Swiss dairy Emmi plans to increase its annual Emmentaler cheese production to around 35,000 tonnes in 2003 and 2004, between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes more than production in 2002.

Two thirds of Emmi’s annual output of Emmentaler in 2003 and 2004 is to be exported, the company said.

The company also said it was not going ahead with its planned cut of milk purchase prices. Emmi had planned to reduce the price by CHF0.05 to CHF0.70 (US$0.51) per kg as of 1 May 2003, reported the Swiss News Digest.