Lotte plans to make Thailand regional export hub after opening of new plant
Japan-based Lotte has decided to establish Thailand as its regional export hub in advance of the Asean Economic Community in 2015 after opening a Bt1-billion plant this year in Chon Buri.
Toshifumi Kojima, managing director of Thai Lotte Co, said yesterday that the facility sat on a 60-rai (9.6-hectare) site at Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate.
The company makes and distributes Lotte chewing gum and confectionery products and Lotte Koala’s March cookies.
The new plant adds 2,400 tonnes to its existing capacity of 3,000 tonnes per year to serve domestic demand better, ship more products to other Southeast Asian countries and prepare for new production lines in the future.
Lotte decided to establish Thailand as its production base because of the growth potential of the country.
“Thailand is well equipped in human resources, advanced technology, exporting capacity and infrastructure to fully support our expansion plans. Thailand is also our largest market. Following the strengths, we are confident that the country will serve as the centre of exports to the Southeast Asian markets.
“We have also come up with a plan to distribute our products from Thailand to other markets around the world,” he said.
This year the company will focus on a Bt90-million, 360-degree marketing strategy.
The company targets revenue growing to Bt1.5 billion this year from Bt1.2 billion last year.
Thai Lotte operates two plants in Chon Buri – one at Sriracha Industrial Estate for chewing gum and confectionery products and the other at Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate for cookies.
