$19 mln agro-processing plant inaugurated in central Vietnam

Sao Mai Agro Processing JSC on Sunday launched the full operations of its VND500 billion ($19 million) agricultural and herbal processing plant in the central province of Quang Ngai.

Covering over 50,000 square meters, the state-of-the-art plant is equipped with fully imported Italian processing lines and meets global standards including FSSC 22000, Halal, Kosher, GACC, and FDA certifications.

The facility will focus on export markets such as Europe, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and China. Key products include fruit juices, juice concentrates, fresh and dried fruits, freeze-dried cordyceps, and fermented beverages such as fruit and herbal wines.

With a processing capacity of 10,000 tons of fruit annually, the plant is projected to generate up to $100 million in annual revenue. It will also provide stable employment for hundreds of local workers, particularly from ethnic minority communities, with average monthly incomes of over VND12 million ($455).

Alongside the factory, Sao Mai is developing a 2,000-hectare raw material zone in Quang Ngai, focusing on key crops such as passion fruit, pineapple, mango, and guava. The company pledges full support to farmers, from seed and cultivation techniques to guaranteed offtake.

The company also places strong emphasis on digital transformation, applying technologies like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems to optimize production, internal management, and supply chain operations.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Hoang Giang praised the plant's opening as a significant milestone for the province’s underdeveloped western region.

“This project creates vital links between farmers and businesses, building a closed-loop value chain, from farming and sourcing to processing and export. It also brings modern German-imported equipment and production standards that will meet high-demand markets, especially in Europe,” he noted.

Giang called on Sao Mai to ramp up stable production, diversify product offerings, secure long-term export contracts, and ensure strong environmental practices. He also urged local authorities and relevant agencies to support the company with favorable conditions and policy guidance.

On July 1, the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum and the central province of Quang Ngai were merged to form the new Quang Ngai province.