Granja Tres Arroyos faces production halt, wage cuts amid debt crisis

Granja Tres Arroyos, Argentina’s largest poultry integrator, is grappling with a severe financial crisis estimated at about US$350 million in debt. The company has issued forced two‑week vacations for roughly 350 workers at its Río Cuarto plant because of a shortage of chickens, and has paid only 10 % of June salaries while withholding the annual bonus. Workers and the Federación de Trabajadores de la Carne have protested, demanding clarity on whether the plant will be sold, reopened with fewer staff, or closed permanently. The firm also announced a two‑week scheduled shutdown of the Río Cuarto facility to rebuild chicken stock, citing supply interruptions and ongoing wage‑in‑installments practices.

Union representatives such as Claudio Moreno and CAPIP president Ricardo Unrein note that, despite the crisis at the Tres Arroyos group, the rest of Argentina’s poultry sector has absorbed most of the output, keeping national production stable. Unrein estimates the company needs roughly US$8 million in financing and is negotiating a major debt reduction with creditors. The closure has ripple effects across the southwest Buenos Aires region and Entre Ríos, where local economies depend on the plant, leading to reduced sales for nearby businesses and heightened anxiety among families.

Overall, the situation reflects a combination of unpaid wages, checks without funds, and operational halts, while the broader Argentine poultry market remains functional.