KEMIRA TO EXPAND IN ANIMAL NUTRITION THROUGH INVESTMENT IN SOLID FEED ACID PLANT IN HELSINGBORG, SWEDEN

Kemira is strengthening the animal nutrition business by an investment in a 40,000 tonnes per year plant to be built in Helsingborg, Sweden. The plant will be brought on stream during the second half of the year.

The BOLIFOR Feed Acids range from anti-microbial feed preservatives and silage additives to acidifying mineral supplements for compound, premixes and home mixing. The acids suppress harmful microbes while favouring the beneficial ones, which in a natural way preserves feed and supports a normal gut micro-flora. All BOLIFOR Feed Acids aid livestock production, and help maintain animal health - all for optimum profitability for the farmers.

Kemira Animal Nutrition's main products are feed phosphates, containing different levels of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and sodium. "The company intends to create growth in animal feed products by way of expanding its product range and developing its selection of even more sophisticated feed acid products in co-operation with our partners," comments Mr Michael Christensson, Vice President Kemira Agro, on their prospects.

Kemira ranks as the fourth biggest producer of feed phosphates globally, with production plants in Helsingborg, Sweden, in Kokkola, Finland, and in Fredericia, Denmark. Sales outlets cover over 70 countries worldwide. Kemira's South-African joint venture company KK Animal Nutrition Ltd is in charge of exports outside European countries.

It has been estimated that the annual sales levels of feed acids within the European Union will rise by approx. 10 to 15 % during the next five years. Consumption will rise e.g. due to EU's antibiotics ban on animal feeds, and the need to safeguard the entire food chain against infection risk through animal feeds caused by Salmonella, E coli or Campylobacter. Sales levels are expected to rise accordingly in countries outside the European Union.