San Miguel’s Malaysian packaging unit posts 16% sales growth in Jan-Oct

Barely a year since it was acquired by food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp., the Malaysian-based San Miguel Plastic Films Sdn. Bhd. registered a 16 percent growth in sales revenues in the 10 months ending October this year to 51.07 million ringgit or about P725 million.

San Miguel Plastic Films is one of the four facilities of San Miguel Packaging Malaysia Operations acquired from Guolene Packaging Industries Bhd. last January.

The acquisition was part of a strategy to become a major player not only in food and beverage, but also in packaging in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aside from plastic films, the San Miguel Packaging Malaysia Operations also produces flexible packaging, cartons and paperboard (San Miguel Packaging & Printing Sdn. Bhd.); woven products and radiant barrier (San Miguel Woven Products Sdn. Bhd); and maintains a research and development center (Packaging Research Center Sdn. Bhd.)

The Malaysian acquisition is seen to transform San Miguel’s own packaging division into a regional manufacturer of flexible packaging products. It will also allow the firm to penetrate high-value and high-tech industries such as electronics and logistics.

Since one of San Miguel Packaging’s key thrusts is develop new packaging formats, its Malaysian operations’ packaging technology will enable it to expand its packaging portfolio to include products such as radiant barrier, plastic films and micro-flute cartons.

San Miguel also intends to market its Malaysia Operations’ products in the Philippines and in the region.