Animex invests US$38M in new poultry rendering plant in Poland
The facility will process poultry by-products into ingredients for feed, pet food, and biofuels.
POLAND – Poland’s leading meat and poultry producer, Animex, is investing US$35.7 million (PLN 137 million) in a poultry rendering plant, Animex K5, to support the country’s feed and pet food industries.
The facility, officially opened on March 3, 2025, is designed to process category three animal by-products from poultry slaughter operations into processed animal protein, hydrolysed feather meal, and poultry fat.
These materials will primarily serve the animal feed and pet food sectors, with additional uses in biofuel production.
Located in Koryta, Daszyna commune, Animex K5 is the company’s fifth facility in the Kutno-Łęczyca region, an area that plays a key role in its operations.
The site spans 40,000 square meters and includes a production hall covering 5,186 square meters.
Artur Borys, Managing Director for By-products Development at Animex Foods, said the facility aligns with the company’s long-term strategy to optimise raw material use and expand its operations in central Poland.
Environmental impact and worker safety are central to the plant’s design, with Animex investing US$2.7 million (PLN 10.25 million) in an advanced air purification system to minimise emissions.
The company states that introducing eco-friendly technology and maintaining strict safety protocols are key aspects of its production strategy.
Łukasz Dominiak, Public and Government Relations Director at Animex Holding, emphasised that beyond technology and business growth, the company values its relationship with local communities and aims to contribute to regional development.
Animex, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Smithfield Foods and Chinese conglomerate WH Group, is Poland’s largest producer of pork, poultry, and processed meat and a major exporter in the industry.
The new investment comes at a time when Poland’s poultry production is on the rise.
Between January and May 2024, domestic poultry meat production surpassed 1.4 million tonnes, reflecting a 5.4% increase from the same period in 2023, according to the Polish Statistical Office.
Since 2011, poultry production in Poland has more than doubled, reaching 2.98 million tonnes in 2022, an 8.2% increase compared to 2021.
Poland remains the leading poultry producer in the European Union, accounting for around 20% of the region’s chicken meat output.
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