COATING RESINS - Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients revealed an inno-vative self-cleaning paint that repels dirt. According to experts, this type of su-per-hydrophobic coating New Product

INDUSTRY FOCUSQUARTER 3 / 2014

SingaporeEconomic outlook: Expectation of a strong second half of the year has so far disappointed, prompting us to revise downward the 2014 growth outlook modestly. Inflation remains muted and likely to remain so for the rest of the year.Main risks: More weakness in exports (especially to China) could darken the outlook further. Property market slowdown could accelerate, with adverse implication for household and bank balance sheets.

ThailandEconomic outlook: E Growth may bottom in Q3, but the outlook for 2014 remains grim with a myriad of domestic and external headwinds.Main risks: Political transition may not be smooth; investment recovery may run into administrative hurdles, fiscal situation could continue to worsen as the cost of price control and other supporting measures mount.

VietnamEconomic outlook: Disappointing exports and retail sales point to limited improvement in GDP growth in Q3, possibly leading to further stimulus measures as inflation remains benign.Main risks: As private demand disappoints, public expenditure and investment may be boosted, pointing to further pressure on the public finances.

COATING & RESINS

Economic Insight Q3 2014IndonesiaEconomic outlook: Growth has slowed, but fundamentals are well supported with rebounding consumer confidence and an orderly Presidential transition process.Main risks: The markets would be tested if the new President fails to deliver on elevated expectations.

MalaysiaEconomic outlook: Slowing exports growth and weak tourism revenues are seen to pull down GDP growth in the second half of 2014.Main risks: While another 25bp-hike in the OPR this month is expected to prevent further build-up of financial imbalances from the stronger-than- expected economic performance in H1, the BNM could instead leave the OPR unchanged until mid- 2015 after the GST implementation.

PhilippinesEconomic outlook: A favorable base effect on government spending, despite modest allowance for potential under-spending, could push GDP growth to at least 7%yoy in H2.Main risks: Power supply issues, amid increased demand from an economy again gaining traction, could raise inflation towards year-end.

INDUSTRY FOCUS Q3/2014 2

Evonik and GCL Plan Plants for Silicone Compounds in China

Evonik Industries and Jiangsu Zhongneng Polysilicon Technology Development Co Ltd have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture (JV) for the production of fumed silica and ultra-pure silicone tetrachloride in China. Evonik will hold a 60% share in the JV. The plants, which will have a capacity of more than 20,000t/yr, will be built in Xuzhou (Jiangsu Province, China) and are scheduled to start-up operation in 2016. Jiangsu Zhongneng, a wholly owned subsidiary of GCL-Poly, is a global leading manufacturer of polycrystalline silicone (PCS). Silicone tetrachloride is a byproduct of PCS production and the JV will purchase this to produce Aerosil fumed silica and Siridion STC HP ultra-pure silicone tetrachloride. The main drivers of the positive market development for Aerosil fumed silica in China are the silicone industry for adhesives and sealants in buildings and vehicles, as well as gel batteries, used in e-bikes, for example. Ultra-pure silicone tetrachloride, marketed under the Siridion STC HP brand name, is used in the fibre optics needed to expand China’s communications and IT infrastructure and half of the demand for fibre optics worldwide now comes from China.

Metallics Continue to Grow in Graphic Arts

With estimated annual sales of $1 billion, the metallic pigment market is sizable. While automotive coatings are the largest end use for metallics, graphic arts are an important segment for metallic pigments and inks. The use of metallic pigments continues to grow in graphic arts in 2014, and despite economic challenges, companies are optimistic about further growth. Graphic arts are one of the most important market segments for metallic pigments, where inks are used in a variety of printing applications to produce consumer packaging such as cartons, pouches and flexible films; labels (glue applied, pressure sensitive and shrink sleeve); gift wrap and party goods, as well as for publication and commercial printing.

Huntsman Transforms Titanium Dioxide Pigment Facility

Italy. The new plant means Huntsman can now use a wider range of feedstock to produce its TIOXIDE® and ALTIRIS® pigments, reduce the generation of gypsum (a co-product), and convert spent acid from TiO2 pigment manufacturing into iron sulfate products for the water treatment, cement markets and animal feed. Construction work began in March 2013. The commissioning phase will last 2-3 months, and the plant will be fully operational in the third quarter of 2014.

Huntsman has celebrated the completion of its new €38 million iron sulfate plant at its titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment manufacturing facility in Scarlino,

Competition for Waterproofing Coatings Expected to Increase

Waterproofing coatings reportedly have a buyer power score of 3 out of 5, a score that reflects better negotiating conditions for buyers. “Buyer power has been decreasing during the past three years but is expected to increase in the future as competition among suppliers continues to intensify,” said Pierre Dessertenne, business research analyst with IBISWorld. Competition among suppliers, especially manufacturers, is expected to continue to strengthen buyer power. Competition among manufacturers will benefit distributors as well as their buyers due to increased sales and price competition. Over the next three years, demand for waterproofing coatings is expected to increase. Construction activity is expected to continue rising as it has in the past three years, stimulating demand for waterproofing coatings. In addition, as a result of a growing economy, private spending on home improvement and the number of businesses are expected to increase, which will boost demand for waterproofing coatings.

Self-Cleaning Paint to be Used on Superyachts

will be available to superyachts within two years. Super-hydrophobic coating creates a protective layer of air between a surface and the environment preventing water, dirt and oil from adhering to the treated surface. The coating itself is anti-corrosive, anti-icing and along with the obvious cleaning properties will also prevent marine organism growth and reduce the drag of a yacht through water, resulting in lower fuel consumption. For all its benefits, there are some fundamental flaws, Nick Barber of Blue Fin explained, “The drawback with products of this nature is a yellowing and petrol type staining for the coloured finish, we decided not to recommend the use of ceramic polishes or coatings on our painted yachts for this reason.

