Saturday, December 18, 2010

SEASONS GREETINGS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

19th. December 2010

As 2010 draws to a close, EMP GROUP OF COMPANIES extend our besh wishes and Happy New Year 2011 Greetings to our customers, agents, suppliers and supporters.

Your invaluable support over the years to our company has been been outstanding.We hope to receive the same support and confidence from all of you in 2011 and beyond.

Best of luck in your endeavours and have a Happy New Year 2011.

Management
EMP Group of Companies

Friday, November 26, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA TRADING DIVISION EXPORTS TAPPING KNIVES

Our Trading Division has recently shipped out samples of our range of rubber tapping knives to new customers in Abu Dhabi and Guatemala.

Our clients wanted to try our range of rubber tapping knives for their rubber gardens and plantations.

Over the past few months, our Trading Division has been requested to send out our tapping knives and RF Eaves for trials.

Should these trials prove successful, we expect future orders for our rubber tapping knives and RF Eaves.

Should you have any of these requirements, email us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Sunday, October 3, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA SECURES CREPER ORDER

4th. October 2010

EMP Malaysia secured a firm order for the fabrication and supply of a EMP 14" dia. x 28" Creper from a Malaysian company last week.

The creper will be used to process cup lumps which are being supplied to the buyer. The buyer will use the creper to crepe the cup lumps in blankets before being sold.

With rubber prices rising, companies are investing machinery to process their cup lumps so that they can get better value from their cup lumps. In May a Sabah company wanted to buy a cup lump process line so that they can process their cup lumps into sheets before exporting to Peninsular Malaysia for further processing.

For enquiries : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

EMP TRADING DIVISION RECEIVES LATEX STIMULANT REPEAT ORDER TO INDIA.

29th. September 2010

EMP Trading Division is receiving another 2.4 tonnes of Ethephon Plus 5% Latex Stimulant to India.

The buyer has confirmed this order via email. A few months ago we exported about 1mt of Ethephon Plus to them.

Arrangements are being done to expedite this new order.

Monday, August 9, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA ENGINEERING & PROJECTS DIVISION QUOTES STR 20 PROCESS LINE

7th.August 2010

EMP Malaysia Projects and Engineering Division has just submitted a 5mt/hr STR 20 NR Processing line to an existing Thai customer.

The Thai customer wants to set up this plant to process STR 20 from cup lumps before making compound rubber with the STR 20 rubber.

Our process line includes an Air Scrubber system for the dryer as it can arrest foul smell from the dryer. Without the Air Scrubber system, smell from the dryer can permeate to the surrounding area.

Our submission with our STR 20 Flow Diagram will be used to apply to the Board of Investments, Thailand.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA QUOTES RUBBER MANGLES AND LATEX COAGULANTS TO EAST MALAYSIA

29th. July 2010

EMP Malaysia Trading Division has just submitted a quotation for the supply and delivery of 150 sets of Rubber Mangles and Latex coagulation to East Malaysia.

We quoted 150 sets of manually operated smooth and ribbed rubber mangles as our main offer and motorised rubber mangles as an alternative offer.

Besides the rubber mangles, we quoted for the supply and delivery of latex coagulation aid for the coagulation of rubber field latex. Instead of the common acid based coagulation agent, we have proposed an environmentally friendly, non-acidic based latex coagulation agent. This new agent is non-acidic and can be handled with ease if compared with the acidic based coagulation agent.

Over the past few months, our company has been requested to quote for the supply of these rubber mangles in East Malaysia.

For information, please email us at :TWKANG@emp.com.my

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA ENGINEERING & PROJECTS DIVISION QUOTES SKIM BLOCK LINE

28th.July 2010

Our Engineering & Projects Division has just submitted a EMP 4-5mt/hr Skim Block Rubber processing line to a potential Thai customer.

To be environmentally friendly, our EMP Skim Block Rubber Dryer will be heated using LPG gassing system instead of diesoline. Skim block produced from LPG have better and light colour. Moreover, maintenance will be easier.

The Thai customer intends to produce Skim block from the skim latex being produced by their Latex concentrate factory. By doing so, they can reap in extra profits for their rubber businesses.

With the recent high prices of Natural rubber in the world market, buyers are seeking cheaper sources of natural rubber for their production. Skim block rubber is currently their preferred buying choice as the price is cheaper in comparison with other grades of rubber.

Interested parties interested in our EMP SKIM BLOCK RUBBER PROCESSINGSYSTEM, can email us at: TWKANG@emp.com.my

Sunday, July 18, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA QUOTES RF EAVES TO SRI LANKA

After successfully marketed our products into the Indian market, EMP Malaysia Trading Division is aiming at the Sri Lankan market.

Through a Sri Lankan agent, we have quoted one 20ft. container load of the RF Eaves Rainguard system.

Rainguard system is an effective way of increasing tapping days which tappers currently cannot tap their rubber trees due to rain.

It has been found that by installing Rain guard system, it can increase tapping days of between 25 to 35 days per year.

Extra tapping days mean extra income/yield to the smallholders and plantation groups. Higher productivity can be achieved.

Moreover, with our rubber cup covers, we reduce rain wash-out and reduce contamination on the field latex.

All these benefits can be achieved by installing our Rainguard system.

