ADM expands production capabilities in China

The Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Co. celebrated the openings of two Chinese plants with a ribbon-cutting Nov. 13 in Tianjin, China.

In attendance at the ceremony was ADM Chief Executive Officer Juan Luciano and government officials and representatives from Matsutani Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. The Tianjin plant will produce Fibersol soluble dietary fiber.

A day earlier, Luciano opened a feed-premix plant in the eastern city of Nanjing, China.

Fibersol -- which increases fiber in food and beverages without changing taste, color or texture -- will be sold and marketed through a collaboration between ADM and Matsutani. The Tianjin plant has the ability to produce 15,000 metric tons per year which will help meet the 13 percent annual growth rate of demand for soluble dietary fiber around the world.

“As more and more Chinese citizens enter the middle class, we expect that demand for Fibersol and other value-added food ingredients made by ADM will remain robust well into the future,” Luciano said.

The facility in Nanjing will produce nutritional pre-mixes for animals to promote health and growth. ADM hopes to produce 30,000 metric tons per year at the Nanjing facility.

“As China continues transitioning from a manufacturing-driven economy to a consumption-based economy, its middle class will continue to expand, and meat consumption will continue to grow,” Luciano said, “We therefore are confident that demand for the livestock feeds and feed ingredients we produce will continue to increase over the course of the next decade.”