Earlier this year world leading car manufacturer Nissan revealed an inno-vative self-cleaning paint that repels dirt. According to experts, this type of su-per-hydrophobic coating

New Product LaunchedJotun Unveils Steelmaster 1200WF PFP Coating for Infrastructure BuildingsJotun has globally launched Steelmaster 1200WF, a highly efficient intumescent coating providing up to 180 minutes protection against cellulosic fire for infrastructure buildings. As the latest contribution to Jotun’s Steelmaster range, Steelmaster 1200WF is developed to meet the challenging demands for passive fire protection (PFP). Engineered to protect structural steel of public spaces, including airports, hotels, train stations, school buildings, stadiums and malls, this thin-film, water-borne product allows more surface area to be covered with less paint, thus reducing application time and cost. Steelmaster 1200WF completes Jotun’s range of PFP products, enabling the company to strengthen its position within thin film PFP market. Jotun’s product manager Barbara Logan notes that independent benchmark testing confirms that Steelmaster 1200WF offers the industry’s best fire protection for columns, beams and circular and rectangular hollows, worldwide.


www.chemicals.jjsea.com

News by CountryIndonesiaClariant Inaugurates Indonesian Investments at Tangerang SiteClariant announced enhancements to its production capabilities and service support for its customers in Indonesia and South East Asia and Pacific (SEA&P) at an official ceremony at its Tangerang site in June. The significant increase in production capacity and upgrading of local facilities will better support the strong growth in demand for pigments, masterbatches, personal care, home care and industrial care ingredients in local and overseas markets. The company is one of the leaders in Indonesia and SEA&P in the areas of pigments, plastics, oil & gas, catalysts and edible oil refinery. Hariolf Kottmann, CEO, commented: “The future of Clariant will be decided in Asia and we see Indonesia as a focal point for our sustainable growth in the SEA&P region.”

Motor into a full-fledged 4S centre that caters for all services required by Honda car owners. With 18 bays, one paint mixing room, three parts store rooms and two spray booths, the 4000 square meters centre was built to comply with Honda’s philosophy to provide convenience and fulfil customer satisfaction. The new centre uses eco-friendly waterborne paint with advanced formulation, reflecting Honda’s commitment to the environment. It also provides an eco-friendly work environment by reducing toxic fumes emission, harsh odours and fire risk.

PhilipinesNippon Invests More Than US$2M in The PhilippinesNippon Paint has said it will be investing PHP100M (US$2.278M) into its Philippine arm, Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines, to rake in more sales in the next three years. Nippon Paint Malaysia Group, the owner of Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines, is targeting PHP1.5bn (US$34.162M) in sales turnover by 2017. Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines will also bring in new products to the Filipino market, including coating solutions for roofs, floors and walls through its Total Coating Solutions and special effect paint through its Trend Beyond Colours products.

SingaporeBCA Unveils Singapore’s Third Green BuildingThe Building and Construction Authority and Ministry of National Development Khaw Boon Wan launched the country’s third green building masterplan, aimed at developing new green building solutions and engaging even small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the initiative. Khaw noted that the first two master plans have succeeded in greening over a quarter of Singapore’s built up area, and that the country is well on track to achieve its 80% target by 2030. The third master plan features a $52 million fund for the Green Buildings Innovation Cluster. It is aims to develop, test, monitor and showcase new green building solutions that are especially relevant to the tropics and sub-tropics.

MalaysiaHONDA 4SHonda customers in Negeri Sembilan can enjoy shiny new original paint jobs without needing to travel far. Honda has officially opened their first Body and Paint Centre in Negeri Sembilan turning the Ban Lee Heng

Automobile joint ventures in Vietnam have been importing pick-up trucks from their factories in Southeast Asia in large quantities for domestic sale. 4,300 cars were imported under the mode of complete built unit (CBU) to Vietnam from ASEAN countries in the first five months of the year, worth $65.4 million. More than 50 percent of the imports were pick-ups. Explaining the strong surge of pick-up imports, an analyst said they now have tax advantage over other products like sedans, MPVs and SUVs. Pick-ups from ASEAN countries have a five percent import tax, 15 percent luxury tax and 2 percent ownership registration tax. However, most of the pick-up models available in Vietnam are the CBU imports from Thailand. Analysts believe that Thai manufacturers will receive the biggest benefits from the rising demand in the Vietnamese market.

VietnamAuto Manufacturers Rush To Import Pick-Up Trucks

Thailand Rayong will commence production of the BMW F 800 GS, which joins the BMW F 800 R as the second motorcycle assembled in the country. The BMW facility in Rayong is the only BMW production site globally to assemble vehicles for all three BMW brands: BMW, Mini, and BMW Motorrad. Globally, the BMW Motorrad has achieved an all-time six-month high in the first half of this year. In Thailand, BMW Motorrad delivered more motorcycles in the first half of 2014 than entire 2011, with 218 bikes being delivered to Thai customers.

BMW Group Manufacturing

ThailandBMW Making a Second Motorcycle in Rayong








PLASTIC & RUBBER


New Polymer Changes Color In Seconds

Researchers have created an unusual polymer that can change color and return to its original color in less than a second by changing its temperature. Such polymers could promise applications in biological sensors and smart windows that adjust sunlight or heat exchange. the new polymer is a nanofibre that could be processed into various shapes. Fibres can be made by extrusion; membranes can be made by coating, and hydrogels may be formed by moulding. Polymers that change color are called thermochromic. Such polymers have been created before but they are slow to change color and only work in a narrow temperature range. Zhengzhong and colleagues in China, Netherlands and United Kingdom were searching for better thermochromic polymers when they discovered the new type that changed color quickly even at temperatures up to 390° F.

Plastics Barely Get A Look-In With New iPhone 6

The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, unveiled by Apple, will pack more pixels and power into a thinner design but the handsets feature far less plastic than the previous iPhone 5C model. Bigger than its predecessors, the near-five-inch (12.7cm) iPhone 6 and 5.5 inch (14cm) iPhone 6 Plus have a glass face curving around the sides to meet an aluminum enclosure. Last year’s iPhone 5C came in a variety of boldly colourful, shiny lacquered coatings that were “unapologetically plastic,” Apple designer Jony Ive declared. For the phones, major advances include high-definition displays (more than one million pixels for the iPhone 6 and two million for the Plus), an A8 chip that allows for 25% faster processing power and up to 50% faster graphics, an M8 co-processor that will continuously measure motion data, Wi-Fi calling for times of poor cell conditions, and new camera software with faster autofocus and optimal image stabilization for low-light shooting. “These iPhones obviously have bigger displays, but more importantly, they’re amazing products in every single way,” said Apple chief executive Tim Cook.