For direct enquiries : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Sunday, July 11, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA PLAYS HOST TO THAI DELEGATION

Last Saturday, Mr. TW Kang played host to a Thai delegation of 15 from Bangkok. This Thai delegation wanted to visit a rubber processing manufacturing factory and learn about new technologies in rubber processing from Malaysia.

Our company arranged this delegation to visit a factory of our manufacturer and showed them our range of rubber processing machinery which ranged from wet processing machinery and our top seller i.e. our EMP range of Dry rubber processing machinery.

By viewing these machinery first hand, they can understand the capability and functions of these machinery which they intend to invest in the future.

Though it was just a short visit, it has allowed us to show to our guests our capabilities and ability in handling different rubber processing work. The delegation later left to Melaka - World Heritage City for a day tour.

Our managing director has also been invited to present a short talk about New technologies in improving the livelihood rubber smallholders in Thailand soon. Once this trip is organised, Mr. Kang will fly into Bangkok to present his talk.
From the view of our company, we feel honoured and previleged to be able to offer our opinion on this vital industry.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA FANS DIVISION QUOTES IN-LINE CENTRIFUGAL FANS

Our EMP Malaysia Fans Division has just quoted 130 sets of our range of In-line Centrifugal Fans to our customer.

Their sizes are either 10" diameter or 12"diameter.

These in-line centrifugal fans are good for extracting fumes and air. They can be installed within a tubular arm so that fumes can be extracted during welding applications.

Fumes generated from welding applications, if inhaled, can be harmful to operators over the long run.

As such, in industrial factories and workshops, fume extraction systems are used to reduce toxic fume inhalation.

For enquiries, please email us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Monday, July 5, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA TRADING DIVISION QUOTES RF EAVES

Our Trading Division was requested to quote for one x 20ft. container load of RF Eaves complete with cover and sealant.

This is our 2nd. quotation to supply and deliver these RF Eaves as Rain guard system. Recently, we have also sent out some samples to our agents/clients for installation trials at their plantations/smallholdings.

If successful, our company sees a big potential for these RF Eaves with cover. Rubber tappers will benefit by being able to tap their rubber trees during rainy days and greater productivity can be achieved.

Currently, plantations and smallholdings without Rainguard system, will not be able to tap their trees when there is heavy rain. By not tapping, rubber tappers lose out by not being able to cut and collect the field latex or cup lumps.

With this RF Eaves system, lower No Tapping days can be achieved and better quality of field latex can be collected.

For enquiries : TWKANG@emp.com.my.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA SENDS OUT ETHEPHON PLUS ORDERS













EMP Malaysia Trading Division has delivered 3 pallets of Ethephon Plus 5% concentration to our forwarder's warehouse for shipment to our clients in South Asia.




We received one repeat order and one new order for our Ethephon Plus latex stimulants. The items were packed in 25kg. plastic containers and mounted onto wooden pallets.

In view of the urgency of the delivery, we managed to get the items exported within 10 days from the date of receiving the firm order and payment. All documents will be couriered to our customers by today.

We look forward to further orders from our customers very soon.

Interested parties who want to import our latex stimulants can contact us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

RUBBER MAY ADVANCE 26% ON SUPPLY SHORTAGE

Bloomberg

Rubber May Advance 26% on Supply Shortage, RBS Says (Update1)

June 24, 2010, 8:09 AM EDT

(Adds comment from third paragraph.)

By Claire Leow

June 24 (Bloomberg) -- Rubber prices may climb 26 percent next year as supplies lag behind demand, Royal Bank of Scotland Asia Securities (Singapore) Pte. said in an e-mailed report.

Natural rubber may average $4,500 a metric ton next year, up from $3,580 a ton year-to-date, as “heavy rainfall in southern Thailand has disrupted supply” and “inventory levels in China are worse than we expected,” said Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, a commodities analyst.

Rubber futures advanced 1.5 percent this year to 280.2 yen a kilogram in Tokyo, or $3,139 a metric ton. The most active contract climbed 3.6 percent last week on concern rain was affecting Thai crops.

Thailand is the world’s largest producer, and China the biggest consumer. About 70 percent of rubber, tapped as sap from trees, is used in the auto industry for tires.

“This disruption to supply is serious because Thailand accounts for 31 percent” of world production, Tiruchelvam said.

He reiterated his recommendation that investors buy GMG Global Ltd., a producer listed in Singapore, with a 12-month target of 27 Singapore cents. The shares have doubled to 22 cents this year.

--Editor: James Poole

Monday, June 21, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA SECURES 3RD. ETHEPHON PLUS ORDER TO INDIA

EMP Malaysia Trading Division has just received our 3rd. order for Ethephon Plus 5% concentration Latex stimulants to India.

The deal was finalised last Friday when the representative of the Indian company visited our office and premises.

This 1.2metric tonnes of Ethephon Plus of 5% concentration will be packed and shipped out once the consignment is ready for shipment.

We also intend to send out 10 sets of RF Eaves c/w cover and sealant including our Latex coagulant powder as free samples. They will be used for field trials against rain and to coagulate field latex by using eco-friendly, non-acidic latex coagulating powder.

For enquiries, please email us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Thursday, June 17, 2010

TOURISM MELAKA WEBSITE EXCEEDS 750,000 VISITORS

Our Tourism Melaka website at www.tourism-melaka.com, has exceeded 750,000 visitors to date. Tourism Melaka website is sponsored by EMP Group of Companies to promote Melaka which is the home state of our company.

