Argentine peanut plant halts operations, sparking local concern

The small town of Santa Eufemia in Argentina's Córdoba province faces economic uncertainty as the Manisur peanut processing plant suspends operations for the season. Seventy seasonal workers, who rely on the plant for employment, have been informed they will not be called in this year.

The plant's halt is attributed to a shareholder's failure to deliver the contracted peanuts, citing an "unforeseen event." This unexpected disruption leaves the company unable to process its usual volume, impacting the town of 2,500 residents where Manisur is the primary source of jobs.

Gisella Barrionuevo, the mayor of Santa Eufemia, expressed concern, stating that while another peanut company operates in the area, Manisur is "key" to the local economy. She noted that the situation is particularly worrying as the affected workers have been consistently employed seasonally for many years, with some contracts extending for eight to nine months annually.

The company, established in 1992, processes and exports high-quality peanuts globally. It also engages in related activities like storing, conditioning, and trading grains and oilseeds. Despite past investments by the shareholder in question, the lack of raw material has forced the shutdown. The union UATRE has intervened, securing unemployment benefits for the affected workers for a few months. However, the long-term outlook remains unclear, with delivery commitments reportedly extending to 2027.