Sunflower sales in Pakistan fetch Advanta $6.21 mn

Advanta India, the Bangalore-based wholly owned subsidiary of United Phosphorus (UPL), has made significant progress in selling sunflower seeds in Pakistan. In 2006, the company managed to sell seeds worth $6.21 million.

"The company currently sells seeds in Pakistan through its Australia-based arm Pacific Seeds International, and has achieved significant sales landmarks there," said H Sateesh Hegde, chief operating officer, Advanta India, while announcing the company's IPO plans.

Pacific Seeds International sells sunflower seeds in 14 countries through its brands like Hyoleic 41, Hysun 38 and Sunbird 7. The company is also developing an international production strategy that utilises both Australian and off-shore production (India, Thailand and Argentina) centres aimed at improving margins, he added.Advanta India has operations in the United States, Australia, China, Latin America and Europe.

The company has been reorganised into its present form following UPL's acquisition of the businesses previously held by Advanta Netherlands Holdings and the amalgamation of Uniphos Seeds and Bio-Genetics.

The company is engaged in the research, production and sales of a range of hybrid seeds for cereals and oilseed crops. On the Indian operations, Hegde said that in the financial year 2006-07 and seven-month period-ended October 31, 2006, sunflower seeds accounted for 21.7 per cent and 27.9 per cent respectively of the company's sales.

"Our company has 15 varieties of sunflower seeds in the market. One of our sunflower varieties (PAC36) has been notified by the ministry of agriculture, department of agriculture and co-operation for 15 years. Notification gives a company's notified seed products priority over non-notified seeds when selling to the government," he said.