This web portal site was created to promote Melaka which is a UNESCO World Heritage City since 2008. We began the site in 2001 and we are receiving about 500 to 600 visitors daily. This figure keeps on growing during long school holidays, festive seasons and public holidays.

Surprisingly, Tourism Melaka website is also quite popular with Chinese visitors from China. This can be due to the long history of Melaka in relation to China which began in 1400s.

Zheng He, the famous Chinese navigator during the Ming Dynasty had visited Melaka a number of times i.e. during his voyages to the Western Seas. This has probably led to Melaka being known to the Chinese population.

In 2007, the life story of Zheng He was undertaken in a 156 episodes of 1 hour each and shown on Chinese television channels. It was reported that the TV show received a huge audience and following in China.

RAIN EFFECT CAN BE REDUCED BY USE OF RAIN GUARDS

Rain Effect
18 Jun, 2010 10:16:00

Sri Lanka seeks to raise rubber output with rain guards

June 18, 2010 (LBO) - Sri Lanka is to encourage small farmers tapping rubber to use rain guards to reduce production disruption by rain and provide more supplies for industry helped by high prices, an official said.

Plantations industries minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that in some parts of the island lashed by heavy rains recently tappers were able to tap trees for only five days a month, sharply reducing output.

Rubber estates run by government research institutes which used rain guards were able to make good profits, he said.

"So we want to make rain guards more available, especially to encourage rubber small holders to use them," he told a news conference.

"Then we can increase rubber production, raise farmer incomes while ensuring enough supplies are available for industry."

About 72,000 small farmers cultivate rubber on 33,000 hectares in the island while listed plantations companies cultivate another 50,000 hectares.

Samarasinghe said even among the plantations firms use of rain guards was inadequate.

Sri Lanka's total rubber production is now around 130,000 tonnes and the country is estimated to need 150,000 tonnes by 2015, Samarasinghe said.

Small farmers are likely to be the main suppliers of rubber in future, he said.

Local consumption of rubber by industry has risen sharply in recent years.

In 1980 only 10 percent of rubber was used locally.

Today 80 percent of production is used by local industries which have had to cope with record prices in recent month owing to global shortages and rising demand.

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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA TO RECEIVE ANOTHER ETHEPHON PLUS ORDER FROM SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRY





EMP Malaysia Trading Division
has just received an email from our customer that his company will be placing another order for our Ethephon Plus (Green Label) 5% concentration Latex stimulant.

They imported their first consignment of 1 metric tonne last month and this is their repeat order.

This order augurs well in our effort in developing this new market for our range of Ethephon Plus Latex stimulants.

Besides the latex stimulants, our Trading Division intends to market our eco-friendly latex coagulating powder, Wound Healing Compound, Gebung knives, Latex cups and RF Eaves with cover.

Enquiries can be made to : TWKANG@emp.com.my

RF EAVES WITH COVER CAN REDUCE NO TAPPING DAYS

Less tapping may make NR more expensive
George Joseph / Kochi Jun 16, 2010, 00:20


















Storms and heavy rain in the last one week have brought tapping of rubber trees to a standstill in most parts of Kerala, paving the way for a further rise in prices.

RF Eaves With Cover is a Solution to

reducing No Tapping Days




















In some parts of central Kerala, rain had damaged plantations and uprooted rubber trees, growers said. Since production was badly affected, the local market was bullish, with the price of benchmark grade RSS-4 rising to Rs 170 a kg.

The market is poised for a further rise in prices as growers are not releasing stocks in anticipation of a further rise. This has created a serious supply crunch. Even consumer industries are finding it difficult to procure rubber.

Both local and international prices have risen around 100 per cent in a year. In June 2009, the local market quoted Rs 99 for RSS-4 while the Bangkok market quoted Rs 82. Today, Bangkok quoted Rs 165 a kg.

According to producers in Kerala, production would be less by three-five per cent this month owing to loss of tapping days, as against a 2.9 per cent increase in the April-May period. In June 2009, production was 54,255 tonnes, as against 62,200 tonnes in June 2008. This time, monthly production is estimated around 52,000 tonnes.

The estimated fall in production in June will put pressure on supplies, which may lead to a sharp rise in prices. In April-June of last financial year, production declined 11.3 per cent to 159,325 tonnes.

A steady increase in consumption in the country is upsetting the market’s demand-supply equilibrium, a major factor behind the price surge. In the first quarter of 2009-10, consumption rose 1.7 per cent to 218,940 tonnes, as against a 11.3 per cent fall in production. The supply-demand gap is widening further.

In April and May this year, while production saw a 2.9 per cent increase, consumption rose 9.5 per cent. According to estimates, there is a gap of more than 100,000 tonnes annually in production and consumption of natural rubber in the country. This is likely to increase to 150,000 tonnes this financial year. So, the ongoing heavy rain in June may add to the worries of the rubber-consuming industries.

WEBMASTER : OUR RF EAVES WITH COVER IS THE ANSWER BY REDUCING NO TAPPING DAYS.

