Asia food giant eyes China soy expansion as fever kills hogs

PPB Group Bhd, which owns an 18.6% stake in Wilmar, derives about two-thirds of its income from the Singapore-listed firm.. (File pic shows Wilmar products on sale in China.)

SINGAPORE: Wilmar International Ltd, one of the world’s largest food producers, is planning to boost its soybean crushing capacity in China even as a deadly pig-killing virus cuts demand for animal feed.

Singapore-based Wilmar will build new plants as part of a project to construct integrated manufacturing complexes in the country, the company said in an emailed statement, without giving a schedule. The group is bullish on the long-term prospects for China and is confident that animal meal demand will eventually recover, it said.