Seafood Giant Sees $5bn Revenue in 2015 Via Growth

However, Wai Yat Paco Lee, the company's financial controller, yesterday said the company would maintain Thailand as its major production base and distribution centre for other countries, because of the Kingdom's good infrastructure, reports TheNation.

The company may consider expanding its business to other Asean member states such as Burma and Cambodia if those countries develop infrastructure to serve investment in the future, he said.

TUF expects sales of almost $4 billion this year, which would be 15 per cent above last year $3.2 billion. An annual 15-per-cent increase is also targeted in the following two years.

Mr Lee said the company should grow strongly thanks to rising global demand for tuna and shrimp, which are its major products.

In spite of an economic slowdown in European markets, demand for canned and frozen seafood has not fallen as tuna and shrimp are considered to be cheap sources of protein, he added.

TUF expects significant growth of seafood-product sales in both price and volume terms. To achieve its growth target by 2015, the firm will strengthen its local corporate brand as well as expand to new markets benefiting from the Asean Economic Community's implementation, Mr Lee said.

The company has already invested in Indonesia and Viet Nam.

However, under its current merger and acquisition plan, TUF will focus mainly on the European and US markets, as they have good infrastructure and strong demand for the company's products.

At present, more than 90 per cent of TUF's production is for export. Major destinations are the US, which accounts for 36 per cent of income, followed by the European market with 32 per cent, Japan with 10 per cent and Africa with three per cent. Other overseas markets are Canada and countries in Oceania, Asia, the Middle East and South America.

Last year, 52 per cent of TUF's overseas sales were from its own brands, up from 45 per cent in 2010. By major product, 48 per cent of sales were from tuna, up from 30 per cent in 2010, and 24 per cent from frozen shrimp.

Mr Lee said the government policy to raise the daily minimum wage to Bt300 would not affect the company, as it had already adjusted operations and increased production capacity two years ago.

As a large firm, TUF has achieved an economy of scale and relies more on machinery and technology. An increase in labour costs should not affect a business of TUF's size, but will affect small and medium-sized enterprises, he said.

Meanwhile, the company reported a net profit rise of 77 per cent last year to Bt5.075 billion.

TUF's share price increased by 12.5 per cent in 2011, and has risen by 22.2 per cent this year. The company expects to see a continued positive trend in its stock price, Lee said. Its shares closed at Bt69.50 yesterday.