Email us for details :TWKANG@emp.com.my

Monday, June 14, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA RECEIVES ENQUIRY FOR INSTANT COFFEE AND CREAMER

Through our associate site at www.tourism-melaka.com, EMP Malaysia, Trading Division, has received an export enquiry for the supply and delivery of 1 metric tonne of Instant coffee and 1 metric tonne of creamer.

This export enquiry is for delivery to Madagascar in Africa.

Our instant coffee and creamer (which is formulated by using palm oil) will be sourced from Melaka, Malaysia - our home base.

This new enquiry is different from our usual enquiries about our rubber processing systems and the supply and delivery of rubber.

It will be good if we can receive this order as our company moves ahead to diversify our range of trading products in our Trading Division.

Enquiries can be sent to : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Kerala latex a World Cup winner

By Reema Narendran
First Published : 15 Jun 2010 06:02:16 AM IST
Last Updated : 15 Jun 2010 08:09:05 AM IST






THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: What do the eerily silent rubber plantations of Kerala got to do with the Soccer World Cup? Connecting the game with the state are the jabulani balls setting the stadium on fire.

For, in every 100 jabulani balls that roll in South Africa, there will be approximately 7 kg rubber from Kerala! The latex bladders that give shape, speed and bounce to the jabulani are made by Delhi-based Enkay India Rubber Co which sources rubber latex from Kerala.“We have supplied around 200,000 bladders for jabulani. We are still supplying them,’’ said Naresh Jain, one of the directors of Enkay.

Enkay, whose main business includes sports and surgical goods, shoe soles and auto parts, has been supplying latex bladders to Adidas.“A major chunk of rubber consumed at our end comes from Kerala.Our major suppliers are government plantations. We use DRC 60 pc latex or latex with a 60 pc dry rubber content. We prefer Kerala to other rubber growing areas because of quality and convenience,’’ said Naresh Jain.

The rubber latex has been sourced from government plantat ions in Peruanapuram near Perambra, Nilambur, Kodumon and Chandanapally. The Plantation Corporation Kerala confirmed that Enkay had indeed purchased latex from them.

“From May 20, 2009 to February 20 this year they purchased almost 12 truckloads of latex from us which they must have used for making the bladders,’’ said Mohankumar, GM (Commerce), Plantation Corporation.

“We mix chemicals and additives to make the latex less porous/breathable so as to retain the air for a longer time when inside an inflated ball,’’ said Naresh Jain.So what if India is not playing the game, the jabulani balls are certainly on a roll.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA COMPLETES 2ND. DRY RUBBER PROCESSING PROJECT IN THAILAND

Our technical staff has finally completed the commissioning of our 2nd. EMP Dry Rubber Blending line in Thailand on 1st. June 2010.

Some technical problems crept up on the motor control centre but they have been solved. The complete dry process line is now functioning to specifications.

This line will be used to produce compound rubber from sheet material such as Unsmoked sheets, Ribbed Smoke sheets, air dried sheets etc. Synthetic rubber and stearic acid will be mixed and blended by our dry process line to produce the desired compound rubber before they are exported to China.

Our first line of 5mt/hr was commissioned in November 2009 and this second line was commissioned in June 2010.

Parties interested in our EMP Dry Process lines can email us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my

EMP MALAYSIA TO COURIER OUT BUDDING TOOLS AND SHARPENING STONES

Our budding tools and sharpening stones will soon be couriered to our customer in Africa. In view of the urgency of this supply, they have to be couriered out by air.

Arrangements have been made to send these items via DHL. We are currently awaiting DHL to collect the items from our office for delivery to our customer in Africa.

Our African customer has been buying from our company for the past 10 years and we hope they will support us for many years to come. We value their continuous support for our company and we extend our thanks to them.

Friday, June 4, 2010

EMP MALAYSIA SHIPS OUT ORDER


4 nos. of cartons of tapping accessories, latex stimulants and wound healing compound have been delivered to our freight forwarder warehouse for shipment to our buyer in a South Asian country.

This order is for a plantation group. Recent rise in natural rubber prices have caused the importation of latex stimulants so that rubber yield can be increased. At the same time, the wound healing compound will be used to rehalibitate damaged rubber trees due to poor tapping or otherwise.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

INDONESIA TO REVITALISE 400,000 HECTARES OF AGING RUBBER PLANTATIONS IN 2010

Govt to doll up aging rubber plantations

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 06/03/2010 11:03

The government will revitalize up to 400,000 hectares of aging rubber plantations in a bid to meet growing domestic demand for high-quality crumb rubber, a senior official says.

Director general of plantations at the Agriculture Ministry Ahmad Manggabarani said Wednesday that locally produced crumb rubber was mostly exported because domestic buyers preferred higher quality imports.

“Domestic rubber-based manufacturers absorb only about 422,000 tons, less than 15 percent of the total domestic crumb rubber output,” he told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a seminar.

Crumb rubber is semi-processed rubber used as a raw ingredient in rubber products.
Ahmad said about 400,000 hectares of the country’s total 3.44 million hectares of rubber plantations would be revitalized by the end of 2010 with the aim to produce better quality raw materials for crumb rubber production.

“We have 13 banks that have agreed to offer about Rp 40 million (US$4,360) in loans with a 6 percent flat lending rate for each hectare of land that will be revitalized,” he said, adding that the government would subsidize the loans.
Local crumb rubber factories produce 2.9 million tons per year on average, Ahmad said.

