April 23, 2014

Thailand's Better Pharma's 2014 sales to hit US$155 million

Thai animal pharmaceutical producer Better Pharma expects its sales to reach THB5 billion baht (US$154.61 million) in 2014, after achieving sales of THB4.3 billion baht (US$132.96 million) in 2013.

Chayanon Kittayachaweng, senior vice president of animal health at Betagro Group, told a group of livestock journalists, "In 2014, the Thai integrated agriculture is not expected to grow. Recently, the Kasikorn Research Centre forecast the Thai economy to decrease in the first quarter of 2014. In the second quarter, the Thai economy may grow, but only for 1%. For the whole year, however, the research centre expects a growth of 1.8%."

He continued, "In 2014, Betagro reorganised the group into five business units: Animal nutrition, swine production, poultry production, food and animal pharmaceuticals."

Chayanon said, "The total sales figure of the animal pharmaceutical business is expected to reach THB6 billion (US$185.53 million) in 2014 – of which the lion's share will be made by Better Pharma, with its target of THB5 billion. The pharmaceutical company, established in 1979, has been the number one on the Thai market for the last 14 years. Currently, the market in Thailand consists of over 200 companies.

Chayanon said that growth in the broiler business is expected as Thailand is allowed to export fresh poultry meat to the European Union (EU) and Japan again. This had not been possible since 2004, due to outbreaks of Avian Influenza (AI). The renewed export opportunities will provide chances for the whole chain, as more production means more pharmaceutical products sold.

Better Pharma had expanded its business in most ASEAN Economic Community markets, except Singapore and Brunei, which do not have extensive livestock herds.

Chayanon said, "The AI outbreaks also put Better Pharma's expansion plans in Vietnam on hold for a long time. The new developments mean that Better Pharma's Vietnam plant now can be opened. Until this moment, Better Pharma did its business in Vietnam through local business partners. In 2013, the sales volume was around THB70 million (US$2.16 million) - and for 2014, a sales volume between THB100 million to THB140 million (US$3.09 million to US$4.33 million) is expected in Vietnam."