Aquatic feed maker Skretting has opened a new shrimp feed plant in Vietnam which will serve the country’s fast-growing shrimp sector, according to a press release.

The plant was opened by executives from Skretting and Dutch firm Nutreco — Skretting’s parent company — during an opening ceremony on June 23.

Based in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s biggest shrimp production region, the plant is 23,000 square meters and has an initial annual production capacity of 60,000 metric tons. The facility is located in the Thuan Dao Industrial Zone, Long An, near to transport links to other important farming provinces in the Mekong Delta.

The company said the facility will produce Skretting’s functional health feed for shrimp, Lorica, which is formulated for different life cycles of shrimp, and help serve Vietnam’s “fast-growing shrimp sector reach its full potential”.

Samson Li, managing manager of Nutreco Asia, said: “Building this new state-of-the-art plant in Vietnam underlines the strong commitment that we have long shown to our customers in this very important country. This investment will be a vital contributor to the progress of Vietnam’s aquaculture industry and meeting the dietary needs of its fast growing population.”

Marc Le Poul, general manager of Skretting South Asia, added: “Building on several years of experience operating in Vietnam, we feel that 2017 is the year for our ambition to reach new heights.”

Alex Obach, managing director at “Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre”, the global research organization for Skretting, said Lorica is designed to shield shrimp during challenging phases in their lifecycle, including transfer and handling. He added its formulation delivers support to the defense mechanisms of these animals, enabling them to better cope with stress factors.

Skretting entered Vietnam in 2010 through the acquisition of Tomboy Aquafeed, a Vietnamese fish and shrimp feed company. Skretting Vietnam now conducts research, raw material procurement, as well as provides products and services for aquaculture in the country.

Source: Undercurrent News. Date: 2017-07-06