ADM, one of the world’s largest agribusiness companies, has begun operations at a new animal nutrition ingredients plant in Apucarana, Paraná, with production capacity 40% higher than its previous facility in the city. The new plant will be able to produce up to 40,000 tonnes of premix—a blend of minerals, amino acids, vitamins and additives used in animal feed.
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“Our goal is to be among the five largest animal nutrition companies in South America within the next five years,” said Raphael Bozola, ADM’s vice president of animal nutrition for the region. He did not disclose the investment amount.
In Brazil, ADM’s animal nutrition business operates eight facilities. Six focus on feed production, located in Descalvado (São Paulo), São Lourenço da Mata (Pernambuco), Primavera do Leste (Mato Grosso), Inhumas (Goiás), Canoas (Rio Grande do Sul), and Rolim de Moura (Rondônia). The other two are the premix plant in Apucarana and an additives facility in Indaiatuba (São Paulo). The company also operates a research and development center for aquaculture in Aparecida do Taboado (Mato Grosso do Sul).
ADM supplies products for a range of segments, including ruminants (beef and dairy cattle), poultry, swine, equine and rabbit production, as well as fish and shrimp. Across its facilities, which employ more than 1,600 people, the company produces feed solutions for all species.
The premix produced at the new plant will supply both ADM’s own operations and third-party clients. With the new unit, the company aims to grow at least 10% annually in the segment, supported by strengthened commercial strategies.
One of its plans is to begin exporting premix. The company does not yet sell the product abroad, but is working to expand into new markets. ADM already exports additives from other plants to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as to Central American countries. It also operates a facility in Colombia.
“The idea is to double export volumes,” Bozola said, referring to additives, without providing details. “And we are working to open export channels for premix,” he added.
He noted that expanding premix exports is more complex because it requires adapting formulations to meet the varying nutritional and safety standards in international protein markets. Argentina is expected to be the initial target market, and the company does not rule out acquiring a plant there.
Theo Carvalho, ADM’s regional technology manager, said operations at the new plant are starting with a single shift, with an annual capacity of 15,000 tonnes, with plans to expand to three shifts to reach full capacity. A technical study is also underway to double the plant’s capacity to 80,000 tonnes per year.
The facility features full traceability for all ingredients used in premix formulations and can produce customized blends without risk of cross-contamination. According to Carvalho, key differentiators include improved quality efficiency, an integrated automation system, horizontal production lines, and an on-site truck scale. The plant occupies 7,500 square meters on a 30,000-square-meter site.
