Cargill Invests Over US$130 Mln To Expand Asia Poultry Operations

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Cargill has announced an investment of more than US$130 million over the next two years to expand its poultry operations across Asia, driven by growing global protein demand and consumer appetite for high-quality cooked poultry products. (US$1 = RM4.08)

The investment encompasses capacity and efficiency enhancements across Cargill’s poultry network in Thailand and the Philippines to strengthen supply chain resilience and enhance food safety, quality and innovation for its foodservice and retail customers globally.

Cargill Vice President and Managing Director, Poultry APAC, Watcharapon Prasopkiatpoka said the investment would strengthen the company’s ability to deliver poultry products with the quality and consistency required by customers.

“By investing in infrastructure, technology and people, we are serving the growing demand from customers for high-quality protein while creating long-term economic value for farmers, businesses, suppliers and local communities,” he said in a statement.

A key component of the investment is the deployment of advanced technologies to optimise production processes and costs, alongside expanded production capacity in Thailand. The initiative includes a new automated cooked chicken production line at Cargill’s poultry processing plant in Saraburi, expected to be completed in 2028.

Over the next two years, the company will also make significant technological upgrades, incorporating state-of-the-art machinery and artificial intelligence (AI) into data processing to enable faster and more accurate decision-making.

Cargill currently exports cooked poultry products from Thailand to Japan, Europe, Asia and North America. With the expansion, its total cooked volume is expected to increase to approximately 160,000 metric tonnes, while creating more than 300 jobs for local communities.

The company is also constructing a new 30,000 metric tonnes grain silo in Thailand to enhance raw material storage and provide greater flexibility in grain procurement throughout the year, while creating additional income opportunities for local farmers beyond the traditional harvest season.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, Cargill is constructing a new feed mill with an annual production capacity of 190,000 metric tonnes, expected to be completed by late 2027. The facility will generate more than 100 jobs and help strengthen the poultry supply chain while improving feed availability, efficiency and reliability across its Philippines operations.

-- BERNAMA