New Product LaunchedYokohama Introduces New Geolandar Tyre RangeThe next generation tire from Yokohama Tire Corp.’s Geolandar H/T G056 line goes on sale Sept. 1, 2014, in 38 sizes in 15- to 20-inch rim diameters in P-metric and LT-metric offerings for light trucks and SUVs. Yokohama says other highlights of the new tire include: triple 3D sipes, multi-angle grooves and zigzag circumferential grooves, an optimized contact patch, and adaptive shoulder blocks. “Thanks to its completely new design, which includes Yokohama’s own orange oil compound technology, the Geolandar H/T G056 is made to stay on the road thousands of miles longer and provide exceptional all-weather handling,” says Andrew Briggs, Yokohama director, marketing and product planning.

A revival in India’s auto industry could lift imports of natural rubber for making tyres by a quarter this fiscal year, which would take inbound shipments to a record and may provide some

Tyre demand Boosts Indian Rubber Imports, May Help Revive

Global Prices

support for global prices languishing at multi-year lows. International prices of natural rubber have fallen by more than a quarter this year because of worries about weak economic growth in top consumer China and oversupply in the top Southeast Asian producers, Thailand and Indonesia. Tyre makers are the biggest consumers of natural rubber and they are getting a boost as Indians buy more cars and other vehicles amid optimism about the economy under the new government of Narendra Modi. Despite growth in the Indian market, the near-term support for global rubber prices could be limited since they are dominated by demand from China. In addition, Thailand, which produces around a third of the world’s natural rubber, is sitting on huge private and public stocks put at half a million tonnes at the end of 2013, including 200,000 tonnes bought by the government to support the market in 2012/13. However, the predicted surge in Indian demand could spur rubber imports and help prices more over the longer term. India is forecast to be the world’s third-largest car market by 2018, up from sixth now.

Coca-Cola Further Invests in Biobased Resin for PlantBottle

The Coca-Cola Company has announced that it is making an additional investment in the development and commercialization of Virent’s biobased paraxylene, BioFormPX™. “Over the course of our work together, Virent has continuously delivered on their commitments and advanced their technology. That progress supports building additional capability for Virent and advances us on the path to a full-scale commercial solution for our 100% plant-based PET plastic packaging,” says Scott Vitters, General Manager, PlantBottle™ Innovation Platform at The Coca-Cola Company. In the course of their work with The Coca-Cola Company, Virent has progressed their PX technology to commercial readiness, improved the process economics, and produced biobased PX that has been converted by The Coca-Cola Company into 100% biobased PET bottles. This new investment will allow production of larger quantities of BioFormPX material.


SingaporeMotor Vehicle Sales in July Boost Retail SalesThe Department of Statistics has revealed that retail sales in Singapore rose by 5.5 percent in July compared to the same period last year, driven largely by the sales of motor vehicles.Retailers of motor vehicles recorded a sales increase of 41 percent in July 2014 over that of July 2013. This can be attributed to lower sales of motor vehicles then (July 2013), as the temporary lifting of loan restrictions on the purchase of pre-existing stock of used cars came to an end.

The office will focus on gathering information on the truck, bus, car manufacturing industries and tire markets, as well as conduct related activities on behalf of the regional head office.

Upcoming Plastic & Rubber Shows in Asia

• Taipei Plas 2014

Taipei, 26 - 30th Sep 2014


VietnamVietnam’s Rubber Export Income DeclinesVietnam is expected to earn 989 million U.S. dollars from exporting rubber in the first eight months of 2014, down 31.9 percent year-on-year, Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Center (VITIC) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said. China and Malaysia remained the largest rubber consumers of Vietnam in seven-month period. In order to help remove difficulties of the rubber sector, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance recently issued a circular to reduce the export tax on rubber to zero percent. The current export tax on Vietnamese rubber is one percent and the new tax will be applied from October 2, 2014.

MalaysiaMalaysian Packaging Firm SCGM Investing $3M in New ProductionMalaysian disposable packaging manufacturer SCGM Bhd is investing 10 million ringgits ($3.12 million) in a plastic cup manufacturing line. The company said it will get the machine from Italy and molds from Germany to produce more than 800 cups a minute, or about 1.3 million a day. The line is scheduled to start production in November. SCGM Chairman Lee Hock Seng said the new equipment will boost sales by 10 percent.

MyanmarBridgestone Establishes Myanmar Branch Office in YangonBridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, today announced the official opening of its Myanmar branch office in Yangon.

News by CountryIndonesiaIndonesian Rubber Producers Rejects New Tax IncreaseThe national alliance of rubber producers has rejected the imposition of a 10 percent value-added tax (VAT), following on the heels of agricultural business groups. The Indonesian Rubber Producers Association (Gapkindo) says the tax, when put in place, would disrupt its production and exports. That could reduce exports this year to between 2.5 million tons and 2.6 million tons, from 2.7 million tons projected earlier, and the situation could worsen whenever rubber prices gained as farmers would have to pay a higher tax, he explained. In return for the enforcement of the VAT, growers can be reimbursed the amount of tax they pay from purchasing items needed to support production — such as fertilizers and tools, known as “input tax” — from the sales tax, or “output tax”. Therefore, they only need to pay the remaining sales tax after the input-tax cut.

The Rubber Growers Cooperative Federation of Thailand has proposed raising money from rubber planters to establish their own car tyre factory in response to falling natural rubber prices. The group expects the investment to cost around 3 billion baht, federation chairman Perk Lertwangpong said. He described the idea as a “significant strategy” for rubber growers to assist each other instead of relying on government subsidies. The price of rubber from para trees fell to 50 baht a kilogramme from 172 baht/ kg in February 2011. The federation would explain the project to rubber growers nationwide, starting in the South, he said.

ThailandRubber Growers Urged To Fund Tyre Plant

Tien Phong Plastic Joint Stock Co. (Haiphong, Vietnam) will be the first pipe manufacturer in Vietnam to produce large PE pipes with external diameters of up to 2,000 mm. The company ordered a complete pipe extrusion line, which is to be delivered in spring 2015 from Battenfeld-Cincinnati. The state-owned company Tien Phong ranks among the leading Vietnamese producers of pipes and fittings made of u-PVC, HDPE and PP-R.

