Mr Kong said demand for lysine is rising as demand for pork increases, although he had ne no intention to increase its price, although it may influence other smaller companies to raise the selling price.

Lysine is being sold for about HK$14,500 per tonne compared with HK$12,000 last year.

"We don't believe there will be a major change in the market price for lysine in the coming year," said Mr Kong .

When lysine sells above HK$14,000 a tonne, this means it already meets Global Bio-Chem's expected price target, Kong said.

Jilin-based Global Bio-Chem manufactures and sells corn-refined products such as corn starch and feed, as well as corn-based refined products including amino acids such as lysine, corn-sweeteners and modified starch.

Global Bio-Chem is one of the largest producers of lysine, an amino acid used in animal feed to aid the production of lean meat. It has cornered a 70 percent share in the domestic market and also exports to Europe, the United States and Africa.