Pronaca Prepares Chicken and Pork Shipments to the UAE, Weighs Price Competitiveness in China

Ecuadorian food producer Pronaca expects to begin shipping chicken and pork to the United Arab Emirates in the coming months and is assessing whether it can compete on price in China, executives said at the presentation of the company's nineteenth Sustainability Report, covering 2025, as reported by El Universo and El Diario.

UAE first, China under evaluation

Rodrigo Santacruz, regional manager at Pronaca, said the company is analysing the dynamics of the Chinese market following President Daniel Noboa's recent official visit to the Asian country. Pronaca already has the installed operating capacity to raise output and supply Chinese demand, Santacruz said, but he identified the local cost structure as the main obstacle to securing that destination.

"To cover markets that large we would have to raise production, we are ready. All of this comes down to costs," Santacruz said, in remarks reported by El Universo.

While the China assessment continues, Pronaca projects entry into the United Arab Emirates with chicken and pork over the next few months, and aims to consolidate pork sales in Vietnam, turkey in Bolivia and plant protein products in the United States.

Corn prices and labour policy drive costs

Santacruz said production costs in Ecuador are conditioned by the rigidity of labour policy and by the price of corn, a key input in poultry feed. A downward adjustment in the local corn price would reduce final costs and allow animal protein to be offered abroad at more attractive values, he said.

The corn link runs deep through the company's own supply chain. Pronaca buys 30% of Ecuador's national corn production, integrating local farmers, corn growers and oil palm producers into its value chain.

Revenue of $1.124 billion and 2030 targets

The company confirmed that in 2025 it reached $1.124 billion in revenue and a presence in 19 countries. Those figures form part of a strategic plan to 2030 whose main goals are doubling sales, tripling EBITDA — a measure of pure operating profitability — and achieving a 14% return on investment. Part of that technical and industrial growth has been backed by multilateral credit from institutions such as IDB Invest, subject to compliance with international performance standards.

Natazha Valarezo, environmental and social officer at the Inter-American Development Bank, outlined how financial and technical partnerships with the private sector are structured through IDB Invest, the private-sector arm of the IDB Group, which operates alongside the public sector window and the IDB Lab innovation unit. Work with companies such as Pronaca spans loans, guarantees and equity investment as well as advisory services on climate change, corporate governance, gender equity, inclusion and sustainability.

Pronaca's operating model covers more than 130 operating centres, 37 brands and more than 8,500 employees in Ecuador.

Audited sustainability metrics

Camila Hernández, corporate sustainability manager at Pronaca, presented the report's pillars and metrics, noting that the process followed Global Reporting Initiative standards and was independently audited by Ernst & Young. The company also applies a double materiality methodology, covering both financial and impact dimensions.

• Recovery and reuse of more than 254,000 cubic metres of treated water, equivalent to 102 Olympic swimming pools.
• Valorisation of 98.7% of solid waste.
• Conservation of 247 hectares of biodiversity.
• Photovoltaic self-generation at San Rafael de Cuzumba and Pifo in the Sierra region.
• ISO 50001 implementation at four plants, generating energy efficiency savings of more than $800,000 a year.

On animal welfare, Pronaca consolidated the five freedoms model after certifying its pig and poultry practices, extended the standard to 50 qualified suppliers and certified its pet care centre. During 2025 the company invested close to $1 million in community projects and partnerships with non-profit organisations including Fundación San Luis, Redni and five food banks. Its sustainability model has a direct bearing on 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, prioritising responsible production, decent work, climate action and partnerships.

The export push comes against a broader trade backdrop: El Diario reported that Ecuador's non-oil exports rose 25% in July 2026, contributing $584 million more than in 2025, led by shrimp, banana and China.