Olam, Wilmar, Noble set to grow: Barron's

NEW YORK - Three Singapore-listed commodities companies may challenge large long-established Western companies like Archer Daniels Midland Co, according to Barron's.

Olam International Ltd, Wilmar International Ltd and Noble Group Ltd may benefit from their Asia-based homes, where the world's largest populations are eager to secure a food supply, Barron's said.

The companies' cash flow has been growing by the upper teens, Barron's said. Noble and Olam, who moved into production from trading, have been buying plantations and other assets, Barron's said.

Olam is the world's largest supplier of cashews and sesame seeds, and is among the biggest sources of cocoa, rice, peanuts and cotton. It operates in 64 countries.

Noble is Asia's biggest supplier of raw materials. Only 22 per cent of its revenue comes from agriculture, with the remainder coming from materials such as iron ore. It has invested heavily in mines and processing.

Wilmar is Asia's leading agribusiness group and the world's largest integrated palm oil company. Demand is expected to grow because of demand for biofuels, which is part of the reason the company bought the sugar and renewable energy businesses from Australia's CSR. -- REUTERS