Vietnamese Company Installs The First 2,000 mm Pipe Extrusion Line in Vietnam








PERFORMANCE CHEMICALS


Clariant Introduces ShiftMax® 120 HCF: New HTS Catalyst with Essentially No

Hexavalent ChromiumClariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announced the launch of their new ShiftMax® 120 HCF catalyst. The enhanced high temperature shift (HTS) catalyst avoids health and safety risks in ammonia and hydrogen production as it contains essentially no hexavalent chromium (Cr6+). Clariant’s high performance ShiftMax 120 HCF is the successor to ShiftMax 120, one of the most widely used HTS catalysts in the syngas industry with 30 years of proven performance in terms of activity and longevity. The new ShiftMax 120 HCF is practically identical to its predecessor after initial activation. It provides the same advantages with regard to low operating temperatures and CO leakages, excellent mechanical stability, especially during plant upsets, and long service life. ShiftMax 120 HCF has already been successfully installed in several hydrogen plants. No special startup procedures are required to control the exothermic reaction of hexavalent to trivalent chromium.

Nissan Transforms Old Underused Plant Into Global Center

For instance, some halls at the Oppama were turned into a global training center. This center has been educating foreign workers with Nissan’s production methods. According to Hiroshi Ichikawa, a manager in charge of global training at Nissan Motor Corp., this will help these apprentices who have never produced a vehicle before learn how to build an actual one. Nissan opened sites in Mexico, India, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand in the past two year. It has also added production capacity in Russia and may soon open another plant in China. Fumiaki Matsumoto, executive vice president in charge of global manufacturing, remarked that the expertise and know-how is “distributed around the world” from the Oppama site. He dubbed the site as “global mother plant,” adding that there are certain things that Nissan can do only in Japan.

Eastern Singapore to Receive Second Major Water Supply Plant

PUB, the national water agency, recently selected BESIN-UEN Consortium (BC) as the Preferred Bidder for the second NEWater Plant, located in the region of Changi, Singapore. The facility is expected to add another 50 million gallons per day (MGD), or 228,000 cubic meters of NEWater per day, to the nation’s water supply. NEWater is one of PUB’s Four National Taps, a long-term water supply strategy to ensure a robust and sustainable supply of water for Singapore. The other three sources are water from local catchments, imported water from Johor and desalinated water. NEWater currently meets 30 percent of Singapore’s water demand, and this is set to increase up to 55 percent in the longer term. The NEWater Plant is expected to commence operations in 2016. At a first-year price of $0.276 per cubic meter, BC offers a competitive tariff for the supply of NEWater over a 25-year period from 2016 to 2041.

NCPO Approves Waste-To-Energy Power Plant Construction Plan in

AyutthayaThe National Council for Peace and Order has approved the proposed plan to construct a waste power plant in Ayutthaya that can help dispose of 300 tonnes of refuse per day. Gen. Prayuth said that the planned plant will make use of waste in generating electricity power from the incinerator. Ayutthaya province produces as many as 1,200 tons of waste each day while only 700 tonnes of it can be properly disposed of, according to the NCPO leader. As a result, the province has accumulated more than 300,000 tonnes of waste matter, to date. Gen. Prayuth said that the new plant is expected to dispose of up to 300 tonnes of waste a day while helping create jobs for local people, without causing any pollution problems.

Lufthansa Uses Farnesane in First European Scheduled Flight

The Lufthansa Group is operating its LH 190 flight from Frankfurt to Berlin Tegel using a 10% blend of the new biofuel component farnesane. This is the first scheduled flight in Europe to run on this sugar-based bio-kerosene fuel mix. Joachim Buse, VP Aviation Biofuel, Lufthansa, says: ‘In order to secure the supply of aviation biofuel, the requisite raw materials must be cultivated sustainably, at competitive prices. The Lufthansa Group companies therefore place great emphasis on the recognised certification of sustainably produced raw materials and on respecting social and development policy considerations.’

New Product LaunchedExxonMobil Introduces SAE 0W-20 Motor OilIn response to the increasing number of automotive manufacturers recommending lower viscosity engine oils, ExxonMobil has added an SAE 0W-20 viscosity motor oil to its Mobil 1 Extended Performance line. The 0W-20 motor oil is a blend of high performance synthetic basestocks with a balanced additive component system, designed to function highly during long service intervals. ExxonMobil even guarantees protection of critical engine parts for up to 15,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first. At the end of the 210,000 miles, the team dismantled the engines, and found that the oil had protected the engines to an outstanding level from wear, sludge and deposits. “Even after more than 200,000 miles on our test vehicles, the parts were consistent with what we would find in a brand new engine,” said Chuck Goldmann, an ExxonMobil research engineer.

Nissan’s 53-year-old assembly site in Oppama (Yokusuka, Japan) has been underutilized for some years, but the carmaker is breathing a new life into the facility by transforming it into a proving ground for car manufacturing techniques for overseas production.



Petronas to Expand Retail Outlets to 1,121Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PetDag) this year plans to open 30 to 40 oil retail outlets, which will expand its total retail outlets to 1,121 in Malaysia. Though it is the largest gasoline station owner in Malaysia, it is still behind Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd in market share at 31%, compared to Shell’s 36%. Shell has about 900 retail outlets. Ibrahimnuddin, CEO, says that the group is optimistic about sustaining its growth, especially with the opening of Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2). Currently, PetDag controls about 70% of Malaysia’s jet fuel market, and KLIA is its largest customer. While he is optimistic about the group’s ability to grow internationally, Ibrahimnuddin admits that it will be challenging.

maintains the car to ensure optimum engine performance and longer vehicle service life, it added. Total said Excellium also promotes cleaner driving as it cuts down carbon dioxide emissions by up to 5%.

sponsorship deal, Toyo Lubrication would provide a complete range of its products such as engine oil, degreaser, coolant, greases, gear oil and transmission, brake and power steering fluids to be used at TOC training workshops. Toyo Lubricant would also play a role in enhancing the knowledge of lubricants among TOC trainers and students by sharing technical information and providing inputs into TOC’s syllabus said TOC CEO and Founder Adelaine Foo.

Grease manufacturer Toyo Lubrication (M) Sdn Bhd plans to expand to Indonesia after setting up a marketing office in Australia last year, said Managing Director Eddy Chong. “We hope to increase the turnover by 20% this year,” he told reporters after signing a sponsorship deal with The Otomotif College (TOC) in Selangor, Malaysia. Under a RM500,000 (USD152,0800)

The central province of Quang Ngai in Vietnam became the first province in the country to replace the most common fuel type, the popular 92-octane gasoline (A92) with E5. E5 is a blend of 5% ethanol with 95% petroleum gasoline. Now, all 150 filling stations in Quang Ngai exclusively sell E5. PetroVietnam, the state oil giant, has invested in biofuel refineries in three places: Quang Ngai, Phu Tho in the north, and Binh Phuoc in the south. Combined, the three refineries have a capacity of 300,000 cubic meters a year. Le Xuan Trinh, deputy director of PV Oil, says that the plants could produce six million cubic meters of E5 a year, but since overall demand has been low, the plants’ operations have remained perfunctory. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has suggested that gasoline retailers create a price gap to encourage consumption of E5.

