Betagro to expand chicken production

Betagro Group, one of Thailand's leading integrated agribusiness enterprises, plans to increase the production capacity of chicken products by 40% this year to cash in on a brighter export outlook.

The expansion includes a new THB600 million (US$18 million) cooked-products plant located at its second food complex in Lop Buri province. This will increase capacity of processed chicken at Ajinomoto Betagro Frozen Foods (Thailand) Co to 15,000 tonnes a month from 10,000 tonnes. The capacity of BFI Broiler Farm Co will also expand with 30,000 more chickens per week.

The additional production would support growing demands from existing markets and new destinations including Spain and South Africa. Betagro expects to export about 54,000 tonnes of chicken this year, up from 46,000 tonnes shipped in the previous year, said Jakkrin Taepaisitphongse, senior vice-president for production poultry integration of Betagro Group.

The higher volume is in line with the projection of strong chicken exports this year. More than 360,000 tonnes of chicken are forecast to be shipped by Thailand on the back of the economic recovery, from 350,000 tonnes in 2009.

This year, Betagro will focus on southern Europe, especially Spain, where market potential is strong and where there is little competition, said Sanon Liawpairoj, commercial director for the poultry business of Betagro Group.