Castrolanda Invests R$ 191.6 Million in New Industrial Park

Castrolanda, a cooperative in Brazil, announced a substantial investment of R$ 191.6 million to develop a new industrial park in Castro. The primary focus of this investment is a R$ 102.1 million tortilla factory geared towards the B2B market, featuring advanced automation technology. Initially, the factory will supply a commercial partner of the cooperative.

Additionally, the project includes a power plant costing approximately R$ 40 million, intended to supply energy to the new industrial complex. The selected site for this development is strategically located near a Cargill unit, with ample space for future industrial expansions.

The cooperative forecasts that the new ventures will create around 80 direct jobs and significantly impact its revenue, projecting an increase of approximately R$ 85 million by 2027, with expectations to reach R$ 310 million by 2030.

Castrolanda's initiative is supported by the Paraná Competitivo program, which aims to attract industries to the region. As per the state government's data, each R$ 1 invested through this program could generate up to R$ 3.79 in GDP for Paraná's economy.

This move reflects a broader trend among large cooperatives in southern Brazil to transition from being mere recipients of their members' production to becoming industrial processors of raw materials. This shift enables them to capture margins previously held by third parties and reduce reliance on commodities.

The cooperative's strategy involves adding value to corn and milk production locally, which is expected to sustain the profitability of its members in the coming years. The new ventures are slated to commence operations in 2027.