Asia round-up: China M&A activitity booms

Further more, the report says that with many deals still in the pipeline, activity for the full year is expected to top $70 billion.

So far this year the food and beverage industry has seen significant foreign investment in a number of sectors which has helped to boost activity significantly. The retail industry has seen major activity, with giants such as Tesco and Walmart announcing major ventures.

On top of that the all the major international beer producers have been racing to increase their presence in what is now the largest beer market in the world by volume. Carlsberg, Anheuser-Busch and Scottish Newcastle have all announced major deals in the course of the last month.

Rising demand for dairy products is also leading to an increasing level of activity, as major domestic and international players race to consolidate what is still a highly fragmented market.

Soya prices hit Cofco​

Analysts are forecasting that first half profits for Cofco International, China's biggest supplier of soyabean meal could shrink by as much as one-third on the back of rising soyabean prices.

The analysts also say that the company is expected to announce that earning growth will fall by around 12 per cent, compared to the first six months of last year.

In China prices of soyabean have risen by up to 50 per cent in the course of the last six months as poor harvests and disease have hit global supplies. Cofco is one of China's largest buyers of soybeans, and any fluctuation is the supply price invariably has a direct affect on financial results.

The announcement comes in the same week that food giant ADM said its profits had been hit falling soybean meal demand in the China market.

Frog-in-a-can​

Poor villagers in rural Thailand are turning their hands to a now booming industry - canned fried frogs. According to a recent report in the Bangkok Post farmers in the Bo Talo village, part of the Wang Noi district, have turned there hand to a collective cottage industry that is now starting to garner orders from all over the world.

The business was started amongst villagers four years ago, who, racing to tap into the local market, almost came to financial ruin as more and more members of the community started up in the business. However, local farmers formed a group which has successfully organised the canning and exportation of the product.

Although the business is still conducted largely from people's home, export markets now include China, Taiwan and the US. Currently production is 2,000 cans a day, but that is soon expected to grow to 5,000 cans as demand continues to grow.