The plant, scheduled to begin operations in mid-2026, will be built in Jeddah by BRF Arabia Holding Company, a joint venture between BRF and HPDC established in 2023.

Brazilian meat processor BRF and the Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced on Monday a $160 million investment in a new food plant in Saudi Arabia, BRF said in a statement.

The plant, scheduled to begin operations in mid-2026, will be built in Jeddah by BRF Arabia Holding Company, a joint venture between BRF and HPDC established in 2023.

Production will focus on processed foods, with an approximate annual capacity of 40,000 metric tons.

Serving the Saudi market is the initial priority, but exporting to other countries in the region is also a possibility, according to BRF.

"This investment represents another consistent step forward in our global presence strategy and strengthens our operations in a highly strategic market," BRF President Marcos Molina said in the statement.

The new facility marks BRF's seventh production unit in the Middle East and its third in Saudi Arabia.