A Trade Centre visitor looking at Hong Kong and China.

This visitor to the Trade Centre whom shares her time equally between New Zealand and Hong Kong has buyers for a range of New Zealand products.

Originally coming to New Zealand in 1999 as an exchange student and falling in love with the country she decided to stay and study at Victoria University before moving to Auckland where she now lives. Having worked in sales and logistical roles in the domestic as well as international markets has armed this lady with all the skills required to be a successful distributor into the Asian markets.

Of interest to this lady was, goat’s milk products, in particular the tablets, (concentrate for toddlers) and natural skin-care products.

The skin-care products need to be the non-oily types for the 20 something Asian girls.

I met with this lady personally and found her to be very friendly, astute and very easy to communicate with and I’m sure potential exporters will find this to be no different. This lady speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese as well as perfect English.  

If you happen to be in business producing any of the above types of products and would like to learn more about this company or for a personal introduction, please email me, laurie@nztc.co.nz or call (09) 366 6879

TimeTemp said its innovative shelf life indicator is able to more precisely measure the freshness of food items as they pass through the supply chain from factory to consumer and could lead to a significant reduction in the amount of waste produce. 

The firm said processors have little control over the temperatures their goods are exposed to throughout the value chain. Consequently, they often mark their products with a shorter shelf life as a precautionary measure which can mean a lot of edible food is thrown away. Norwegian food retailers discard over 50,000 tonnes of food annually, according to the report. 

Driven by the need to address these issues, the company has developed the innovative device, which is a small self-adhesive label attached to food products. It contains a range of non-toxic chemicals which react and change colour according to time and temperature.

The chemical reaction is activated at the packaging line of the food producer and follows each item from production to consumer. The reaction shows the time left before expiration of that product in accordance with the actual degradation of the food item – which is illustrated and in an easy-to-read graphical format, said TimeTemp. 

The firm said the intelligent packaging technology is applicable for all products where quality and lifespan depend on time and temperature variables during storage, as well as items where quality depends on maturity and ageing. Items such as meat, poultry, dairy and even bakery products would potentially benefit from using the technology. 

“The existing practice of setting expiration dates on foods or other temperature sensitive products – such as ‘best before’, ‘use by’ and ‘display until’ – is just a presumption of a product’s actual life span,” TimeTemp general manager Christian Aasland was quoted telling FoodProductionDaily.com. 

“To set such a date, one needs to guess what temperature the product will be exposed to throughout the cold chains. Because such average assumptions never will be correct for an individual product, a large portion of the food we discard is because of bad dates and is perfectly fine,” according to Asland. 

He added the technology provides a more accurate indication of quality and therefore expiration because it is based on the actual storage conditions each individual product is exposed to rather than a general estimate made at the processing plant. 

“The idea is to dynamically indicate date of expiration according to the true time and temperature each product experience in its life span,” he said. 

The company has produced a prototype of the device and hopes to bring a finished product to market sometime in 2011. It is currently working with grocery chain NorgesGruppen, baked goods supplier Lantmännen Unibake, and McDonald’s Norway. — Source: Dairy Reporter

China will also will install 25,000 stations to recharge the electric motors, said Wang Zhe, an official from Shanghai’s new energy automobile promotion office at the International Forum on Chinese Automobile Industry Development in Tianjin. 

“With government support in purchasing, R&D and infrastructure, Shanghai will be able to produce 100,000 new energy vehicles every year, including 60,000 passenger vehicles by 2012. About 20,000 of them will be for private use,” Wang said. 

More than 2.43 million vehicles had been registered in Shanghai at the end of 2009. The number of private vehicles in Shanghai has been increasing by 20% annually since 2006. 

The Jiading District of Shanghai, a major automobile manufacturing centre, is working to become a leader in manufacturing new eco-vehicles in China, said deputy district head Fei Xiaomei. China aims to develop as the world’s largest new eco-vehicle market by 2020 with five million cars. It also plans to export more than 15 million fuel-efficient vehicles annually. – Source: Shipping Gazette

Renowned agriculture scientist Yuan Longping celebrated his 80th birthday in the first week of September, said he now has two wishes, both concerning his life’s work – the hybrid rice that he originally created in the 1970s, according to China Daily.

“First, I wish that by 2012, my team and I can complete the Phase-III super hybrid rice, which is expected to yield 13.5 tons of rice per hectare. I hope I can live another 10 years until 2020. By then the yield will be improved to 15 tons per hectare,” Yuan said at the 21st Century Forum in Beijing.

