CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — Tyson Foods will permanently close a pork plant in Perry, Iowa, eliminating jobs for about 1,200 workers.
The company, which reaped big profits as meat prices soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, has since confronted a decline and slowing demand for some products. Tyson has announced the closures of six U.S. chicken plants in the past year and also laid off corporate employees.
Perry mayor Dirk Cavanaugh said the plant is set to close June 28.
Tyson encouraged workers to apply for other jobs within the company.
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“While this decision was not easy, it emphasizes our focus to optimize the efficiency of our operations to best serve our customers,” the company said.
Tyson’s pork business had an adjusted operating loss of $128 million in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, down from income of $198 million in the previous year. Its sales volumes fell 2.2 percent while average prices slid 7.9 percent.
The plant in Perry slaughters about 9,000 pigs per day, said Steve Meyer, chief livestock economist for Ever.Ag. That accounts for a little less than two percent of total U.S. pork production.
In December, Smithfield Foods said it would end contracts with 26 hog farms in Utah, citing an industry oversupply of pork and weaker consumer demand.
It had earlier said it would shut a pork plant in North Carolina, after previously confirming it would close 35 Missouri hog farm sites.
