April 24, 2008
Uni-President Scores Record Profits of 424 M. RMB in China in 2007
Taipei, April 23, 2008 (CENS)--Thanks to rapid growth in China`s beverage market, Uni-President China Holdings Co. witnessed a whopping rise of 190% in profits last year, which hit a record high of 424 million renminbi (RMB or Chinese yuan), equivalent to about NT$19.08 billion or US$59.63 million.
Uni-President China Holdings is an affiliate of Uni-President Group, a leading food conglomerate in Taiwan. The latter owns a 73.5% stake in the former, while the former is in charge of the latter`s operations in China. Last year Uni-President China Holdings raked in revenues of 8.657 billion RMB (NT$38.96 billion or US$1.22 billion) for an annual growth of 9.8%.
Seeing the rosy picture in China, the group has recently decided to further funnel a total of 840 million RMB (NT$3.36 billion or US$105 million) into its 12 subsidiaries in China. The investment value is believed the largest of its kind ever launched by the group in recent years.
As of the third quarter of 2007, the maximum total investment value the group is allowed to launch in China was NT$12.7 billion (US$396.88 million), and in the same period, the group already invested a total of NT$10.2 billion (US$318.75 million) there, running close to the ceiling.
In 2007 the group scored total profits of more than NT$10 billion (US$312.5 million), enlarging its net worth and thus helping raise the ceiling for its investment in China. Accordingly, the group is able to launch more investments in China this year.
Insiders analyzed that Uni-President Group`s thick profits gained in China were mainly fueled by the thriving beverage market there. Last year the group`s fruit juice and tea drinks enjoyed booming sales in China, with its tea drinks taking a market share of 30%, the second highest among the tea drink suppliers there.
In recent years, China`s beverage market has maintained a double-digit annual growth yearly. To further explore the market in China, Uni-President will also promote bottled mineral waters, tea milk, and coffee, in addition to fruit juicy and tea drinks.
(by Judy Li)