His second wish is for his hybrid rice to be spread all around the world to solve the problems of hunger and ensure food security worldwide.

Hybrid rice is produced by crossbreeding different varieties of rice. The second-generation super hybrid, which was released commercially in 2006, can yield 9 tons of rice per hectare on average.

Hybrid rice in China has significantly helped increase rice output and allowed 20% of the world’s population to feed itself with just 7% of world’s farmland, Yuan said.

“The increase of rice output plays a key role in ensuring food security and reducing poverty worldwide, and the most effective experience in increasing rice output is China’s work on hybrid rice,” Yuan said.

“We are fully prepared and willing to help other countries with food issues by growing hybrid rice,” Yuan said.

China is now planting 440 million mu, or 29 million hectares, of rice every year, with an average output capacity of 6.3 tons per hectare.

Hybrid rice accounts for about 57% of the total acreage, with an average output capacity of 7.2 tons per hectare, according to Yuan’s presentation.

“The average yield of hybrid rice is at least 20% more than that of inbred rice, feeding 70 million more Chinese people annually,” Yuan said.

“If 50% of the world’s rice paddies were planted with hybrids, rice production could increase by another 150 million tons, and 400 to 500 million more people could be fed.”

Statistics from the United Nations show that about 1 billion people are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Every six seconds, a child dies of hunger or related diseases.

Yuan’s consistent contribution to the country has won him wide respect in China. Many people have sent him wishes of health and longevity through the Internet since August.

“He fed one-fifth of the world’s population. If he applied for patents, he might be the richest man in China, but he never did it and is still living a simple life,” reads a post at Sina.com, one of the country’s most popular web portals. — Source: China Daily

The event, which runs from October 16 to 23 October at the Airport Expo Dubai, is being organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), according to TradeArabia.com.

Part of Gitex Technology Week, one of the world’s largest technology trade events which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Gitex Shopper will be staging an unprecedented retail sales festival to commemorate the occasion, said a top DWTC official. 

“Technology today is an integral part of our lifestyles, providing mobility, connectivity and convenience to our work, school and home environments. The substantial increase in product ranges being exhibited at this year’s Gitex Shopper reflects the strong market demand for the latest consumer technology, and with more than 25,000 products on show, this really is the most anticipated retail event of the year,’ said Trixee Loh, senior vice president, DWTC. 

The world’s top consumer IT and electronics brands have confirmed their presence, with a number of previews and regional launches scheduled during the show. 

Global players such as Acer, Canon, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung, Sandisk and Sony will be among the many brands on display. 

Top regional distributors and retailers, including BDL, CompuME, E-Max, E4U, iSTYLE, Klick, Jacky’s Electronics, Jumbo Electronics and Plug-Ins will all be running special promotions exclusively during Gitex Shopper. 

Ashish Panjabi, chief operating officer, Jacky’s Electronics, one of Shopper’s biggest power retailers, said: “Jacky’s enjoyed great success at last year’s Gitex Shopper, increasing our sales significantly in key segments such as digital cameras and LCD TVs.’ 

“Gittex Shopper is the perfect platform for iSTYLE to showcase our innovative products that are always a favourite with gadget lovers. With increased space, more products and exclusive offers at GITEX Shopper 2010, we could not have picked a better year to join the exhibition,” said Hani Nehmé, regional development manager, iSTYLE. 

Interactive visitor features, bundled offers, competitions and giveaways, make GITEX Shopper the most entertaining retail platform for technology in the region. 

Gitex Shopper is open from 11am to 10pm from (October 16 to 20) and from 11am to 11pm (on October 21 and 23).  On October 22 (Friday) the show will open from 3pm to 11pm.Tickets are priced at Dh25 each are now available online at www.itp.net/tickets/. — Source: TradeArabia

This visitor to the Trade Centre contact from Indonesia is looking for a variety of animal feed products from New Zealand.

Of particular interest to this contact Soya Bean Meal, Corn Meal, Wheat and Wheat Bran.

All contact with this person so far has been via email and at this stage I’m waiting for a little more back-ground information regarding his company and the quantities of product that he is looking for.  

If you happen to be in business producing any of the above types of products and would like to learn more about this company or for a personal introduction, please email me, laurie@nztc.co.nz or call (09) 366 6879

A survey by Consumer group Choice, selected more than 160 food items and compared budget Woolworths Home Brand and Coles Smart Buys against Woolworths Select and Coles brands, Aldi products and other labels.

The report quoted Choice saying several budget store brands rated well in a taste test, except for Coles Smart Buys, which rated poorly on a consistent basis.

