Vinamilk has been included in the list of the 100 most valuable companies in ASEAN.

(Baonghean.vn) - Nikkei Asian Review magazine has just announced the list of the 100 most valuable companies in Southeast Asia in 2015, in which Vinamilk continues to be the only dairy company in Vietnam to make it into the top 100 most valuable businesses in ASEAN.

In the 2015 ASEAN 100 (Southeast Asia's Most Valuable Companies) ranking, Vietnam had five companies: Vinamilk, PetroVietnam Gas, Vietcombank, Vingroup, and FPT. Among these five companies, and as in the Vietnamese market as a whole, Vinamilk had the largest market capitalization, estimated at over US$6.6 billion (according to Nikkei data, November 25, 2015). Singapore had 25 representatives on the list, Malaysia 22, Indonesia 25, the Philippines 22, and Thailand 25.

According to Nikkei Asian Review: “Vinamilk is Vietnam’s largest dairy company and produces a wide variety of dairy products, accounting for approximately 50% of the Vietnamese dairy market. Vinamilk was established in 1976 and began trading on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange in 2006.”

Vinamilk's potential is recognized internationally as very strong, leading foreign investors to own 49% of the company. According to a market research agency's study, milk consumption has increased more than 20-fold in Vietnam over the past 20 years, and Vinamilk has contributed significantly to this result. Vinamilk's CEO is Ms. Mai Kieu Lien, born in France in 1953, who studied dairy processing in the former Soviet Union before returning to Vietnam. She was selected by Forbes as one of Asia's 50 most powerful female entrepreneurs.

The Nikkei Asian Review's list of the top 100 ASEAN companies also provides details on market capitalization and profits of companies in the region. Accordingly, Southeast Asian companies are on an increasingly strong growth trend, with 44 companies in the top 100 ASEAN having a market capitalization of over $10 billion and 24 companies having profits exceeding $1 billion.

Recently, in Manila, Philippines, Vinamilk was honored and awarded the prize for the company with the best corporate governance score in Vietnam at the ASEAN Corporate Governance Awards ceremony. In Vietnam, Vinamilk is also the only dairy brand in the Vietnamese dairy industry to be honored as a National Brand four times in a row by the Vietnamese Government. Vinamilk is also the leading brand in Vietnam in the list of the 50 most valuable brands in Vietnam, as announced by the brand valuation consulting firm Brand Finance (UK) in early October.

Currently in Vietnam, Vinamilk holds approximately 53% of the liquid milk market share, 84% of the yogurt market share, and 80% of the condensed milk market share. Vinamilk also has a widespread distribution and sales network; in Vietnam, Vinamilk products are currently available at more than 212,000 retail outlets, 100 company-owned product showrooms, and 650 supermarkets nationwide.

In the first nine months of 2015, despite fierce competition from domestic and foreign companies, Vinamilk achieved impressive business results, exceeding its targets. Net revenue in the third quarter reached VND 10,549 billion, a 20.5% increase compared to the same period in 2014. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2015 reached VND 5,877 billion, a 35.4% increase compared to the same period in 2014, thanks to a shift in product portfolio structure and a focus on high-performing products.

Over the past two years, Vinamilk has put into operation two new mega-factories producing powdered milk and liquid milk in Binh Duong, with a total investment of over 4,400 billion VND. The Vietnam Liquid Milk Factory boasts a massive capacity – over 400 million liters of milk per year in phase 1 and increasing to 800 million liters per year in phase 2. This factory utilizes the world's most advanced integrated and automated technology from Tetra Pak. All equipment and machinery, especially the LGV robots, operate automatically, controlled by a central computer system, along with the first and largest smart warehouse in Vietnam. The Vietnam Powdered Milk Factory has a capacity of 54,000 tons per year, making it one of the largest factories in Southeast Asia. The operation of these factories has helped Vinamilk meet domestic demand and also ensures its ability to serve its growing export needs in recent years.

Vinamilk has also invested 22.8% in the Miraka factory (New Zealand), 70% in the Driftwood factory (USA), holds 51% in a factory in Cambodia, and opened a subsidiary in Poland as a gateway for Vinamilk's commercial activities in Europe. Vinamilk's products are currently available in more than 40 countries worldwide, including Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China, Turkey, Russia, Canada, the USA, and Australia. Vinamilk is continuing to seek and expand its markets into Europe, Africa, South America, and other regions.

Beyond its focus on production and business, Vinamilk has been actively involved in community activities. Over the past nearly 40 years, it has undertaken numerous meaningful programs such as the "School Milk Program," the "Rising Vietnam" Milk Fund, and the "One Million Trees for Vietnam" Fund.

PV