The processed meat market has been the primary driver of Lorenz's export growth in recent years, fueled largely by strong demand from countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, and the United States.

The company, considered Brazil's largest cassava processor, has been expanding its international presence with starch-based solutions developed specifically for the meat industry—a segment that has gained momentum amidst the global search for products offering higher yields and lower production costs.

According to the company's New Business Director, Aleksandro Siqueira, the blends developed for processed meats accounted for a significant share of the company's export sales this year.

"I would say that the blend for processed meats played a major role in our exports. Everything related to sausages, mortadella, and meat products saw significant growth, particularly regarding Venezuela, Colombia, and countries in North Africa," he stated.

According to the executive, demand was driven primarily by markets seeking alternatives to reduce production costs without compromising the quality or yield of processed foods.

In this context, the specialty starches produced by Lorenz gained ground by enabling a reduction in animal protein content and an increase in industrial yield for products such as sausages, mortadella, and other processed meats.

"The meat processing market has grown substantially because many countries are looking for solutions that deliver industrial yield and cost reductions. Cassava fulfills this role very well," Siqueira highlighted.

Venezuela emerged as a key destination for the company's recent growth. According to the executive, the gradual recovery of Venezuela's economic and industrial activity helped boost demand for industrial ingredients and food products.

"Venezuela has resumed industrial growth. Their economic activity is increasing, which has significantly impacted the market. This created a very important opportunity for us," he stated. Data released by the Venezuelan government shows that the country's processed meat sector recorded growth of over 32% in January 2026 compared to the same period the previous year.

Siqueira highlighted that the consumption profile in these markets directly favors solutions geared toward processed protein products.

“These are economically less privileged countries with high consumption of processed meat products. Therefore, this market for sausages, mortadella, and meat products is very important to us,” he explained.

Growth in Colombia has also caught the company's attention. According to the director, in addition to processed meats, the country has been increasing its purchases of starches for the paper, dairy, and biscuit sectors.

“Colombia and Mexico drove strong growth this year in the paper, dairy, and biscuit segments, but the meat products market remains extremely important,” he said.

The United States has also gained importance in the company's commercial strategy. Although the volume is still lower than that of Latin American countries, the percentage growth in sales to the US market was considered significant by the company.

“The United States used to buy heavily from Thailand and Vietnam. However, Thailand currently faces higher costs and has experienced productivity issues due to crop diseases. Brazil benefited because it saw the opposite trend—an increase in productivity,” he stated.

According to Siqueira, Brazilian cassava holds another key strategic advantage in the North American market: it is non-GMO.

“The United States produces virtually no cassava derivatives. They produce a lot of corn there, and American corn is genetically modified. Cassava is not GMO, and that has become a major selling point,” he highlighted.

Lorenz has been heavily investing in higher value-added products to support its international expansion. Among the solutions developed are specialty starches that allow for the reduction or replacement of proteins in processed meats, thereby increasing industrial yield and competitiveness for meat processors and food manufacturers.

This strategy aligns with a global trend of rising demand for plant-based products and healthier ingredients—a shift that is also benefiting cassava-based products.

“Consumers want healthier products with less fat, less sodium, and plant-based ingredients. Cassava provides a significant part of that solution,” said Siqueira. Currently, the company exports to over 40 countries and aims to further expand its international presence in the coming years. The company's goal is to maintain double-digit growth, driven specifically by the processed food, industrial ingredient, and plant-based sustainable solutions markets.

Source: CNN Brasil - click here