Newsfeed

The Commerce Ministry will encourage palm-oil refineries to increase the price they pay for fresh palm nut to Bt4.20 a kilogram, from Bt4, as palm farmers have complained about low returns.

Meanwhile, the ministry will soon consider releasing 94,168 tonnes of maize from the government’s stocks to feed-meal industry or others via a general auction after stockpiling the commodity for more than six years.

The ministry will set up a working committee to inspect the maize quality before opening bidding, said Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya.

Bangchak announces goals

Bangchak aims for average refining capacity of 110,000 barrels per day in each of the next three years, president Chaiwat Kovavisarach told a press briefing.

Bangchak expects earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Bt10.4 billion this year.

It plans to add 40 new petrol stations this year versus the 15-20 in its 2014 target.

Its board has approved a US$5-million (Bt167 million) investment in lithium business in the United States for midyear. – Reuters

AirAsia X completes safety audit

AirAsia X, an affiliate of the AirAsia Group, has successfully completed the International Air Transport Association’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), the benchmark for global safety management in airlines.

The airline joined IATA’s IOSA Registry on April 16.

Tony Fernandes, co-founder and group CEO of AirAsia, said this registration was a major milestone for the company. It started working towards the IOSA audit process at the end of 2012.

AirAsia X is the first airline in the group to be registered. The rest of the airlines across the group, namely AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia, AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia India, Thai AirAsia X and AirAsia X Indonesia are also in the midst of the preparation process.

SET up 1.4% in April

The SET Index ended April at 1,526.74 points, up 1.4 per cent from a month earlier, or up 1.9 per cent from end-2014.

The combined average daily trading value of the Stock Exchange of Thailand and Market for Alternative Investment was Bt42.44 billion.

The combined market capitalisation of SET and MAI remained high at Bt14.73 trillion.

The Bank of Thailand’s policy-rate cut (for the second consecutive month) and the oil-price rise in the global markets were favourable to resource industries and the petrochemicals and chemicals sector.

Foreign investors were net buyers for the second consecutive month this year, worth Bt2.10 billion.