VietnamVietnam’s Quang Ngai Province Switches to E5

MalaysiaToyo Signs Sponsorship Deal with TOC in Malaysia

PhilippinesTotal Launches Excellium GasolineTotal (Philippines) Corp., the local unit of the French oil and gas giant, has introduced Excellium, its latest addition to its fuel product portfolio. Total Vice President for Retail Thierry Chauveau said Excellium is formulated to prolong the efficiency and overall performance of the vehicle. In terms of technology, Total said Excellium comes with new molecules of detergent that cleans the most sensitive parts of modern engines, specifically targeting areas involved with petrol injection. This technology helps reduce engine wear, Total said. Excellium carefully

News by CountryIndonesiaJapanese Companies Target IndonesiaJapanese companies Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. and Idemitsu Kosan Co. launched new construction machinery lubricants in Indonesia, not only to serve Hitachi operators there, but also to gain a larger share of the local market. Hitachi’s lubricant marketing company in Indonesia, PT Hexindo Adiperkasa Tbk launched the two new lubricants in Java, Indonesia – a hydraulic oil and a 15W-40 engine oil. According to an industry insider, warranties for Hitachi construction machines require customers to use lubricants from Japan. But after the warranty periods end, many customers tend to switch to cheaper local brands. To retain these customers and to expand its after-sales service market, the companies have priced these new lubricants much lower than those from Japan, though they remain about 10 percent more expensive than similar products in the Indonesian market.


FEEDSingaporeEconomic outlook: Expectation of a strong second half of the year has so far disappointed, prompting us to revise downward the 2014 growth outlook modestly. Inflation remains muted and likely to remain so for the rest of the year.Main risks: More weakness in exports (especially to China) could darken the outlook further. Property market slowdown could accelerate, with adverse implication for household and bank balance sheets.






BASF Hikes Vitamin B2 Price 20%BASF says its 20% vitamin B2 (riboflavin) price hike is due to “rising demand” across animal and human nutrition, but gave no further data on the significant jump. Spokesperson Christine Haupt told that the new pricing was down to “market conditions” and would ensure “high quality production”. The German chemicals and ingredient giant last hiked the price of vitamin B2 two years ago. Then a 10% increase was attributed to “increases in raw material prices (e.g. crude soy bean oil due to drought) and to be able to continuously supply customers with products and services of highest quality.”

India Shrimp Farmers Could Hit 500k Tons in 2015

tons. For 2015, this could be 500,000t, if all goes well,” Marimuthu Sudhakaran, a farm and hatchery operator expanding into processing, told. In 2014, there is 150,000 ha, with 80,000 ha for vannamei and 70,000 ha for black tiger. The rapid expansion of shrimp farming in India, however, was the subject of some concern at the recent 2014 Aquaculture Roundtable Series (TARS) conference in Thailand. Given what has happened to Thai production after early mortality syndrome (EMS), speakers at the conference warned India. India’s farmers should grow vannamei with one production cycle instead of two, low stocking density and an emphasis on large sizes.

As many as 15 new shrimp processing plants are being planned or built in Andhra Pradesh, said an Indian entrepreneur who is part of a trio trialing a new $10 million plant at the moment. Indian farmers are also switching more and more from black tiger (Penaeus monodon) to vannamei. “In 2014, I think we will hit a production level of 350,000 metric

Novus’s Sustainable Feed Raw Material Application lecture series kicked off with the launch of the world’s leading protease feed enzyme, CIBENZA® DP100, into the Chinese market. Protease enzymes are scientifically proven to significantly increase the availability of dietary amino acids to monogastric animals. Formulating diets with CIBENZA DP100 allows producers to enhance the digestibility of a broad range of protein sources, ranging from highly digestible soybean meal to feather meal, which falls at the other end of the digestibility spectrum.

Novus Launches Heat-stable Protease Enzyme in China


Jebsen & Jessen NutriLife Launches First Farm Pack Products

Jebsen & Jessen NutriLife held the first farm pack product launch in Phang Nga. 15 guests from Phang Nga, Phuket, and Krabi were invited to join a half-day seminar which took place on 17th August 2014 at Dairy Hut Seafood Restaurant. Jebsen & Jessen NutriLife organised this event in order to introduce the company as well as the farm pack products in the trade name of “Life-Primer” and “Life-Booster.” Life-Primer contains high quality probiotics and prebiotic for shrimp gut health, while Life-Booster contains yeast exposed Beta glucans to enhance shrimp immune response. We targeted shrimp farm

markets in Southern Thailand to start launching the farm pack products because this region accounts for more than 50% market share of shrimp production in Thailand. Khun Nitiporn, Feed Department Manager Thailand, started the seminar with the introduction of Jebsen & Jessen Company followed by the introduction of Lallemand Company by Dr Anupong and farm management strategies for better crop success by Dhanunjaya Goud, Technical and Sales Manager, Lallemand SAS. The last session was about probiotics for shrimp gut health and suitable feeding program by Khun Luxsanawadee.



News by CountryIndonesiaCP Indonesia Looks at New MarketsCharoen Pokphand Indonesia plans to expand overseas by exporting processed chicken. It is targeting Japan for products such as nuggets and sausages, and will soon go to Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam as well as the Middle East, said Dr Desianto Budi Utomo, Vice President for Government & Academic Liaison. The initial phase of exports to Japan may begin as soon as the fourth quarter of this year, with the company aiming to secure around USD 20 million in sales, Dr Desianto said. “At first we will try to gain a foothold in the Japanese market. We will begin with a moderate target.”

