Elian invests US$232.6M to expand its soy processing plant in Barcelona
The expansion is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
SPAIN – Elian, a subsidiary of the Viserion Group, has announced a significant expansion of its soybean processing facility at the Port of Barcelona, Spain, boosting its capacity and reinforcing Barcelona’s strategic role as a hub for sustainable food innovation in Europe.
The €200 million (US $232.6 million) investment will increase the plant’s annual processing capacity by 100,000 tonnes, bringing the total to 830,000 tonnes per year, or approximately 2,800 tonnes per day.
This ambitious project builds on Elian’s 2023 acquisition of the facility from global agribusiness giant Cargill.
The expansion is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
The upgraded facility will span five hectares and operate under a 40-year concession agreement with the Port of Barcelona.
Elian’s strategic move responds to growing demand for locally produced soy-based ingredients, particularly textured and concentrated proteins used in plant-based foods.
Currently, much of Europe’s supply of these ingredients is imported from the United States, China, and South America.
By increasing domestic production, Elian aims to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen Europe’s food supply chain resilience.
“This new expansion consolidates our presence in Barcelona as a strategic center of industrial and food innovation for Europe,” Elian stated, highlighting the plant’s role in supporting both the Catalan and broader European feed and food sectors.
The facility will produce a range of soy-based products, including high-quality livestock feed, soybean oil for food and industrial applications, and plant-based protein ingredients for alternative food products.
These outputs are expected to serve multiple markets across the Mediterranean and Europe, aligning with the region’s push toward sustainable and health-conscious food systems.
Elian’s investment also reflects the Viserion Group’s broader strategy to modernize and expand its footprint in Europe’s agribusiness sector.
By upgrading the Barcelona plant, Elian positions itself as a key player in the transition to plant-forward nutrition and regional ingredient sourcing.
The expansion is poised to create new jobs, stimulate local economic growth, and reinforce Barcelona’s role as a hub for agricultural innovation and food technology.
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