FONTERRA EXPECTS S-E ASIAN DEMAND TO BOOST SALES
Regional dairy consumption set to double global growth of 3-4pc this year
AMIR HISYAM RASID SUBANG bt@mediaprima.com.my
FONTERRA Brands (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd foresees stronger sales in the local and export markets on growing consumption of dairy products in Southeast Asia.
Managing director Jose Miguel Porraz-Lando said Fonterra expected the dairy consumption in the region to double the global consumption growth of three to four per cent this year.
“We are very focused on growing our exports. We see the consumption (of dairy) is growing every year in Malaysia as well as globally.
“In Malaysia, we see consumption growing an additional one kg from 46kg per person every year, getting closer to 65kg per person every year in Singapore.
“The world average is about 110kg per person every year. We are also witnessing consumption in other markets growing at a very fast pace,” he said, here, yesterday.
Fonterra chose Malaysia as its hub to serve the local market and other 13 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
The dairy giant has reopened its Susumas facility in Shah Alam after investing RM20 million on upgrading the plant infrastructure to boost manufacturing capacity.
“The upgrade will allow us to blend and pack around 30,000 tonnes of milk powder products a year, which is one billion serves of dairy nutrition.
“This puts us in a strong position to meet the growing demand for dairy nutrition, driven by the region’s fast-growing middle-class and population growth,” said Porraz-Lando.
Meanwhile, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said it aimed to increase total trade between Malaysia and New Zealand by 10 per cent in 2020.
Last year, he said, Malaysia’s total trade with New Zealand stood at RM5.46 billion, with exports of RM2.82 billion and imports worth RM2.63 billion.
“New Zealand is one of our strongest and closest trade partners. We are glad that it has grown from strength-tostrength. Our long-standing friendship is based on strong ties in trade, education, security and defence, and tourism,” he said.