Hey Song Corp started production at its 400-million-yuan (US$48.19 million) plant in Suzhou yesterday, the corporation's first invested outside the Taiwan region.

　　The plant covers more than 80,000 square meters area. Staffed with 120 people and a throughput of 600 bottles per minute, the plant will produce Hey Song-branded fruit juice, tea drinks and dairy drinks.

　　The corporation expects to reach an annual revenue of 700 million yuan in China's mainland in three years. The East China area is the key market for the company at present.

　　However, compared with other Taiwan beverage makers such as Uni-President Group and Ting Hsin Group which entered the mainland nearly 10 years ago, Hey Song is a late comer and has to fend off mounting competition in the industry.

　　"We were a little conservative before. But it is sure that the fast-expanding industry still has room left," said Fred Chang, manager director with Hey Song (Suzhou) Co Ltd.

　　China consumed 23.74 million tons of beverages last year, up 17 percent on-year, the China Softdrink Industry Association said.

　　Hey Song's leading soda, Sarsaparilla, is the best-selling in Taiwan with a 39 percent market share last year. Sodas from Coca-Cola Co and PepsiCo Inc, with a combined 37 percent share in that island, still can't take an upper hand, the company claimed.