Myre factory facilities in Norway. (Photo Credit: BioMar)

BioMar to invest EUR 50m to increase Norwegian production

The Danish company BioMar plans to invest more than EUR 50 million in a new production line that will expand the company's capacity in Norway by 30 per cent. The move consolidates BioMar's prominent position in what is the world's most advanced fish farming country.  

BioMar has resolved to expand the company's output capacity in Norway by 140,000 tonnes of fish feed per year, relative to its current production capacity of about 430,000 tonnes. The company, which is owned by Danish industrial conglomerate Schouw & Co., is the world's third-largest producer of feed for salmon and generates annual revenue of more than EUR 1.2 billion.  

“Expanding our capacity is a major strategic move intended to consolidate our position in Norway. The Norwegian market is the most advanced of its kind in the world, and it's extremely important for us to have a strong position there. The overall Norwegian market is 1.7 million tonnes today, so our capacity expansion equals just over 8 per cent of the total market consumption. Considering the attractive historic and expected market growth, this year projected at 6 per cent or about 100,000 tonnes, there is an ongoing need for capacity expansion,” explains BioMar CEO Torben Svejgård.  

The new production line is expected to be operational in 2016. Based on preliminary analysis, the expansion is expected to take place at the existing plant at Karmøy, but the further planning process may lead to a different conclusion.  

“We completed a major expansion of our large plant at Myre in northern Norway only three years ago, and current considerations involve the pros and cons of having an independent new unit as opposed to optimising overall operations at an existing plant. We constantly focus on process enhancement, and our new production facilities will be among the most advanced in the world complete with state-of-the-art technology,” he continued. 

The investment will be the biggest capacity expansion ever in Schouw & Co. company history. 

“BioMar is one of the world's largest players in the fish feed market, and the company has developed very well in recent years. Aquaculture is a EUR 50 billion global market growing at stable rates of 5–7 per cent annually, said Schouw CEO Jens Bjerg Sørensen.

"While Norway makes up only a relatively small part of the global market, it is the world's most advanced market and one that is essential for us. We are determined to share in the growth of the Norwegian market and see this investment a natural next step of our journey with BioMar,” he emphasised.  

The 140,000 tonne capacity increase corresponds to a revenue increase of EUR 130-150 million. The decision will not influence the revenue and earnings guidance for 2014.

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