April 13, 2004

Brazil Coinbra To Get BRL168 Million To Raise Soy, Orange Crush
 
Coinbra, a Brazilian trading firm controlled by French group Louis Dreyfus, will receive a loan of 168.3 million Brazilian real ($1 = BRL2.89) from the Brazilian Development Bank, or BNDES, to continue projects to expand soybean and orange crushing capacity, the local business daily Valor Economico on Monday.
 
Part of the funds will be invested in a new soybean crushing plant in Alto Araguaia in Mato Grosso do Sul, in expanding output at its soy crush unit in Jatai, Goias state, from 900 tons per day to 2,000 tons and in increasing processing potential at its plant in Ponta Grossa, Parana state, from 2,000 tons per day to 3,000 tons, the newspaper said.
 
Through the sum of the projects, which are budgeted at BRL436 million, Coinbra expects to increase soybean crushing capacity to 10,000 tons per day, the newspaper said.
 
Brazil is the world's largest exporter of soybeans and soy products.
 
The company will also invest in amplifying its orange juice processing plant in Matao, in Sao Paulo state, from 19 million 40.8 kilogram boxes per year to 23.4 million boxes per year and expanding capacity at its plant in Bebedouro, Sao Paulo state, from 19 million boxes to 28.6 million boxes, the newspaper said.
 
In addition, it said, the firm will also plant some 833,000 orange trees.
 
Brazil is the world's biggest exporter of orange juice.