THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Online transactions reach Bt2.8 trn last year

Online transactions reach Bt2.8 trn last year

The buy and sell transactions of the e-commerce channel in Thailand recorded Bt2.8 trillion in value last year , due to greater Internet accessibility and more people buying products from online platforms, according to the Department of International Trade Promotion.

Of the total, business-2-business e-commerce accounted for the transaction value of Bt1.67 trillion, business-2-consumer Bt812 billion, other kinds of e-commerce Bt324 billion.
The e-commerce boom has led to continuous expansion of the logistics business with annual growth of 10 to 20 per cent, reaching Bt28 billion in value last year. 

AFRICA  
Special EXIM deals for 
potential Thai investors 
EXIM Thailand is offering special deals to promote African market penetration and Thai-Kenyan trade and investment
Pisit Serewiwattana, president of Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Thailand), said Africa is a new frontier for Thai entrepreneurs and the bank has made available benefit packages for entrepreneurs who wish to take out export credit insurance with EXIM Thailand to hedge risk of foreign buyers' non-payment. 
The package comprises 1) a 50 per cent reduction of the calculated export credit insurance premium, and 2) analysis of foreign buyer data free of charge for the first two buyers and 50 per cent discount for the 3rd-5th buyers. The insured will be compensated for a loss from buyers' non-payment at 80 per cent of the loss incurred in relation to trade and political risks. Entrepreneurs may apply for the package from today until the end of 2018.

ASIA PACIFIC 
Investment volumes hit
record US$81 bn in first half 
Investment volumes in Asia Pacific hit a record-breaking US$81 billion in the first half of 2018, up by 30 per cent year-on-year, with Hong Kong leading the way as the region’s most active city, according to latest data from real estate consultancy JLL.
“Asia Pacific’s property markets continue to perform well despite global political and economic uncertainty,” says Stuart Crow, Head of Asia Pacific Capital Markets, JLL. “Globally, the pace of deal making in Asia Pacific has raced ahead of Europe and the US, as transaction volume growth in this region is being supported by a continued cyclical recovery in developed markets such as Hong Kong, Australia and Japan.”
Transaction volumes in Hong Kong grew to US$14.6 billion in the first half of the year compared to US$5.8 billion during the same period in 2017. The city jumped to third on the list of the world’s most liquid markets after London (1st) and New York (2nd) following sale of the 73-storey office tower The Center for US$5.1 billion. Not only was it the largest single-asset transaction of the year so far, but is also the world’s most expensive real estate transaction ever.
“Prices in Hong Kong’s Central sub-market have been pushed up due to a combination of tight vacancy rates, robust occupier demand and a lack of new supply. Coupled with an influx of Chinese occupiers and investors, these factors have accelerated an increase in real estate prices,” says Joseph Tsang, Head of Capital Markets, JLL Hong Kong.
“Despite the rising prices, investor appetite remains resilient. Between 2015 and 2017, mainland buyers spent an average of US$2.1 billion per year on offices in Hong Kong. This year is set to exceed that figure given that, to date, there has been more than US$2 billion worth of office acquisitions already transacted,” explains Mr Tsang.
Meanwhile, Asian investors were the most active net buyers of commercial real estate in the first half of 2018. The group alone purchased 20 per cent of office, hotel and retail assets disposed by global funds, who were the largest net sellers of commercial real estate – worth a total of US$31.5 billion between January and June.
As outbound investment from China slowed, investors from Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea stepped in to provide liquidity, demonstrating the depth of the buyer pool from the region.
“While many of these investors have favoured the U.S. in prior years, pricing pressures in core markets and rising hedging costs are driving many Asian groups to consider investments in Europe instead,” explains Mr Crow. “This has been the case for South Korean investors for instance, who face high hedging costs when investing in the U.S. In fact, South Korean purchases in Europe were double those made in the US at the half-year mark in 2018.”
Across the region, the office sector made up over half of all transaction volumes, with retail following at 20 per cent. Industrial and logistics, which made up 13 per cent of transactions, saw 27 per cent growth year-on-year as it continues to be favoured by foreign and domestic investors alike.
“Investors are upping their exposure to real estate in Asia, with a growing number of groups increasing their allocations to the sector thanks to its defensive qualities, steady income stream, and relative performance compared to other asset classes. 
Shifting demographic and technological trends are driving appetite for scale, especially in the logistics and alternatives sector,” Crow added.

L’OREAL
New chief named
for Thai operations 
L’Oreal has announced the appointment of Ines Caldeira as the new managing director for Thailand, effective September 1. 
In her new role, Caldeira will leverage almost 17 years of experience with L’Oreal in Europe to drive forward L’Oreal’s mission to create “Beauty For All”, making beauty universal for Thai consumers, te company said . 
Caldeira will join L’Oreal Thailand after spending the last four years as the country manager for L’Oreal Portugal, At 35, she was the first and youngest female in L’Oreal’s Portugal history.
Over the course of her career with L’Oreal, Caldeira has been given the responsibility for three international assignments, played a development role at headquarters, and directed operations in Spain, one of the toughest and most challenging economies, for four years.
 

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