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.

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

MORE FROM BUSINESSWEEK

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• Rubber Advances on Low China Stockpiles, Slowing Thai Supplies
• Rubber Retreats as Oil Falls, Chinese Currency Optimism Fades
• Rubber Gains Most in Week as China?s Yuan Move May Boost Import
• Rubber Rebounds From Three-Week Low on Weaker Yen, Oil?s Gains

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(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

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

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.

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

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

Express News Service

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.

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.

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.

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.