Meat industry updates: Los Lazos gains Chile export rights; Tacuarembó proposes job cuts

Frigorífico Los Lazos has been officially authorized to export beef to Chile. Following an audit in July and technical exchanges between the sanitary authorities of Paraguay and Chile, the Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) approved the facility for the export of chilled and frozen boneless beef, as well as frozen cooked bovine stomachs. According to Senacsa, this allows the company to expand its international market presence. As of August 18, 2026, Los Lazos accounted for approximately 5% of Paraguay's total national slaughter for export.

In Uruguay, Frigorífico Tacuarembó, owned by the MBRF conglomerate, has proposed a labor restructuring plan to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The proposal includes the elimination of 150 direct jobs and a significant review of the current salary and productivity structures. The Federation of Workers of the Meat Industry (Foica) has called for a general assembly to address the announcement, anticipating a complex negotiation process. The plant currently employs approximately 1,400 workers.