Loders Croklaan Rotterdam refinery set to be operational in October

The opening of the processing facility at the end of this year represents a big step forward for the company in terms of growth, volume and market.

23/05/05 Loders Croklaan has reported that the construction of its refinery in Rotterdam is on schedule to become operational in October. Malaysia’s Prime Minister, President Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi unveiled the highest point of Europe’s biggest palm oil refinery under construction last Friday on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam. The opening of the processing facility at the end of this year represents a big step forward for the company in terms of growth, volume and market.

The large majority of the raw palm oil to be processed in this refinery will originate from Malaysia where the company’s parent company– IOI Corporation Berhad – is registered. The company manages more than 160,000 hectares palm tree plantations across Malaysia. The new palm oil plant in Rotterdam has a processing capacity of 2,500 to 3,000 tons of raw palm oil per day and provides work to some seventy people.

The far-reaching cooperation with the parent company, combined with the new factory in Rotterdam, enables Loders Croklaan to target the traditional as well as alternative market segments, including the margarine and deep-frying market.

“The facility has a huge palm oil processing capacity. Together with our parent company, IOI Corporation Berhad, we currently control the entire production chain. This allows us to consistently monitor and trace the quality of both the raw palm oil and the refined end product, which provides for a strong position for our company. We have already been contacted by some big companies eager to tap into our capacity,” said Etienne Selosse, CEO Loders Croklaan after the unveiling.

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