Today Online | 17 October 2012

SINGAPORE -- Global commodity trading company Olam International is planning a number of initiatives to expand its portfolio of arabica coffee plantations, the Dow Jones news agency reported on Wednesday, citing Senior Vice President SV Padmanabhan.

The company plans to expand its acreage in Laos to 5,000 hectares from the 2,200 hectares currently in production, grow arabica in Medan, Indonesia, and acquire existing plantations in Brazil, Mr Padmanabhan said.

Clearing of land has begun on the 5,000 hectares Olam has leased in Ethiopia and coffee production is expected to begin in about four years, he said.