Victam Asia 2010 expects strong showing

Victam is known throughout the world of animal feed production as the name given to a series of feed-specific events held across various countries. The next regional edition for the Asian market, Victam Asia, returns to Bangkok, Thailand, on March 2-5, 2010.

The event should be positive for poultry feed producers, given the forecast upturn in Asia’s poultry production. However, at Victam Asia 2010 visitors will find more than an upbeat industry. This time, there will be three linked shows, all running in parallel at the same venue.

In addition to Victam, dedicated to the equipment and systems needed to run a feed mill or petfood plant, there will be FIAAP Asia, presenting feed ingredients and additives used in animal feed, petfood and aquafeed applications and also a new segment fair called GRAPAS Asia, to serve grain processing for human food applications.

These three exhibitions take place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), a modern exhibitions complex in the Klongtoey district of central Bangkok. Local travel to and from the QSNCC venue has become easy, with the opening in 2004 of its own station on the MRTA subway of the city’s mass transit system.

The QSNCC has been home to Victam Asia since the first edition of the show in 1991. Feed Ingredients and Additives Asia Pacific (FIAPP Asia) was added in 2008, an expansion that had the effect of increasing the number of registered visitors by 55 percent, compared with the previous edition two years earlier. This meant an attendance of more than 6,000 people from 69 countries. Exhibitor numbers also grew, to 148, and the total exhibition space they occupied was up by 43 percent.

More positive 2010

Asia has not suffered to the same extent as some other regions in the economic downturn. In China, for example, broiler production is thought to have risen by 2 percent in 2009 and is forecast to expand by a further 3 percent this year, offering a positive outlook for the region’s poultry feed producers.

While 2009 may have started sluggishly for the Chinese poultry industry, the second half saw an improvement, not only in response to continued growth in the Chinese economy but also as a result of higher pork prices. Of additional benefit to China’s poultry producers was that feed prices were down from 2008.

Modest growth is also forecast for host country Thailand, where production is predicted to rise by 4 percent this year, due to higher domestic and international demand. For 2009, broiler production in thought to have expanded by 2 percent. The EU and Japan will remain the main markets for Thai exports, however, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong will also be export destinations.

Domestic broiler meat consumption is forecast to increase by 5 percent this year due to the recovery in the Thai economy. In 2009, it is thought to have risen by only 1 percent.

In Japan, the outlook for the coming months is not so favourable, but there signs that the economy is now improving. Broiler meat consumption in 2010 is forecast to be stable at 1.96 million metric tons.

Bigger and better

For this, the 10th staging of Victam Asia, show organizers Victam International report that, with the demand for stand space for the parallel shows having filled the convention centre’s plenary hall, an additional area has been booked to accommodate extra exhibitors. By November 2009, some 120 companies had indicated that they would be exhibiting.

Henk van de Bunt, general manager Victam International, has confirmed that the combination of Victam Asia with FIAPP will be bigger than 2008’s edition. Not only have more exhibitors booked space this time, but many are opting to have a larger stand. There will be more equipment on show, and ingredient suppliers will have more personnel on hand to explain their products.

Admission to the combined fed and grain event is free of charge. Opening hours are 10:00 until 18:00 on March 3-4 and 10:00 to 17:00 to March 5.