CEO Vanus Taepaisitphongse said the two new feed mills opened yesterday would not only increase production capacity, but also enable the company to achieve international standards in the animal-feed industry.

"The company will step forward focusing on safety-and-quality-led competitiveness. The animal-feed business is the group's main potential growth area this year," he said.

Chief operating officer Vasit Taepaisitphongse said the group had spent Bt1.06 billion on the two feed mills in Lop Buri. One will produce aquaculture feed and the other chicken feed.

The aquaculture feed mill will be operated by the Betagro Agro Group, with monthly production capacity of 8,000 tonnes - which can be increased to 16,000 tonnes. The business will serve rising marketing demand, particularly from fish farms and ornamental-fish businesses and pet shops.

The group's aquaculture feed business is expected to grow an average of 7 per cent annually. As a result, the group's total sales from aquaculture and pet feed are targeted to reach Bt700 million this year, of which aquaculture will generate Bt400 million.

BTG Feed Mill has been set up to operate the other new mill, which will focus its production entirely on chicken feed. Output will mainly serve major chicken-farm operators and the group's integrated chicken unit.

Vasit said that overall group revenues were expected to grow 10 per cent to Bt30 billion this year, from Bt26 billion last year. Betagro will re-evaluate its revenue situation in March.