17/03/14: Australian Malt processing plant in Vietnam

Western Australia's grain handler CBH Group's newest investment, a malt processing facility in Vietnam, started taking shape on Friday.

A two-year construction process on what will be the only malting plant in South East Asia valued at $75 million will be run by Intermalt, an offshoot of CBH part-owned Interflour.

The malting site, about two hours south of Ho Chi Min city, is part of a $150 million investment which will also include three new flour mills.

The barley facility is expected to process 110,000 tonnes of barley each year, a majority of which will come from Western Australian growers.

Intermalt general manager James Kirton is reportedly happy to see a project finally get off the ground and said "It's a great opportunity for the farmers in WA and our shareholders to finally realise the hard work that's been put into get to this stage. Over the next few months, we'll be leveling and raising the ground level so we're in line with the rest of the Interflour Vietnam port facility, so it's ready in the third quarter of this year for full construction to start on the civil works"

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