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Thai Roong Ruang sees sugar exports rising 20% |
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The Thai Roong Ruang Sugar Group, the country's second-biggest sugar producer, expects exports to grow 20% this year helped by abundant crops, strong demand and an expansion in output, according to executive director Utai Asadatorna. Last year, the company exported a total of 889,000 tonnes of raw and white sugar. Its traditional customers are Indonesia, the Middle East, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Europe. ''We have a bigger crop this year. In the meantime, we have already expanded our capacity so we expect better sales this year,'' Mr. Utai said yesterday. Thailand's sugar crop this year is estimated to be around 7.2 million tonnes, up 8.4% from 6.7 million tonnes in the 2006-07 seasons, as farmers shift to growing sugarcane for better profit, Agriculture Ministry data show. Mr. Utai said the group, which runs seven sugar factories, had expanded its capacity to 1.28 million tonnes, up 5% from last year. The company exports around 70% of the sugar it produces annually. Overseas demand was expected to remain firm, especially in Indonesia and the Middle East where Mr. Utai said Thai Roong Ruang planned to expand its sales gradually. ''We expect Indonesia to further buy raw and white sugar this year while demand for refined sugar in the Middle East should remain strong,'' he said. The company shipped around 60,000 to 80,000 tonnes of raw and white sugar per month to fill orders committed earlier this year, according to data from the Industry Ministry, which oversees the sugar industry. Thai Roong is expected to maintain its strong domestic market share, Mr. Utai said, with Thai sugar consumption likely to rise slightly with a growing population and economic growth.
''We enjoy our 20% domestic market share and will maintain
this scale,'' he said. |
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Bangkok Post, 14.05.2008 |
