Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) and Agthia Group's Agri Business Division, Grand Mills, have welcomed the first ever shipment of ˜soya bean meal' into Abu Dhabi, through Mina Zayed. Grand Mills has chosen to ship the bulk material directly into the UAE capital rather than relying on road transport from The first shipment of 11,000 metric tonnes of soya bean meal arrived today on the vessel MV Tarsus. A total of 55,000 metric tonnes is scheduled for import on an annual basis. Soya bean meal is the main raw component used in animal feed.

Agthia is a leading local producer of flour and animal feed, mineral water, juices, tomato paste, frozen vegetable, dairy products, besides being a long-standing tenant of ADPC at Mina Zayed. The vessel arrived at berth five and commenced discharge for storage straight into Grand Mills' allotted port warehouse alongside. By having the bulk cargo delivered closer to their warehouse and their processing unit, Grand Mills can dramatically reduce logistics costs and minimize the impact on the environmental by taking off from roads estimated 1800 truck movements annually.

Additionally, to support Grand Mills expansion plans ADPC have recently allotted an area of about 23,000 sqm in Mina Zayed. It is estimated that by importing and discharging cargo directly at Mina Zayed, Grand Mills is expected to generate savings.

Commenting on the new port business for Mina Zayed, Mohamed Al Shamisi, Acting-CEO, ADPC, said: Agthia Group's Agri Business Division, Grand Mills, has been a valued customer in Mina Zayed. Their recent plot expansion plans and now the move to shift their imports of bulk cargo " like the soya bean meal - to the port is an excellent endorsement of ADPC's operating excellence and management of Abu Dhabi's original maritime gateway.

Manolis Trigkonis, General Manager of Grand Mills added: ˜We continually monitor our shipping and logistic requirements and by working closely with ADPC we have been able to identify ways we can optimize and upgrade our operations. Our recent expansion means that we can now receive bulk cargo direct from the ship dramatically reducing our road haulage requirements - better for our production process, our customers and the environment.'