“While the ingredients may have varied between the brands, for almost half the products we compared there was little difference in the nutrition content,” Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn said.

“In fact, depending on the product, supermarket private labels can be lower in unhealthy nutrients such as fat, saturated fat, sugars and sodium.”

In the survey, a basket of 30 leading brand items cost AUD$125.48 (NZD$158).

That was almost double the $63.51 for the same basket of Woolworths Home Brand products, $65.30 for Aldi and $65.88 for Coles Smart Buy items.

Zinn said market leader brands topped only two categories for taste.

“But it’s still important to compare the nutrition panels to determine if the supermarket brand product is a healthier choice and when we should stick with the big brands,” he said.

“Some budget store brands can also pack a punch when it comes to sugar or fat content, which shows yet again that consumers would benefit from traffic light labels for fats, sugar and salt on the front of food packs.”

Private label purchases account for more than 22% of all grocery sales, Choice says. — Source: Sydney Morning Herald

With international markets still struggling with the economic crisis, interiors manufacturers and suppliers are turning their attention to the region in a bid to gain a stake in upcoming multi-million-dollar regional contracts, the report said, quoting Lu Buchanan, vice president, Index 2010, the region’s premier design event.

The UAE is experiencing a wave of showroom openings in 2010 as major international brands move to the region to capitalise on the interiors market in the Middle East, he added.

“There has been a positive shift in the industry in 2010 that not only has the industry talking but has become evident everywhere you look,” Lu said.

“Major brands which have gained key contracts both via their presence at Index and through direct links have recently set up permanent showrooms in the UAE and the Gulf in a bid to win a slice of the GCC pie. In addition, existing showrooms are expanding, refurbishing or taking up more primary showroom frontage.”

Index, which is marking 20th anniversary as the leading design event in the region, is anticipating more than 1,000 exhibitors participating from over 50 countries, during its run from November 8 to 11 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

This year’s event will feature exhibitors from a wider range of countries including Russia, Japan, Sweden and Turkey, with Index including both higher end products and more international diversity than ever before, a statement said.

Interior design on average makes up between 15 to 20% of the total project value of contracts. With $186 billion of hotel projects under construction worldwide or planned to begin in the next two years, UAE projects equate to 41% of this figure.

The estimated value of interior design contracting projects from 2009 to 2010 in the GCC totaled $22 billion. The UAE is a key investment destination as it accounts for two-thirds of the total value of all projects.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other GCC countries also remain important growth areas because of the steady increase in development activities within these markets.

“Despite a market correction, there are still massive business opportunities for interiors companies in the Gulf region,” Lu was quoted saying.

“You only have to drive along the Sheikh Zayed Road to see the high number of new showrooms opening or about to open. These range from existing players who previously weren’t in such prominent positions – such as Roche Dubois in Dubai – to new brands to the market.”

“Also, you only have to visit any of the recently-opened UAE and Gulf malls to see an increasing number of international brands expanding into the Gulf market,” he noted.

“At a time when the Euro market is cautious in the interiors sector, the fact that so many companies are prepared to invest in this region and showcasing their products at Index is a sure sign that the market is definitely recovering,” Lu concluded. – Source: TradeArabia News Service

Officer’s Choice Whisky, the single brand from the Kishore Chhabria-headed Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD), is now the tenth-largest selling spirit brand in the world, with sales crossing 12 million cases.

According to the report, the findings are part of the 2010 edition of the survey conducted annually by UK-based Drinks International, a magazine that devotes exclusively on reporting on world spirit markets.

Leading the list of world’s largest ten brands is the 63 million-case Jinro from South Korea. The ranking is across all spirit segments such as rum, vodka, brandy etc.

The other two Indian brands already in the list are Bagpiper and McDowell No.1, the flagship brands of Vijay Mallya-led United Spirits Ltd ( USL).

South Korea Jinro is followed by Smirnoff, the legendary vodka from the staples of Diageo that sells 24 million cases annually. Lotte Liquor BJ (21 million), Brazilian Cachaca brand Pirassununga of Companhia Muller De Bebidas (19.5), Tanduay rum from Tanduay Distilleries of the Philippines (16.5 million), celebrated rum brand Bacradi from Bacardi Martin (18.6) precede Bagpiper that has a sales figure of 16 million cases.

Indian whiskies, which were unaffected by the recession, have now emerged as new power brands in the global arena. The millionaire brand list is dominated by India with six whisky brands figuring in the list of world’s top 10—Bagpiper, McDowell No.1, Officer’s Choice, Original Choice, Royal Stag and Old Tavern. Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniel’s, Ballentine’s and Jim Beam are the other brands in the list.

