Price of consumer goods to be moni

This order came after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructed concerned ministries to try to control prices, pointing out that food products were being sold at a very high profit margin.
“We found that the price at the farm is very low, but can be quite high by the time the item gets to the consumer,” Boonsong said. “For instance, some items priced Bt1 at the farm end up costing the final customer Bt20.” – The Nation

Brazil’s loss offers sweet profit for
A delay in the harvesting of sugar cane in Brazil will see the world’s largest producer lose its market share in China, as Thailand increases its shipments to that country.
Thailand is forecast to ship 600,000 tonnes of raw sugar to China in the first half of this year, according to Thai Sugar Trading Corp, the country’s largest exporter. That would be the most since 2005 and almost a fifth of all the sugar China will need to buy this year. Last year, its shipments to China totalled 277,572 tonnes, according to Thailand’s Office of the Cane and Sugar Board.
“Thai sugar is quite competitive in Chinese markets thanks to its proximity, making the prices attractive thanks to the cheap freight cost,” said Piromsak Sasunee, chief executive officer of Thai Sugar Trading.
Chinese sugar imports will rise by a million tonnes to 3.1 million tonnes in the 2011-12 season starting from October, the International Sugar Organisation in London estimated this month. Producers in Brazil, where adverse weather damaged and delayed crops, will have to sell their sugar at a discount if they want to compete with Thailand, Rabobank International said.
“Thailand was helped by its proximity to China and had sugar available when the market was falling and the Chinese were buying,” said Keith Flury, an analyst at the bank. Brazilian producers have to sell their sugar at large discounts since traditional importers like Russia are stocked up.
Brazil will still supply more sugar to China than Thailand this season, but the Thai share will increase “a lot”, Piromsak said. Sugar can be shipped from Thailand to China in two or three weeks, while it takes eight to 10 weeks from Brazil, according to Mitr Phol Sugar Corp, the largest miller in Thailand and the second-largest shipper. – Bloomberg

Mode Sathorn Hotel gets new general
Pinit Krisanavanit was recently named general manager of Mode Sathorn Hotel managed by Siam@Siam, considered the first fashionable lifestyle hotel in Bangkok.
Pinit has a lot of experience in hotel management and business development strategies, and has been part of opening teams at properties such as the Hyatt Orchid Chiang Mai Hotel, Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Montien Riverside Hotel. He was previously general manager at Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel, Dusit Princess Srinakarin and Emporium Suites Bangkok by Chatrium Hotel.
His more than 30 years in the hospitality industry will move Mode Sathorn Hotel forward to become a trendsetter and create a “fashionable lifestyle” phenomenon in Thailand, the firm said. – The Nation

Cambodia to have a rice surplus of 2.78m
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday that his country was expected to have a rice surplus of 2.78 million tonnes this year.
Speaking at a workshop on food security and nutrition, he said food production was increasing through the development of irrigation and improvements in agricultural technology.
“Cambodia can really maintain its food security. In fact, in 2011 we produced about 8.77 million tonnes of paddy,” Hun Sen said. “With the food balance in 2012, Cambodia will be able to achieve a paddy surplus of 4.43 million tonnes, which is equal to a rice surplus of 2.78 million tonnes.”
Cambodia aims to increase its rice exports to a million tonnes in 2015. Exports of rice to Thailand alone are forecast to rise at an annual rate of 30 per cent. – Rasmei Kampuchea Daily/ANN