PhilippinesPhilippine Egg Industry ExpandingExpansion in the egg industry is happening all over the Philippines, with an increasing number of new layer farms now housing 30,000-50,000 heads, said Mr Arthur Baron, Vice President of the Philippine Egg Board at the Philippine Poultry School. He said many of the new farms are automated, and some are already equipped with cool cell systems. However, Mr Baron noted that among the challenges facing the egg industry is the aggressive expansion against disproportionate demand. Annual per capita egg consumption in the country remains at about 100 eggs. Still, the low consumption is seen as a growth opportunity and the Egg Board has been continuously promoting egg consumption and its benefits.

regional offices in provinces bordering neighbouring countries namely Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, said Mr Vasit. He added that restaurants here opt to buy meat and food from Thailand for quality and safety reasons. For the first six months, Betagro achieved sales of USD 1.24 billion, up 17-18% from the same period a year earlier. Broiler operations accounted for USD 311.14 million, animal feed operation at around USD 186.7 million, pig business was USD 84 million, animal health medicinal products at USD 56 million and sales from regional branches at USD 497 million.

VietnamShrimp Producers Face More Scrutiny For Chemical UsageThe Prime Minister has directed concerned ministries and agencies to monitor shrimp production and trade more strictly. Under Directive 20/CT-TTg issued, the PM asked the chairpersons of coastal provinces and cities with large seafood production and trading activities to increase the supervision and inspection of seafood production, processing and trade to prevent the contamination of the products with banned chemical residues. The PM also entrusted the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the ministers of Public Security, Industry and Trade and Finance to draft and submit quickly a project to improve control over and prevent the use of banned chemicals in shrimp production and trade. Shrimp is the key export product of the country’s seafood industry. The seafood export value in the first half of this year grew strongly due to a sharp increase in shrimp and prawn exports. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country’s seafood export revenue rose 24.2% to touch US$3.45 billion, of which 48% to 49% came from shrimp and prawn exports.

Indonesia to Set Up 21 New Fish Cold StorageIndonesia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Affairs this year plans to build 21 new cold stores in several locations to strengthen the national fish cold chain system. Director General of Fish Processing and Marketing Saut P Hutagalung said the capacity will vary, from 300 tonnes to 15,000 tonnes. Mr Saut hopes the cold storage project will help increase shrimp, fish processing industry and stabilize fish prices.

ThailandBetagro Eyes Better Than Target Sales in 2014Betagro Group expects sales revenue in 2014 to grow 15% to reach USD 2.55 billion, exceeding the earlier target of USD 2.36 billion, according to President Vasit Taepaisitphongse. The growth is expected from expanding sales generated by

MalaysiaChicken Abattoir Near Market MootedCity Hall and the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) are in the midst of discussions to build a chicken slaughtering centre on a 1.6ha plot next to Pasar Harian Selayang. Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said this was to ensure quality halal chicken for consumers.He said there were also plans to upgrade the area around the market for recreational activities. He said there was also a plan to build a complex next to the Pasar Borong Kuala Lumpur which would offer freshwater fish, vegetables and fruits.

SingaporeSingapore Egg Prices Up 5%Prices of fresh eggs from Malaysia have gone up by about 5% in Singapore because of a supply shortage after two farms were suspended in March and July for health reasons. Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said their eggs were found to have Salmonella enteritidis. The two farms provided less than 6% of Singapore’s supply of 1.68 billion eggs last year. There are currently 21 Malaysian layers farms approved by the AVA. Eggs Import/Export Trading Association Chairman Tan Lau Huah said: “We had to raise prices in order to make up for the fall in supply.”


FOODSingaporeEconomic outlook: Expectation of a strong second half of the year has so far disappointed, prompting us to revise downward the 2014 growth outlook modestly. Inflation remains muted and likely to remain so for the rest of the year.Main risks: More weakness in exports (especially to China) could darken the outlook further. Property market slowdown could accelerate, with adverse implication for household and bank balance sheets.







Arla Foods’ EGM Walhorn Merger Expands Dairy Farmer

Partnership

Arla Foods’ status as a multinational farmer owned dairy company has been reinforced by its EGM Walhorn merger taking on the Netherlands. The region is now the seventh European country in which Arla Foods has farmer owners, taking its number to approximately 13,500. Peder Tuborgh, CEO, Arla Foods, said for every farmer who belongs to the company means securing the development of their farm. “Our dairy farmers can and want to set the pace, to ensure that profit is returned to their farms and into the company, as investments into our global dairy business,” he added. “We do this together as one big multinational team of dairy farmers and employees.” Tim Ørting Jørgensen, VP/director, Arla Central European operations, said at the time the deal would provide opportunities for the business not only in terms of an increased supply of raw milk, but as a platform for increased export to growth markets outside the EU. Åke Hantoft, farmer owner/chairman, Board of Directors, Arla Foods, said the company has continuously managed to attract more farmer owners and to work together across borders.“Being an Arla Foods farmer owner means having the guarantee that, no matter which country we are based, our milk will be turned into products sold all over the world,” he added.

Arla Foods Ingredients Launches New Greek-style Yoghurt

ConceptArla Foods Ingredients has launched a new ingredient concept that makes it easy to produce delicious, healthy, convenient and environmentally friendly Greek-style yoghurt smoothies that are rich in both protein and real fruit. Nutrilac YO-8075 is a natural whey protein, derived from cow’s milk. It gives manufacturers the ability to use their existing equipment to formulate a fat-free smoothie that is 50% Greek yoghurt, 50% fruit and which has a protein content as high as 7.5%. Using the new Nutrilac protein to make Greek-style yoghurt smoothies is very cost-effective and ‘green’ because the process generates high yields and zero acid whey, which is the controversial waste product associated with traditional Greek yogurt making.

FrieslandCampina Acquisitions ‘Strengthen’ Italian Cheese and

Butter PositionFrieslandCampina has acquired two Italian distributors in a bid to strengthen its position in the country’s cheese and butter market. The Dutch dairy giant announced earlier today it had sealed a deal to acquire DEK, which has for a number of years served as FrieslandCampina’s dedicated sales agent in Italy for cheese and butter. It also purchased an 80% stake in Bari based Orange, which distributes a broad portfolio of cheese and cheese products to retail and specialty food stores across Italy. FrieslandCampina said it has “acquired a strong sales and distribution network” in one the largest markets in the European Union (EU) for hard cheese.

