Elias José Zydek is the executive president at Frimesa Cooperativa Central, the largest pig slaughtering and processing company in the State of Paraná, Brazil.
Zydek is an agronomist from the Federal University of Santa Maria, with a specialization in business planning and management from PUC-PR.
AgriBrasilis – How did pig farming overcome the crisis of recent years?
Elias Zydek – The crisis of 2022 and 2023 was a consequence of the high cost of grains, export prices in dollars and the recovery of production in China. The overcoming was due to the drop in grain prices, lower pig production costs, the opening of new markets (Philippines), greater domestic demand, with an increase in per capita consumption and the significant increase in the price of beef.
AgriBrasilis – What are your expectations for 2025?
Elias Zydek – Expectations for 2025 are to maintain the balance between global and national supply and demand, maintaining the current good conditions for the production chain.
AgriBrasilis – Will production costs continue to decrease?
Elias Zydek – Production costs are expected to increase due to higher corn prices, transportation costs, energy, labor, interest rates and tax burden.
AgriBrasilis – How has the reduced Chinese demand impacted the sector?
Elias Zydek – The reduction in Chinese demand, due to the increase in its production, was offset by greater demand from Asian countries and Latin America. The higher per capita consumption in Brazil also contributed.
AgriBrasilis – How to avoid the high usage of water and effluent emissions in pig production?
Elias Zydek – Pig farming regions adopt environmental practices that have improved environmental and soil preservation, protection and recovery. The generation of biomethane, the appropriate use of waste in crops, rational use of water and its reuse, reforestation and protection of springs, are just some of the examples.
AgriBrasilis – What are Frimesa’s plans for the coming years?
Elias Zydek – Frimesa has its Strategic planning with a vision of 10 years ahead, where it expects to reach the slaughtering of 23,000 pigs per day, compared to the current 13,000. Growth will be gradual every year and involves the entire production chain, from livestock farmer to the market. The plan envisages exporting 30% of production, while keeping 70% to the domestic market.
Brazil has comparative advantages with its international competitors, mainly in relation to direct production costs. However, we have threats of increased internal expenses, such as fuel, energy, roads, ports, labor legislation, interest rates and legal uncertainty, which could become “competitive disadvantages”.
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