The Philippines is seeking to boost production of dried cocoa beans
under a 10-year plan designed to reduce its dependence on imports
and target new export markets.
The world's biggest shopaholics are most likely to be found in
Asia-Pacific markets, suggests a new study, which shatters the
common belief that Americans are the keenest shoppers.
Prima Agri-Products, one of Malaysia's largest manufacturers of
Halal meat products, has joined up with Australian heavyweight food
maker, Comgroup, to help it tap growing demand for its products in
new markets.
Several provinces in western and northern China are facing food
shortages due to a prolonged drought that has left hundreds of
reservoirs dry and tens of thousands of wells either dry or nearly
empty, reported the UN's Food and...
Asia Pacific Breweries is making headway in its aim to become the
region's leading brewer, with its first acquisition in the world's
second most populous nation, India.
Philippines-based Universal Robina will spend P5.6 billion (€87m)
this year to expand its branded foods range and increase its
presence in other Asian markets, URC president Lance Gokongwei told
reporters last week.
Uni-President, Taiwan's biggest food group, is looking for private
equity to allow it to expand further in the Chinese beverage
sector, according to a report.
South Korean brewer Hite announced Friday it work with Jinro, the
country's leading distiller, to create the leading bottled water
brand on the national market.
PepsiCo has announced it will invest another $850m in China over
the next three years in recognition of the country as a rapidly
emerging market for soft drinks and snack foods.
The proportion of value-added food and beverage products exported
from New Zealand has continued to rise steadily against commodity
products, with the value-added sector enjoying growth of nearly 10
per cent in the past five years.
More productive sugarcane varieties can be delivered two to three
years earlier, say Australian scientists, helping the sugar
industry maintain its productivity and sustainability.
Consumption of vitamins and minerals in China is growing, thanks to
immense economic growth and the emergence of a new consumer
culture. There may be opportunities for foreign companies to export
to the country to make up for a shortfall...
Vietnam has announced that seafood exports have risen during the
first four months of the year, despite ongoing trading difficulties
with the US, Tom Armitage reports.
Japanese food safety authorities have ordered further testing, after two cows were diagnosed with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) during preliminary screening, Tom Armitage reports.
The Philippines may have to import more rice than it has for seven
years if a prevailing drought cuts rice production as feared,
suggested a senior agricultural official.
Heineken last week announced its decision to acquire a 40 per cent
stake in the Chinese brewery Jiangsu DaFuHao, after intimating in
its February results that it would continue to look for investment
opportunities.
Enzymotec, the Israeli company which develops lipid-based
ingredients for the nutraceuticals and functional foods markets, is
hoping to take advantage of a perceived demand for healthy cooking
oils in the Asia Pacific region.
Thirty-two Chinese companies are to appeal against a ruling by the
US Department of Commerce which found them guilty of dumping large
quantities of shrimps onto the US market and imposed punitive
import duties.
China is becoming an increasingly potent force in the worlds food
market, with sales continuing to grow each year in line with
substantial gains in consumer spending power, writes Chris
Jones.
China Food Industries has announced plans to triple the size of its
cold room facilities, despite announcing a fall in sales for the
full year ending in December.
The world's biggest food retail groups are continuing to strengthen
their positions in the massive Chinese market, buoyed by a recent
relaxation of the regulations requiring them to use local partners.
Carrefour and Wal-Mart...
Europe and the US continue to dominate demand in the €4.5 billion
flavours market, but Asia Pacific region is quickly catching up
thanks to high single-digit growth, reveal figures from a new
report.
The Vietnam Food Association says that in 2005 turnover in rice
exports is expected to reach $1 billion, but with no plans to
increase crop growing areas, the target may well prove difficult to
reach.
A significant drive from Asian rice producers has helped boost
global paddy production in 2004 to an estimated record 611 million
tonnes. But the Food and Agriculture Organisation says that supply
is still not meeting needs, writes...
With the market for canned food doubling in size in the course of
the last eight years, further growth is expected in line with the
rapidly expanding China economy in the coming years.
The rising price of global freight and fuel costs means that food
business worldwide need to streamline their operations. As the
transport requirement of China continue to put pressure on shipping
availabiliy, a new report suggests...
A rise in global stocks of wheat after a 30-year low will offer
continued relief to the tighter prices experienced by the food
industry in previous years, but the food chain still needs to stay
on the alert.
Latest research from market analyst Mintel shows that the Asia
Pacific rim is bursting with food and nutraceutical innovations
such as banana-flavoured mayonnaise and green tea cereal.
Vietnam plans to earn at least $2 billion in revenue from agro-food
exports to the European Union by 2010. The pledge comes in the face
of tough trade, health and safety regulations imposed by the EU
authorities, which should make...
With coffee sales in China growing by 90 per cent in the five years
up to 2003, international companies are queuing up to carve up
their slice of a market. Although tea is still the mainstay, the
rapid switch to all things western...
China's food industry grew by 26.2 per cent in the first six months
of this year. And despite rising power and ingredients prices, The
China National Food Industry Association says that continued
economic strength, backed by...
In Asia rising meat consumption is being fed by an increasing
number of highly refined and processed product launches. A look at
the Mintel's databases reveals that pâte, meat balls, cheese-filled
hotdogs are all on the menu.
Although Asian consumers have traditionally sought out their
vegetables in 'wet' markets, a lack of time and increasing income
levels is leading to a boom in the packaged vegetables sector, as
the latest releases from Mintel...
Thailand's tropical climate is said to have fuelled the country's
thirst for soft drinks, with consumption growing steadily in recent
years. The latest report from Canadean points to the fact that rapid
consumption of bottled...
US ingredients giant ADM saw double-digit sales growth for the year
but overall profits were dragged down by a volatile soybean market
in China. The company said that many cancelled orders from soy meal
buyers there had particularly...
The Philippines-based San Miguel Corporation has broken ground on a
non-alcoholic beverage facility in South Vietnam. The move comes as
part of the company's plans to increase its operations outside the
domestic market - aims...
The latest Euromonitor report on the global soft drinks market
suggests that it is Asia that is the driving force behind market
growth. With this in mind we take a look at the latest soft drinks
launches in the region from the Mintel...
French drinks group Rémy Cointreau has reported double-digit growth
in the first quarter of 2004, driven by strong gains in Asia and
the US, but continued weakness in its domestic market took a toll
on Champagne sales.
Nutrition House, part of the consumer goods group Pan Group, has
expanded its frozen ready-to-eat meals line with the launch of a
line of vegetarian meals, claimed to be the first product of its
type on the market in Thailand. The...
Carlsberg
and the Danish Industrialization Fund for Developing Countries
(IFU) have drawn up an agreement with Lanzhou Huanghe Enterprise
Group to acquire 50 per cent of the LanzhouHuanghe Brewery's
operations in the Gansu...
The Thai department of agriculture says its is rapidly moving
towards the development of its tropical fruit production in the
country in an effort to gain a leading edge in an increasingly
liberalised pan-Asia Pacific market.
Asian shrimp farmers have described a US ruling to increase tariffs
as 'regrettable' after increases of up to 112 per cent were slapped
on Chinese and Vietnamese producers' exports.
