Vietnam Seaports Association
Bunge Vietnam Ltd. on Monday officially opened its US$100-million integrated soybean crushing plant in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau mainly to supply the local market.
Christopher White, CEO of Bunge Asia, said this is the largest of its kind in Vietnam. The 11-ha crushing plant in Phu My 1 Industrial Zone adjacent to Baria Serece Phu My Port, will crush some one million tons of soybean per year or more than 3,000 tons per day, White said.
That means it will produce about 600 tons of crude-degummed soybean oil and 2,500 tons of soybean meal for the local market as well as for export to other Asian countries.
The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S.-based agribusiness and food company Bunge Limited, will further expand business in Vietnam, he said. “This plant is the beginning of Bunge in Vietnam.”
Ly Anh Dung, chairman of Quang Dung Co. as the local partner of Bunge Vietnam, said the facility would contribute to around 30% of the total demand for soybean oil and meal in Vietnam.
Hoang Kim Giao, director of Livestock Production Department under the agriculture ministry, noted at the opening ceremony that the commission of the plant would contribute substantially to the country’s animal feed industry.
In 2010, Vietnam imported three million tons of soybean meal and supplied 10.5 million tons of animal feed. The volumes of animal feed will reach 12 million tons in 2011, 16.5 million tons in 2015 and 19 million tons in 2020, Giao said.
“Therefore, when the plant is in full operation, it will partly contribute to the figures,” Giao said.
Source: The Saigon Times
