Saraburi:Cargill has announced a substantial investment exceeding $130 million over the coming two years to expand its poultry operations across Asia, driven by a rising global demand for protein and consumer interest in high-quality cooked poultry products.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this investment will focus on enhancing capacity and efficiency within Cargill's poultry network in Thailand and the Philippines. These efforts aim to bolster supply chain resilience and improve food safety, quality, and innovation for its global foodservice and retail clientele.
Watcharapon Prasopkiatpoka, Cargill's Vice President and Managing Director for Poultry APAC, stated that the investment would fortify the company's ability to deliver consistent quality poultry products that meet customer expectations. The initiative involves significant investments in infrastructure, technology, and human resources to meet the growing demand for high-quality protein, while also generating long-term economic benefits for farmers, businesses, suppliers, and local communities.
A significant feature of this expansion is the adoption of advanced technologies designed to optimize production processes and costs. This includes an expansion of production capacity in Thailand, with a new automated cooked chicken production line at Cargill's Saraburi plant, targeted for completion in 2028.
In addition to this, Cargill plans to implement significant technological advancements over the next two years, including the integration of state-of-the-art machinery and artificial intelligence for improved data processing, allowing for quicker and more precise decision-making.
Currently, Cargill exports cooked poultry products from Thailand to markets such as Japan, Europe, Asia, and North America. With the expansion, the total cooked volume is expected to reach approximately 160,000 metric tonnes, along with the creation of over 300 local jobs.
Moreover, a new 30,000 metric tonne grain silo is being constructed in Thailand to improve raw material storage and enhance grain procurement flexibility, offering local farmers additional income opportunities beyond traditional harvest seasons.
In the Philippines, Cargill is also building a new feed mill with an annual production capacity of 190,000 metric tonnes, scheduled for completion by late 2027. This facility is set to create over 100 jobs, enhance the poultry supply chain, and improve feed availability, efficiency, and reliability across its operations in the Philippines.