U.S.-based produce company Dole has closed its facility at the container terminal at the Costa Rican port of Limón, resulting in the loss of 240 jobs, local media El Financiero reported.

The company said the decision was due to the recent start of operations at the Moín Container Terminal, explaining that maintaining its existing operation would not be viable.

"The company is aware that this represents a difficult situation and a period of adaptation for the workers," it was quoted as saying, adding that it would provide workers with one month of severance pay more than what is required by law.

Dole employs more than 7,500 people in Costa Rica, from where it mainly exports bananas and pineapples to the U.S. and Europe.

Juan Carlos Rojas, the company's spokesperson in the country, last year said that the company has been investing in increasing its pineapple operations.