Doehler Unveils Fresh Ideas for Sweets, Fruit Gums

Doehler has developed a range of natural flavours and colours as well as fruit juice concentrates and tea extracts specifically for the confectionery industry. “Clear lemonade”, “chai-orange”, “ginger ale-chilli” or even “Hugo” could soon be providing refreshment in the confectionery aisle. “As a manufacturer of natural ingredients for food and beverages, Doehler puts naturalness at the heart of everything it does,” said Ingo Schlüter, Head of Sales Region Europe at Doehler. “Thanks to the company’s own fruit processing facilities, it is able to produce a very extensive portfolio of different natural ingredients such as fruit juice concentrates, fruit preparations, natural flavours and colours and much more. This allows Doehler to offer the confectionery industry not only high quality, natural building blocks but also a product experience that stimulates all these senses equally.”

Trends from the beverage industry are increasingly spilling over into other segments of the food industry, creating refreshing inspiration for innovation in the confectionery industry. To meet this trend,

Lallemand Launches Aromatic Yeast for Baked Goods

Bakers that want to stand out from the crowd and offer more savory products now have new options: Lallemand Baking Solutions has launched a range of natural aromatic Florapan yeast. Carefully selected from Lallemand’s best brewers and oenological yeast strains, Florapan yeasts produce a generous bouquet of fruit and floral aromas. With limited fermentation activity, they are perfect for pizza dough and bakery products with unique flavor profiles. Always ahead of the curve, Lallemand has developed a new range of aromatic yeasts, the Florapan products. These strains of yeast produce aromatic compounds such as ethyl hexanoate (apple, banana), ethyl octanoate (pineapple, pear) and ethyl decanoate (hazelnut, floral) which are also found in wine. The odor detection thresholds of ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate and ethyl decanoate are respectively, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.51 mg/kg.



ThailandSeafood Company Thai Union to Buy King OscarSeafood company Thai Union Frozen Products is buying Norway-based King Oscar for an undisclosed amount. The development is part of Thai Union’s strategy to increase its sales to $8bn by 2020 through overseas acquisition. Thai Union produces products like the chicken of sea brand of tuna. It supplies its products to clients like Wal-Mart Stores and Costco Wholesale. “We are in full investment mode. At this pace with our business expansion, I am confident we will hit our revenue target of $8 billion by 2020 if not before,” said Thai Union president and chief executive Thiraphong Chansiri.

Currently equipped with a total annual production capacity of 3.6 tonnes, the company’s 242 sq m indoor agriculture facility cultivates 10 types of leafy and root vegetables by using a controlled soil-based environment with LED lighting. With local indoor cultivation joining the likes of vertical farming and rooftop gardens to boost Singapore’s growing agriculture landscape, consumers can look forward to the benefits and savings of purchasing local produce.

MalaysiaNestle Invests in Dairy and Drinks Factory

Nestlé is building a new factory in Malaysia to meet growing domestic demand for its ready-to-drink beverages such as Nescafé, Milo, and Nestlé Low Fat Milk. The company is investing about $46.7 million in the new facilities in the city of Shah Alam, which will create 160 new jobs when fully operational in 2014. Nestlé has seen significant growth in its ready-to-drink beverages in Malaysia over the past four years, where its Milo and Nescafé brands are the market leaders in the category. “We have confidence in the strength of the Malaysian market and are committed to supplying our

VietnamCompetition In Coffee Market Hotter Than EverThe major players in the instant-coffee market failed to attract public attention with their recent marketing campaigns, but new coffee brands have been able to do this. A branding expert noted that Trung Nguyen’s has not effectively renewed its brand image in the eyes of consumers, and the business strategy has also been inappropriate. Vinacafe Bien Hoa, also a famous brand in the instant coffee market, has been quiet for a long time after the failure of its “real coffee” marketing campaign. While the “big guys” have been slowing down their pace, new coffee brands have geared up to conquer the domestic market. Sources said that Phindeli, a newcomer in the market, is going to launch its instant coffee brand. Dao Heuang Group (DHG), the biggest coffee manufacturer from Laos, has officially joined the Vietnamese market through an exclusive Vietnamese distributor. “The presence of Dao coffee brand in Vietnam alone is enough to show that the coffee competition in Vietnam has escalated to a higher level,” the branding expert said.

News by CountryIndonesiaProcessed Poultry Demand in Indonesia to Rise 25%Rabobank expects the demand for processed poultry in Indonesia to rise 20 to 25 percent annually, as poultry consumption among Indonesians is expected to reach 2.5 million tonnes by 2018. Poultry remains the top choice of protein among Indonesians, accounting for 57 percent of total meat consumption. The rising population and growing middle-class income is likely to drive a strong demand for value-added poultry with more health attributes and added focus on food safety. One of the major factors driving demand for processed poultry products is the development in modern retailing and foodservice. Indonesian consumers are increasingly in favour of products that are easily accessible at clean supermarket outlets.

Upcoming Food Showsin Asia

• Food Ingredients Asia 2014

Jakarta, 15 - 17th Oct 2014

SingaporePanasonic Feeds Singapore With Its Own Vegetables

Exchanging its electronics for something more down to earth, Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific has begun supplying Japanese restaurant Ootoya with its very own locally-harvested vegetables. Building Singapore’s first licensed indoor vegetable farm with controlled and optimised conditions to grow premium Japanese crop varieties such as mini red radish, red leafy lettuce and mizuna, the company aims to be part of the country’s self-sufficiency goals.

consumers here with a range of tastier and healthier products to suit their needs and preferences,” aid José Lopez, Nestlé Executive Vice President and Head of Operations.


PHARMA &PERSONAL CARE








Indian Consumers Show High Awareness of Green Products

Green products have a good chance of being a hit with Indian consumers after a new survey found that there is high awareness of biobased products in the region. According to the

DuPont Green Living Survey: a majority of Indian consumers are familiar with green products and have confidence that green products are better for the environment, and feel that biobased ingredients enhance the desirability of a product. “Green and biobased solutions are not only essential to address the challenges of India’s growing population, but also an expectation of a younger generation and rising middle class,” adds Vikram Prabhu, regional business director, Asia Pacific, DuPont Industrial Biosciences. DuPont commissioned the nationwide survey with an objective to better understand awareness and attitudes of Indian consumers toward green and biobased products. However, Canada (78%), and the US (76%) lead in overall familiarity with green products over India (63%) and China (43%), the survey said.

