UPDATE: Essantis has just opened the largest oat flour mill in South East Asia, marking a significant expansion in Western Australia’s oat industry. The new facility, located at their Wagin plant, can process an impressive four tonnes of oats per hour, with an annual target of 30,000 tonnes.
This urgent development comes as demand for oat products surges, particularly for oat flour, which is increasingly used to produce oat milk. According to Essantis Wagin manager Jason Reed, the transformation from flake to flour takes only a few minutes, showcasing the efficiency of the new milling process.
The Wagin plant, operational since 2014, sources its oats from local farmers within a 150-kilometre radius, an area celebrated for its high-quality oat production. Notably, Western Australia produced over 1 million tonnes of oats last season, a dramatic increase from 660,000 tonnes the previous year. Reed emphasized that this uptick in production has led to a significant rise in the area sown with oats, benefiting local farmers.
Essantis processes approximately 100,000 tonnes of oats annually, with the majority of its products exported to markets across South East Asia, including Indonesia. The company’s expansion into oat flour milling is a strategic move into a fast-growing market, according to Reed, who highlighted the necessity of installing new equipment, despite the substantial costs involved.
“We have had to install new plant and equipment to make flour, and this has come at significant cost to the company,” Reed explained. “But the benefits should outweigh the expense.” The mill also features a new automated packing line capable of processing 10 tonnes of oat flour per hour, enhancing production efficiency.
Currently employing around 50 people from the Wagin area, Essantis is not just a business but also a community supporter, sponsoring local events such as the Wagin Woolorama. As the company continues to expand its operations, it is actively seeking to develop new overseas markets for its oat flour, further solidifying its role as an industrial supplier.
This urgent update highlights the ongoing growth and innovation within the agricultural sector in Western Australia, with Essantis leading the charge in meeting the rising global demand for oat-based products. As the oat industry flourishes, stakeholders and consumers alike will be watching closely for further developments.
Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story as Essantis positions itself at the forefront of the oat milling industry.