Tony Tanduk, director of the downstream chemical industry at the Industry Ministry, said increasing the quality and quantity of raw rubber would boost the competitiveness of Indonesia’s rubber on the global market.

“We have to increase our rubber plantations’ productivity to at least 1 or 2 tons per hectare from just 901 kilograms annually,” Tony said, adding that natural raw rubber fetched about $3 per kilogram on global markets.

According to data at the Industry Ministry, last year the country’s rubber and rubber products exports decreased to 1.99 million tons, worth $3.24 billion, from 2.3 million tons, $6.06 billion, in 2008.

In 2009, exports of rubber products alone reached $1.6 billion, comprising $1.1 billion worth of tires, $198 million in rubber gloves, $165 million in industrial rubber goods and $169 million in other rubber goods.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, Indonesia has the largest area of rubber plantations in the world, with 3.4 million hectares, followed by Thailand with 2.6 million hectares and Malaysia with 1.2 million hectares.

However, despite Indonesia’s massive area advantage, it is the second biggest rubber producer, outputting 2.4 million tons of rubber per year, behind Thailand, which produces 3.1 million tons.

“Blessed by natural resources, Indonesia should be the world’s biggest rubber producer,” Ahmad Manggabarani said, adding that the country’s rubber had good prospects on the global market,especially since China was leading the region’s recovery from the recent financial downturn.

Nevertheless, he said, Indonesia would rather see the other two biggest rubber producers as partners rather than competitors.

“We have agreed with Malaysia and Thailand to form the International Tripartite Rubber Council to regulate the world’s rubber supply and demand, which influence global prices,” he said. (ebf)

CHINESE FIRMS INVEST ABROAD IN RUBBER PRODUCTION

Chinese firms invest abroad in rubber production
George Joseph / Kochi Jun 04, 2010, 00:57

China is aggressively promoting leasing of large tracts of rubber plantations abroad, especially in the Asean Free Trade Area, by its companies.

The country’s aim is to ensure enough rubber availability in its market. While the area under natural rubber (NR) cultivation in China is around 9,00,000 hectares, the area under captive cultivation by Chinese enterprises is 8,82,000 hectares, but growing swiftly. By contrast, the total area under rubber in India is 6,62,000 ha.

According to Lu Linhan, president, Guangdong Guangken Rubber Group Company, Chinese companies have rubber plantations abroad mainly in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and also Cameroon in Africa.

China is facing a serious issue of limited availability of land for NR cultivation. More, productivity of NR is low in China compared to other major producer countries. These two factors have led to a shift in Chinese policy, which now encourages largescale leasing of land in other countries.

Apart from leasing, Chinese companies have also acquired land in rubber producing countries and entered into joint ventures with enterprises abroad. One company, Guangdong Nongken, has established a seedling centre in Malaysia, with annual output of 1.5 million nursery seedlings.

Apart from production, Chinese companies are actively engaged in processing of NR, and several of them have established units in various NR producing countries. Hainan Nongken established a China-Asean NR professional electronic spot trade centre, a logistics centre and an information centre in China. Guangken Rubber started a sales and trading company in Thailand and exports 80,000 tonnes rubber from Thailand to China each year.

Two Chinese companies, Sinochem International and Petrochina International, have started sales and trading companies in Singapore.

Imports of compound rubber into China from Asean countries attracts nil duty, whereas in India the duty is 20 per cent. The tariff on imports from elsewhere was recently cut from a 20 per cent ad valorem one to a fixed rate of 2,000 yuan a tonne.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

ECO-FRIENDLY COAGULATING POWDER FOR INDUSTRIAL GLUE


Industrial Glue after being coagulated with our Eco-friendly,non-acidic Powder

Recently, our company has found a new application for our Eco-friendly coagulating powder.

Industrial Applications for Coagulating Powder

An industrial firm was looking for an eco-friendly coagulation medium to coagulate their waste glue before disposing them as scheduled waste. They did not want to use an acidic medium as it is environmentally un-friendly and is difficult to handle as it is corrosive.

They found us on the Internet and we offered our coagulation powder for their trials. After trying out our powder, they found it was able to coagulate their glue to their satisfaction.

Currently, they have placed an order with us on this powder and intend to do so on a monthly basis.

With this breakthrough, it is now possible to use our eco-friendly coagulating powder to coagulate natural rubber latex-based glue and synthetic rubber latex-based glue.

Though currently it is being used to coagulate the glue into coagulum before they are dumped as Schedule wastes, we intend to find out if these coagulum can be recovered for their natural or synthetic rubber.

If this can be done, we can reclaim the huge amount of rubber (NR and Synthetic) for re-use world-wide.

EMP MALAYSIA TRADING DIVISION RECEIVES BUDDING TOOLS & SHARPENING STONES ORDER

Our long term African plantation group has just emailed us their order for the supply of budding tools and sharpening stones.

Due to the urgency of this order, the items will be couriered to them once they are ready for shipment.

The budding tools will be used for their rubber trees nursery while the sharpening stones are used to sharpen our Gebung type rubber tapping knives.

We hope to receive our Ethephon Plus latex stimulant in the future.

