briefs

The US International Trade Commission has voted unanimously that imports of pre-stressed concrete steel rail tie wire (PC tie wire) from Thailand, China and Mexico are causing injury to the domestic industry. 

This anti-dumping investigation was initiated on May 13 last year in response to a petition filed by Davis Wire Corp of Kent, Washington, and Insteel Wire Products Co of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Based on allegations set forth in the petition and subsequent examination of data by the agency, the US Commerce Department estimated the dumping margins at 53.72 per cent for Thailand, 67.43 per cent for China, and 159.44 per cent for Mexico.

The preliminary determination of the Commerce Department is scheduled to be issued on September 30.

PC tie wire is a carbon wire product designed for use as tendons in concrete railroad ties.

 

Flavoured milk on the rise 

New research from Tetra Pak, a global food processing and packaging company, forecasts that consumption of flavoured milk will grow at more than double the rate of white milk from 2012-15. 

Flavoured milk, the second most widely consumed liquid dairy product after white milk, is forecast to increase globally by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1 per cent in the period, rising from 17.0 billion litres to 19.2 billion. Developing countries will drive demand amid a growing number of new flavours and products focused on health.

“With white milk increasingly commoditised, flavoured milk offers dairies the opportunity to provide value not only to consumers but to their bottom line,” said Dennis Jonsson, president and CEO of Tetra Pak Group. 

Seven of the world’s top 10 flavoured-milk markets are developing countries. China is the world’s largest, followed by the United States and India. Increased demand for flavoured milk from 2009-12 was mainly driven by four emerging countries – Brazil, China, India and Indonesia. 

While developing countries accounted for 66 per cent of flavoured-milk consumption last year, this is forecast to rise to 69 per cent by 2015. In fact, just six Asian countries – Thailand, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines – consume 47 per cent of the world’s flavoured milk, Tetra Pak research shows.

 

30-member delegation due from India 

Close on the heels of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit, that country’s minister of state for development of the northeastern region, Paban Singh Ghatowar, will head a 30-member business delegation from northeastern India to Thailand and Cambodia from tomorrow to June 18.

Bilateral investment opportunities are likely to be discussed with relevant ministries and chambers of commerce.

Three industry ministers from the northeastern states of Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland will accompany Ghatowar along with their officials and local entrepreneurs.

The tour has been organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce with active participation of Ghatowar’s ministry, Indian embassies and leading chambers of commerce in these two countries. 

 

Credit facility for Beyong Green 

Thanachart Bank recently granted a Bt264-million credit facility to Beyond Green, the only authorised Club Car distributor for Thailand, for use as revolving capital. – The Statesman/ANN