September 19, 2008

Cargill opens US$92.5 million rapeseed crushing plant in France
 

Cargill opened a new US$92.5 million rapeseed crushing plant in the port of Montoir, France on September 18.

Cargill, the majority shareholder of the Montoir facility who will assume all managerial and operational responsibilities, partnered with Sofiprotéol, which promotes the marketing and processing of oilseeds in France.

The Montoir plant will process up to 600,000 tonnes of rapeseed a year, increasing Cargill's oilseed crushing capacity in France by 50 percent. The vast majority of the rapeseed will be sourced locally, providing a major new outlet for local farmers.

The rapeseed crushed will produce 250,000 tonnes of rapeseed oil per year, as well as 350,000 tonnes of rapeseed meal.

Hervé de Praingy, head of Cargill's oilseed crushing and refining operations in France said that the new plant complements their grain and oilseed operations in Saint-Nazaire and Brest and will supply the food, animal feed and biodiesel industries nationally.