Enquiries and request for quotations can be emailed us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my

Sunday, May 23, 2010

PHILIPPINES TO JOIN ANRPC 11TH. MEMBER


fe Bureaus
Posted: Monday, May 24, 2010 at 1849 hrs IST
Updated: Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 2347 hrs IST

Thiruvananthapuram: The Philippines is set to debut at the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) assembly session to be held in the first week of October in Kochi. The country has been accepted by the 40-year-old organization of rubber producing countries as its 11th member last month.

The association's 33rd assembly session and the meetings of the executive committee and two other technical committees are scheduled to be held in Kochi in October this year. Along with this, the third ANRPC annual rubber conference will be held on October 6 at the same venue, according to Dr Djoko Said Damardjati, secretary general, ANRPC.

“Philippines's entry will strengthen ANRPC's role as the inter-governmental agency, dedicated to promotion of the natural rubber industry through multilateral co-operation,” he said in a statement from the ANRPC headquarters in Malaysia.

The ANRPC came into being in 1970 with the founder members being Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia , Sri Lanka and Vietnam. India joined the body after five years.

Attorney Bernie G Fondevilla, secretary of the department of agriculture, signed the instrument of accession for the government of the Philippines in April, according to ANRPC secretariat.

The Philippines, which has over hundred years of experience in natural rubber cultivation, has been a late entrant to the ANRPC. Rubber occupies about 130,000 hectare of cultivated land in the Philippines.

Tyre manufacturers like Goodrich, Firestone and Goodyear took the lead in popularising the rubber crop in the Philippines. The area expansion suffered a major setback during late 1990s when prices collapsed.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

EMP TRADING DIVISION QUOTES 150,000 SETS OF RF EAVES

Today, our EMP Trading Division submitted our price quotation for 150,000 sets of RF Eaves c/w cover and sealant to a plantation group in a South Asian country.

150,000 sets is a good figure to be shipped in one 20ft. container and this quantity is suitable for a medium size plantation and cost effective.

By installing such eaves or rainguard system, non-tapping days during the rainy season can be reduced. Tappers can continue to tap their rubber trees without having to remain indoors due to rain.

With our cover system, the rain will not cause any washout and contamination of the field latex in the cups.

This RF Eaves system c/w with latex cup covers augur well with our Gebung type tapping knives, sharpening stones and Ethephon Plus Latex stimulants.

Interested plantation groups and smallholders organisation can contact us at: TWKANG@emp.com.my.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

MALAYSIAN RUBBER SECTOR HOPES TO RECAPTURE ITS BOUNCE

Wednesday May 19, 2010

Local rubber sector to recapture its bounce

By HANIM ADNAN
nem@thestar.com.my


KUALA LUMPUR: The local rubber sector is poised to remain competitive on the global front via revitalised strategies and action plans under the newly launched Malaysian Rubber Industry (MRI) Strategies 2010-2020 and Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) Strategies 2010-2020.

By 2020, Malaysia is targeting for rubber productivity to hit 1.8 tonnes per ha per year, total production of about 1.8 million tonnes, total rubber planted area of 1.2 million ha and tappable area of one million ha.

Dr Salmiah Ahmad says MRB has wide-ranging responsibilities as custodian of local rubber sector.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the formulation of the domestic rubber industry strategy to reposition the sector and sustain its competitiveness was timely given the highly challenging global environment.

Both the midstream and downstream sectors would focus on improving market share through value-addition and diversification initiatives, including sustaining the growth of the Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) market and creating the market for speciality rubber and value-added production.

Dompok said: “Our upstream sector is no longer a low-cost producer. That is why we need to improve tree productivity, efficiency and promote income diversification of smallholders.”

Under the new strategies, Dompok said MRB would be working with Risda, Felcra, Felda, Sarawak Forestry Board and Sabah Rubber Industry Board to ensure a more efficient transfer of technologies to increase rubber yield to 1.8 tonnes per ha per year by 2020 from 1.4 tonnes currently.

He noted that the downstream sector was also too narrow-based with almost 80% of export consisting of latex dipped rubber goods. “We need to diversify the product base especially with MRB having the capacity and capability to formulate, design and re-engineer new rubber-based products.”

Other strategies include facilitating entrepreneurs to be more daring at innovation, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

There was a need to develop a strong network between the private and public rubber-related organisations, Dompok said, adding that through the network, research and development (R&D) support could provide the extra edge for Malaysian rubber manufacturers.

Meanwhile, MRB newly appointed director-general Dr Salmiah Ahmad told StarBiz that the board had also formulated its own strategies in line with its expectation of becoming a global centre of excellence for rubber by 2020.

“As a custodian of the local rubber sector, MRB's responsibilities are wide-ranging from production to end-usage,” she said.

On the production side, MRB has to help sustain the livelihood of 290,000 smallholders via increasing land productivity and improving their income level as outlined under the New Economic Model.

The MRB strategies will focus on development of high yielding clones as well as development and adoption of mechanised and automatic systems in rubber plantations.

In the midstream and downstream sectors, Salmiah said there were pressing R&D needs to improve efficiency, market promotion, advanced materials and product diversification.

“This include the development of expertise and industrial support in tyre technologies, focusing on green tyres, with Malaysia poised to be a world-class tyre R&D and testing centre,” she added.

EMP TRADING DIVISION QUOTES BUDDING KNIVES AND SHARPENING STONES TO AFRICAN PLANTATION GROUP

Our Trading Division has just submitted a price quotation for the supply and delivery of budding knives and sharpening stones to our long time customer in Africa.

