March 29, 2006

 

Thailand's Betagro to expand animal feed business

 

 

Thailand's livestock and animal feed producer Betagro Group plans to invest as much as THB1 billion to expand its animal feed business over three years starting in 2006, Chief Executive Officer Vanus Taepaisitphongse told a press conference Tuesday (Mar 28).

 

Two new animal feed factories will be set up this year in Nakornratchasima and Surat Thani provinces, with a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes and 12,000 tonnes respectively, Vanus said.

 

The company will spend THB500 million to build the factory in Nakornratchasima and THB300 million for the factory in Surat Thani, he added.

 

Betagro currently has nine feed factories which generate around 1 million tonnes of animal feed production combined, Vanus said.

 

Thailand currently produces around 10 million tonnes of animal feed annually.

 

Along with setting up the new factories, Betagro will also expand the production capacity at its existing factory in Lampoon, Vanus said.

 

The capacity at the Lampoon factory will be expanded to 18,000 tonnes, from 8,500 tonnes at present, with an investment worth THB200 million, according to Vanus.

 

Along with the feed business, Betagro also plans to expand its chicken and pig business as well as animal health products business, Vanus said.

 

In 2006, Betagro expects total revenue of THB30 billion, or growth of 15 percent from last year, under which THB24.5 billion will be from local sales and THB5.5 billion from exports, Vanus said.

 

Last year, Betagro recorded sales revenue of THB26 billion, up 29 percent from the previous year, and posted a net profit of THB1.13 billion.