Demand for cassava sausages leads growth in Lorenz exports
The sausage market was the main driver of Lorenz's export growth in recent years, driven mainly by strong demand from countries such as Venezuela, Colombia and the United States.
The company, considered the largest cassava processor in Brazil, has been expanding its international presence with starch-based solutions developed especially for the meat industry, a segment that has gained strength amid the global search for products with higher yields and lower industrial costs.
According to the company's new business director, Aleksandro Siqueira, the mixes developed for sausages had a significant share in the company's foreign sales this year.
"I would say that the mix for sausages had a very large share in exports. Everything we talk about sausage, mortadella and meat products grew a lot looking at Venezuela, Colombia and also countries in North Africa", he stated.
According to the executive, demand was driven mainly by markets looking for alternatives to reduce production costs without compromising the quality and yield of processed foods.
In this scenario, the special starches produced by Lorenz gained space by allowing a reduction in animal protein and an increase in industrial yield in products such as sausages, mortadella and other sausages.
"The meat market has grown a lot because many countries are looking for solutions that deliver industrial performance and reduce costs. Cassava fulfills this role very well", highlighted Siqueira.
Venezuela appeared as one of the main destinations for the company's recent growth. According to the executive, the gradual resumption of Venezuelan economic and industrial activity helped boost demand for industrial ingredients and food products.
"Venezuela has returned to industrial growth. Their economic activity has been increasing further and this has affected the market a lot. This has opened up a very important opportunity for us", he stated.
Data released by the Venezuelan government shows that the country's sausage sector recorded growth of more than 32% in January 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year.
Siqueira highlighted that the consumption profile of these markets directly favors solutions focused on processed proteins.
"These are less economically privileged countries that consume a lot of sausages. So this sausage, mortadella and meat market is very important for us", he explained.
In Colombia, growth also caught the company's attention. According to the director, in addition to sausages, the country has been increasing purchases of starches for paper, dairy products and biscuits.
"Colombia and Mexico were very strong this year in the paper, dairy and biscuit segments, but the meat market continues to be extremely relevant," he said.
The United States also gained importance within the company's commercial strategy. Although the volume is still lower than that of Latin American countries, the percentage growth in sales to the American market was considered significant by the company.
"The United States bought a lot from Thailand and Vietnam. However, Thailand today has higher costs and had productivity problems due to diseases in crops. Brazil ended up benefiting because it had the opposite movement, with an increase in productivity", he stated.
According to Siqueira, Brazilian cassava also has an important strategic advantage in the North American market, the fact that it is not transgenic.
"The United States practically does not produce cassava derivatives. A lot of corn is produced there and American corn is transgenic. Cassava is not transgenic and this has become an important differentiator", he highlighted.
Lorenz has been investing heavily in products with higher added value to support international expansion. Among the solutions developed are special starches that allow reducing or replacing proteins in sausages, increasing industrial performance and competitiveness for slaughterhouses and food industries.
The strategy follows a global trend of growing demand for plant-based products and healthier ingredients, a movement that has also been favoring cassava derivatives.
"Consumers want healthier products, with less fat, less sodium and ingredients of plant origin. Cassava delivers an important part of this solution", said Siqueira.
Currently, the company exports to more than 40 countries and intends to further expand international participation in the coming years. The company's goal is to continue growing in double digits, driven precisely by the markets for processed foods, industrial ingredients and sustainable plant-based solutions.
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Source: CNN