This customer has been using our Gebung Rubber tapping knives, sharpening stones and Ethephon Plus Latex stimulants for the past 15 years.

We have also introduced them to our patented RF Eaves with cover so that tapping can be done during rainy weather.

email us at TWKANG@emp.com.my if you require our products and services.

Monday, May 17, 2010

EMP PROJECTS AND ENGINEERING DIVISION REQUESTED TO QUOTE RUBBER PRODUCT MACHINERY TO BANGLADESH

In line with our company policy of being a One-Stop Rubber Machinery Supplier web portal, we have been tasked to quote a number of rubber products processing machinery.

The types of rubber product machinery required are as follows:-
  • Rubber dispersion kneader
  • Rubber extruder for producing rubber tubes
  • Continuous type Microwave vulcanising system for curing the rubber tubes
  • Rubber sheets calendars

We have already contacted our Taiwanese manufacturer(s) on the above and are awaiting for their pricings.

Besides our traditional business of designing upstream rubber processing lines, we are also keen in expanding our products and services by designing and supplying these value-added downstream types of rubber processing lines in developing countries.

The current enquiry is for Bangladesh and the potential customer is keen to invest in such a rubber products line.

If your company is interested in such processing lines, please email us at : TWKANG@emp.com.my.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

NATURAL RUBBER BUSINESS FORECASTS

Natural rubber business forecasts improved outlook

By Dr. N. Yogaratnam

Global natural rubber (NR) prices continued to maintain their upward trend fetching around US$ 3.00 in early 2010, says the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG). Prices increased on an average by 36% from early December approaching close to US$ 3.00 level attained in early 2008. The physical price index for Thai RSS 3 increased by 30%; Indonesian SIR 20 and Malaysian SMR increased by 38% and 39% respectively, over the same period.

The upward trend is partly supported by fundamental factors as well as improving market sentiment following an easing in the global recession; physical prices also advanced following the surge in future prices. Aggressive replenishing of stocks by buyers to avoid supply scarcity over next few months on signs of demand recovery supported by the upward trend in prices, is expected to continue during this period.

Domestic scenario
The trend in domestic market (Sri Lankan) is equally encouraging, with rubber prices in the Colombo Auction reaching an all time high with a kilogram of rubber fetching around Rs 450/= in the 3rd week of April. Latex crepe as well as RSS1 fetched these high prices in the same auction. The RSS1 grade of rubber fetched only around Rs.105.00 per kg at the auction in November 2008.It is also interesting to note that, there is a good demand for the lower grades of RSS as well.

This increasing trend in NR prices provides a tremendous boost to domestic rubber producers, some of whom were out of rubber business due to the drastic drop in NR prices that was experienced over the last two years
NR output
Global output of NR fell by 5.1 % to 8.686 million tones during the 12 months ended December 2009 from 9.150 million tones in the previous year. The fall in supply is attributed to a decline in productivity in spite of expansion in yielding area due to adverse climatic conditions.

Thailand witnessed a 6.1 % drop in supply during 2009 from 3. 090 million tones in 2008 to 2.900 million tones in 2009. In Indonesia, the supply dropped by 5.7% in 2009 to 2.595 million tones from 2.751 million tones the year before. NR out put in Malaysia drastically fell during 2009 by 22.1% from 1.072 million tones in 2008 to 835,000 tonnes in 2009. India's production came down by 7.3% to 817,000 tonnes during 2009 compared to 882,000 in 2008.

In sharp contrast to the first four major producing countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and India), NR supply registered a positive growth in Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, due mainly to expansion in yielding area.

China strengthened its position in the global supply of NR by clocking 17.9% output growth during 2009 while the supply in Vietnam grew by 9.7% during 2009. Cambodia recorded 81.1% rise in supply year before.

Out put in Sri Lanka grew by 4.7% during 2009. Production in January/ February 2010 had been 12.9 Kg.Mn, which is higher by 5.7% compared with the production of 12.2 Kg.Mn in the same period in 2009.

In 2010, with the expected higher GDP growth and an improving outlook for prices, global NR production is forecast to reach almost 10.56 million tones, a rise of 11.9 %, compared to the previous forecast of a 3.7 % increase to 10.0 million tones, with higher out put seen in all the major NR producing countries.

The domestic NR production which has been showing an increasing trend over the last six years from 90,500 MT in 2002, reaching 133,400 MT in 2009, is expected to record a further significant increase of around 5.7%, in 2010. If this trend in production continues, our total NR production in 2010 would be around 141,003 MT.

Challenges
Prices have surged across the world in recent times, following supply crunch in the major NR producing countries. The crunch was caused mainly by climate change and the surge in the price of crude oil, now around US$ 86.

There had been a fall in production of NR in the major rubber producing countries. The fall was mainly attributed to variation on weather pattern. Climate change appears to have been a real threat to several agricultural crops and a tree crop like rubber is no exception. It had been reported that there were days of heavy rains as well as hot sunny days during the peak yielding months of August to September, in the Indian rubber growing areas. While the rains had disturbed tapping operations, the unusually hot days experienced in their rubber growing areas may have resulted in the evaporation soil moisture and delayed nutrient uptake.

Rains continued with intensity in the other major rubber producing countries of Thailand, Malaysia and even in Sri Lanka, whereas the Indonesian crop, it has been reported, has been affected by dry weather.

