices down, but they’re not finding enough volume. In this context, we’re making an effort to keep those prices where they are.”

He added: “With the prices being paid for cattle in Uruguay, we can’t afford to continue lowering sale prices. We’re all doing our part to hold them steady.”

Casa Blanca is currently undergoing restructuring under bankruptcy protection, which Fuidio said is “progressing very well.” The company is buying cattle either in cash or with 10-day terms. The plan is to gradually increase slaughter volumes “to the level we want — around 800 to 1,000 head per week, which would be double the current number.”

Regarding the company’s challenging situation, Fuidio was firm in stating there’s “no doubt” that it will overcome the crisis. “We’ve been through storms like this before and know how to navigate them,” he said.

One of the opportunities Casa Blanca explored at Sial was sheep meat, but that market is also highly constrained. Strong domestic demand in China is making it difficult to place both lamb and mutton in that market.

Fuidio said the company is looking for alternative destinations for sheep meat. Current options on the table include the Middle East for mutton and Brazil for lamb, as operations with China are proving extremely difficult.