ANNUAL REPORT 2011 - Thecorporatelibrary.net

shrimp prices being favorable all the year round
In reference to the shrimp epidemics, the
unprecedented presence of EMS (Early Mortality
Syndrome) among Thai farmed shrimps was
detected for the first time in farming areas in
Chanthaburi Province, in addition to the already
prevailing white spot syndrome. The spread of
the recently detected disease, if occurred, would
inevitably damage Thai shrimp farming crops, akin
to the earlier occurrences in China and Malaysia.
With alarming sign in sight, Thai farmers need to
develop and have in place their proactive measures
against probable EMS epidemics along with
them properly and timely realign their strategies
in response to emerging challenges and therefore
maintain their competitiveness in global shrimpfarming
industry.
However, TFM anticipated that 2012 should see
annual Thai shrimp farming output hover around
the same level of 2011, namely with either
increase or decrease within a 10% range from
2011. Concerning price trends, shrimp prices
should remain favorable until April 2012 with
possibility to further stay in satisfactory level
through the entire year provided that there is no
considerable year-on-year increase in farming
output in Thailand and other shrimp-producing
countries during the year. Statistics show that over
99% of commercial shrimp farming activities in
Thailand involves white shrimp whereas there is less
than 1% farming activities related to black tiger
shrimp. Currently, over 25% of Thai farmers has
introduced auto feed device in their farms in order
to ward off pressures from the ongoing tight labor
supply and the forthcoming hike of minimum daily
wage to Bt300, to be in effect in April 2012. It is
estimated that the auto feed users in commercial
shrimp farming environment will double in number
to 50% by 2012 year-end.
Thai Union Hatchery Co., Ltd. (TUH)
Thai Union Hatchery Co., Ltd. (TUH) is a manufacturer
of high-quality white shrimps (Penaeus vannamei)
nauplii for distribution to customers of Thai Union
Feedmill Co., Ltd. (TFM) and domestic shrimp farmers.
TUH operates under strong quality commitment to
ensure continual provision of unparalleled products
and services to customers.
In 2011, TUH delivered 30% year-on-year sales
growth for its nauplii products while shrimp juvenile
posted sales in the neighborhood of the prior year
level. During the third quarter of the year, plankton
production house was adapted and its function
was shifted to sand worm production. The output
of the in-house sand worm production was used
on imported sand worm supply. During the year,
TUH was accredited with Best Aquaculture Practices
(ACC) for its standard practices on shrimp culture
and processing in compliance with international
institutional guidelines.
In 2012, TUH has set its annual growth target at
50% from 2011 for both nauplii and shrimp juvenile
products. Areas of special emphasis in 2012 will be
maintenance and improvement of product and
service quality. TUH also plans to implement hatchery
facility extension plan during the year to its
production site in Amphoe Sathingphra, Songkhla
Province. The purpose of the hatchery extension
project is to increase production capacity to better
serve target customer groups in upper southern
region. In addition, another initiative in the pipeline
is improvement and development of commercially
viable white shrimp breeds with special characteristics
in order to provide support for shrimp business
growth in the future. The breed engineering efforts
will be made in collaboration with other respective
state agencies.