This is reported to be owing to the unusual weather phenomenon, which has caused rains or dry weather in different regions at the same time. Moreover, heavy downpours have been forecast in Southern Thailand during the three months of October, November and December 2010. This may bring about a fall in the country's NR production by about 10 %. Thailand produces 250,000 tons of NR a month on the average, but traders expect the annual production to stay within 2.9 million tons, whereas the country's national estimates for NR production in 2010 is over3.0 million tons. The forecasted weather pattern suggests that the country's official estimates may look unrealistic. Indonesia had a massive earthquakes in some NR producing areas, may also put NR production in disarray.

It is also known that among the terrestrial ecosystems, natural forests sustain the most efficient moisture conservation system. The water use by rubber plantations is still more efficient and is estimated to be 500-600mm lower than the typical tropical rain forests ecosystem. The rate of evaporation is lower in rubber plantations compared to the forest ecosystem where mean daily evapo-transpiration of rubber is about 4.5 mm per day.

The crop coefficient values of a rubber tree are reported to be lower during dry seasons, being in the region of 0.179, and even under wet conditions, it is around 1.058. The transpiration rate (TR) is also lower than many other forest species.

These data highlight the ability of rubber plantations to conserve soil moisture more efficiently than most other tree species and thereby they are in a position to adapt themselves to drought conditions. But the problem appears to be extreme weather conditions that are of regular occurrence now and that this trend is expected to continue with more vigor in future
Crude oil
Price of crude oil moved ahead of US$ 86 a barrel now. Sheet rubber that was fetching around US$ 3.00 may move up further. Since the price of crude oil is showing a tendency to move up further on higher consumption by the US, world rubber market is expected to witness a continued price boom.

Rubber consumption
The Industry Report of IRSG, forecasts an improved out look for global NR and SR consumption growth as compared to the previous projections for 2009 and 2010.

The extended recession scenario would result in a 3.3% increase in NR consumption to below 10.0 million tones in 2010, compared to the 8.2 growth rate of 10.6 million tones envisaged in the base case. SR consumption would rise 7.4% to 12.6 million tones in 2010, compared to a 14.9% increase to 13.5 million tones in the base case In Asia/Pacific, the largest consuming region, the latest data suggest that the sharp decline seen in total consumption earlier in 2009 may have been arrested.

Consumption of NR by Indian tyre industry has seen around 6% growth during 2009. Automobile tyres accounted for about 60% of the total NR consumption in the country. The total rubber consumption saw only about 2.55% growth during the same period, due to the decline in the consumption by non-tyre sector.

India is emerging as a large market for automobiles as its fuel-efficient, compact environment-friendly small cars are increasingly in demand in the Asian, European and Latin American markets. Economic and the rising fuel prices are forcing people in these countries to go for small vehicles. The 'scrappage incentive' offered by the European countries for replacing 9-year old cars with small, fuel-efficient vehicles has helped the Indian cars to enlarge its market share in these countries. Though this incentive ended in December 2009, but the trend in preferring compact vehicles will continue.

China has been progressing steadily in rubber consumption, with the tyre sector scaling up production in a bid to mitigate the effect of the US Government's imposition of 35% duty on import of Chinese tyres into the country. The decision has seriously affected Chinese tyre exports to the US. Robust domestic vehicle sales, however, have been driving up demand for tyres in China, which in turn, has necessitated large import of NR into the country.

Vietnam is expected to expand rubber cultivation by 220,000 hectares by 2015, to enhance the total cultivated rubber area to 800,000ha. The prospect of exporting substantial quantum of NR to China is believed to be, behind the move for the expansion. Vietnam is a regular supplier of NR to China. 65% of it's total NR exports of around 490,000 tons up to September 2009, was to it's neighbor China.

Outlook
Global NR production is forecast to rise by 11.9 to reach almost 10.56 million tones in 2010 compared to the 7% increase envisaged earlier with higher out put expected in all the NR producing countries, according to a Rubber Industry Report.

Asin out put is forecast to rise to 9.92 million tones in 2010 from 8.82 million tones forecast for 2009.Malaysian Rubber Board's estimates indicate that the country's current output of NR is around one million tones. The current yield level stands at 1,400 kg per hectare. Malaysia targets to enhance the productivity to 1,800 kg per hectare in five years' time. A proposal already drawn by them indicates, that the area under the estate sector would be almost doubled from the current extent of 61,000 ha to 120,000 ha in five years' time.

Thailand is also on a move to expand the rubber area. The country has already extended rubber cultivation to 160,000 ha during the five- year period between 2004 and 2009 and has drawn up proposals for planting another 160,000 hectares from 2010.

Sri Lanka also had embarked on a new planting program in the Low country Intermediate Zone covering an extent of 40,000ha, but the pace of replanting activities indicates that the replanting target may not be achieved as desired.

The Global demand for rubber gloves, is also expected to grow by 10% per annum says a 'Rubber World' report. The demand for rubber gloves is reported to be increasing from India, China and Vietnam due to increase in health and hygienic awareness.

Plantation expansion plans of the major NR producing countries have obviously been developed based on the rising trend in rubber prices. Since the global supply of NR is forecast to fall behind its consumption up to 2020, the current boom in the NR market is expected to continue.


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