Vertellus Introduces Reilline Resins to Global Laundry Market

Vertellus is ending its relationship with Ashland who formerly served as the exclusive distributor of Vertellus’ patented PVNO dye transfer inhibitor technology sold under the Chromabond name. Vertellus’ decision to market these products solely under the Reilline resin brand reflects the company’s focus on expanding its chemistries for customers in the fabric and home care sector. Bradley Buehler, business director for Vertellus’ personal and consumer care products, commented that the transition would allow Vertellus to work more closely and strategically with customers. “The transition to Reilline resins will facilitate an enhanced understanding of customer needs, ultimately helping us deliver more value to customers,” Buehler said. He added that Vertellus would continue to produce the identical dye transfer inhibitor product using the same equipment, processes and manufacturing technologies. A value-added ingredient in high-performance detergents and laundry care products for more than a decade, the Reilline technology has emerged as a best-performing and cost effective agent for capturing fugitive dyes in the laundry process. Reilline’s dye transfer inhibitors have been broadly accepted by manufacturers of the world’s leading color-safe detergents and the consumers they serve.

Evonik & JJNT Joint Pharmaceutical WorkshopOn the 10th Sep 2014, Evonik and JJNT jointly organized a seminar “EUDRAGIT® Technical Workshop” in Bangkok at Chulalongkorn University. Pharmaceutical companies, R&D Institutes, University lecturers and students were invited to attend this one-day event. There were 119 participants who attended this workshop. It started off with a warm welcome and introduction by Assoc. Prof. Sathitphong Thanawiriyakul, Associate Dean for Administration of Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty, Chulalongkorn University, Mr Ben Hopkins, Managing Director, Jebsen & Jessen NutriLife(T) Ltd., followed by the presentation from Evonik. Mr Takayuki Morita also gave a special fund to the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University as educational sponsorship to encourage good relationship. The topics being presented were Introduction of Evonik Industries, products, services from BL Healthcare, Process Validation for Film Coating, Tips for Enteric Coating (Including PPI development examples, PlasAcryl application and Coating Troubleshooting), Tips for Protective EUDRAGIT® E Polymers coating and Troubleshooting (Including EPO ReadyMix), AEROSIL® & AEROPERL® Colloidal Silicon Dioxide for Pharmaceutical Applications and Coating demonstration (Demonstrate preparing coating suspension and technique how to coat tablets effectively). There were also the short

video presentation, posters, brochures and demo samples. During EUDRAGIT® demonstration session, there were active interactions between speakers and participants and sharing of usage experiences and some anticipated problems. After AEROSIL® & AEROPERL® session, questions were raised by some participants and all participants could hear the answers from Mr Paiput clearly that built up a good learning together. We received many positive feedbacks from the participants especially from EUDRAGIT® Demonstration session which was very useful. The participants also like AEROSIL® & AEROPERL® session because of easy to understand with video presentation about MADG process. There were some suggestions to demonstrate more types of coating polymers and also increase the lecture part if possible. This seminar has further enhanced Evonik and Jebsen & Jessen image and strengthened the bridge of relationship with the customers.



SingaporeMannatech Expands into Asia with Singapore OperationsSkin care and nutritional supplements provider Mannatech has opened a new associate business centre in Singapore as part of plants to expands its Australasian business division into the city state. Executives at Mannatech say the opening of the facility marks the company’s continued expansion into the Australian market and drills down on considerable growth opportunities in the Singapore market. “This new business center is a symbol of that commitment, and what we hope will be a stepping stone to even higher levels of success,” said Mannatech president, Al Bala. The Mannatech Business Centre has been designed to facilitate and support Mannatech Associate activities including meetings and training sessions and is located at 360 Orchard, right in the heart of the city state’s commercial and retail district.

the presence of potent steroids and painkillers in the products. The steroids should only be used under strict medical supervision, while unsupervised used of the painkillers can lead to gastric bleeding, heart attack and stroke. The HSA warns that such illegal health products from illegitimate or unknown sources are generally produced under poor manufacturing conditions with no quality control, and the contents can vary significantly with each batch.

across the Asia Pacific region, the aim is to put agarwood oil, also known as oudh oil, on the global map. With this aim, the company has established 3,000 rai of new agarwood plantations throughout Thailand, which have benefitted from the latest advanced plantation technologies, as well and state of the art timber processing equipment. Asia Plantation Capital believes that the profile of agarwood is being raised internationally, which is giving way to greater curiosity about its possible uses, which include ingredients for skin care and fragrances.

HSA Alerts Public to Three Illegal Products with Potent IngredientsThree illegal health products used for the treatment of pain contain undeclared potent western medicinal ingredients, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). The products are “Joint-Soft”, “Kebigutaijiaonang” and “Pil Raja Urat Asli”. The HSA said it found

Upcoming Pharma & Personal Care Show in Asia • in-cosmetics Asia 2014

Bangkok, 4 - 6th Nov 2014

News by CountryIndonesiaIndonesia Pharmaceutical Industry Needs Local Raw Material

The Indonesia national pharma-ceutical industry has potential to substantially grow but it needs to be supported by the availability of local raw materials. “Most of the raw materials are still imported, so it needs to develop the local raw materials. Infrastructure in the pharmaceutical industry still lacking of support,” said an expert on management strategy of the Bandung-based Padjadjaran university Prof Dr Ernie Tisnawati S. According to Dr Ernie, the Indonesias natural wealth is more diverse compared to the other countries. The potential could be utilized as a business, including in supporting the national pharmaceutical industry.

ThailandThailand Makes Move to Increase Export of Agarwood

One of the most exotic and prized cosmetic ingredients, agarwood oil, is set to become one of Thailand’s newest luxury exports if one major plantation company gets its way. With the help of Asia Plantation Capital, which owns and operates plantation and farming business

VietnamPharmaceutical Companies Rush To Expand BusinessMore and more domestic pharmaceutical firms have recently announced plans to expand their production as the market has shown signs of picking up in recent months. By the end of 2013, every Vietnamese spent $35 a year on drugs on average, a very low level if compared with regional countries.The figures give investors more reason to hope that they will have great opportunities to do business in Vietnam, as Vietnamese incomes and expenditures are increasing rapidly. The government, in its pharmaceutical industry development strategy by 2020, stated that, Vietnam-made products must satisfy 80 percent of market demand. If this happened, Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies would be able to get eight to 10 pieces of the cake, or they would pocket $6.4 billion.

Documents

COATING RESINS - Jebsen & Jessen Ingredients revealed an inno-vative self-cleaning paint that repels dirt. According to experts, this type of su-per-hydrophobic coating New Product