Soft drink maker Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd may build new plants for its glass-making business in China & expects demand from the country to boost the division's sales by 10% in 2007. F&N Holdings, which produces Coca Cola drinks amongst others, also plans to upgrade its plant in Thailand & relocate another in Vietnam to increase business. The glass bottles & containers business accounted for 16.4% or MYR 314M of F&N Holdings turnover in fiscal 2006. F&N Holdings, 58.5% held by Singapore's Fraser & Neave Ltd, is valued at MYR 2.6BN. F&N Holdings, which runs two glass factories in Malaysia, may link up with glass-container buyers to build new plants in China's coastal areas. Having facilities near ports eases goods delivery to its multinational clients there & expedites exports. "In China, we are looking at (building new plants around) coastal regions like Qingdao and Guangzhou within these two years", F&N Holdings glass-containers department general manager Mogan Muniandy told Malaysia's Business Times recently. F&N Holdings runs an existing 270-tonne a day plant in Sichuan, China.
