Crown to build second can plant in Cambodia

Crown

Can maker Crown is set to build a second beverage can plant in Cambodia.

The new plant, which will have an initial annual production capacity of 725 million two-piece 33cl aluminium cans, will be built in Sihanoukville.

Sihanoukville is on the Gulf of Thailand approximately 200km from the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. It is the country’s primary commercial port and is also enjoying growing tourism.

The facility, which will be sized to accommodate multiple can lines, is expected to be operational in the third quarter of 2013. Crown already has a two line operation in Phnom Penh.

“Cambodia is growing at a steady pace and this in turn is driving increased demand for our customers’ products, and we are experiencing a preference on their part for two-piece aluminium beverage cans,” says Jozef Salaerts, president of Crown Asia-Pacific. “This newest investment is supported by a long term contract with a major brewer and is consistent with the company’s growth plans. Crown has been manufacturing beverage cans in Southeast Asia for more than 40 years and this expansion project underscores our commitment to support the growing needs of our global and regional customers and to help them continue to build their brands in the region.”

Crown currently operates seven beverage can plants in Southeast Asia. The company has one plant each in Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand as well three plants in Vietnam (one in Hanoi and two in Ho Chi Minh City). Earlier this year the company announced plans to build a new beverage can plant in Danang, Vietnam which is expected to begin commercial production in second quarter of 2013.