Officer’s Choice, at fourth position, is the latest entrant in the list. While Bagpiper and McDowell No 1 sit pretty at No. 1 and No.3, respectively, Johnnie Walker occupies the No 2 slot.

The change in the ranking of Johnnie Walker, which occupied the numero uno position for at least a decade, is the fallout of recession that gripped the developed economy in 2008 and a major part of 2009, forcing many tipplers to opt for a brand a notch below. – Source: Times of India

According to GulfNews.com, the Arab Advisors Group calculates its Total Country Connectivity Measure (TCCM) by adding the household mainlines penetration, cellular penetration, and internet users penetration rates in each country. The household mainlines penetration is measured by dividing the residential mainlines by the number of households in each country.

Annual results of Arab Advisors Group’s Total Country Connectivity Measure (TCCM) reveal substantial — mostly cellular service driven-improvements in overall scores.

The Arab broadband internet markets also registered very positive growth.

The TCCM shows the extent of connectivity of individuals in a certain country whether via fixed lines, cellular lines and/or the internet.

According to the report, The Total Country Connectivity Measure results for 2009 revealed the continued leadership of GCC countries. UAE maintained the top spot (with a score of 352%), followed by Saudi Arabia (286%), Qatar (254%) and Bahrain (250%). In last place is Sudan with a TCCM value of 51.2 %.

“By looking at the TCCM scores, it is noticeable that high scores are correlated with high-income levels. GCC countries dominate the TCCM, as income levels and GDP per capita in these countries is significantly higher than the rest of the Arab countries,” said Samer Abbas, senior research analyst at the Arab Advisors Group.

“Moreover, countries with competitive markets have seen their scores improve rapidly as competition drove down rates and enhanced awareness amongst consumers.” — Source: Gulf News

JK Shin, head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications division, was quoted as saying at the IFA trade show in Berlin that its 2010 smartphone sales would be far higher than its original target of 18 million units, due to the popularity of its Android-based Galaxy S model.

“Our smartphone shipments will easily surpass 20 million units this year, thanks to strong sales of recently released Galaxy S… We expect the number could rise to as high as 25 million this year,” Shin was quoted as saying by news provider EDaily.

A spokesman for Samsung confirmed the comment was made to Korean reporters.

“Galaxy S seems to be off to a good start. The 25 million is achievable,” said analyst Neil Mawston from Strategy Analytics.

“It’s clear that the smartphone onslaught from Samsung has arrived and they are really starting to ramp up the pressure,” Mawston said.

The 25 million figure for sales would lift the Korean company to fourth position in the global smartphone rankings – behind Nokia, RIM and not far behind Apple.

Samsung had a 4.8% market share last quarter, according to research firm IDC.

EDaily also quoted Shin as saying the company had targeted sales of 50 million units for next year.

Samsung, which had said earlier it would treble smartphone sales this year to 18 million units, in June unveiled Galaxy S, its answer to Apple’s popular iPhone and its first smartphone sold globally through some 100 carriers, and sold more than 3 million sets.

“Galaxy S is definitely opening the smartphone sector for Samsung Mobile … It’s overperforming our expectation,” YH Lee, head of marketing at Samsung Mobile, told Reuters in Berlin on Thursday.

Samsung, a laggard in the booming smartphone market, does not plan to introduce new models to replace Galaxy S during the hot holiday season later this year, hoping for strong sales of the model to continue.

But some investors are concerned that a lack of next line-up may hit the company as rivals prepare to introduce upgraded models.

Shin also said the company aims to sell 1 million units of its new tablet PC Galaxy Tab this year, local reports said. Samsung unveiled the 7-inch, Android-based tablet PC at the IFA event to challenge Apple’s hot-selling device iPad.

This freight forwarding company have advised us that they are now in a position to offer very competitive rates to the below markets. These new rates are due to an opening up of a shipping company’s route and costing structure that have not been available before now.

If you are looking to move containers into the following Asian ports then this company will be well worth contacting.

 -     Hong Kong

-          Kaohsiung

-          Shekou

-          Shanghai

-          Osaka

-          Yokohama

-          Pusan

-          Ningbo

If you happen to be exporting to these areas in Asia and would like to learn more about this company or for a personal introduction, please email me, laurie@nztc.co.nz or call (09) 366 6879

“NYK Container Line will restart as a company capable of meeting the various logistics needs by providing services that extend beyond port to port,” the company was quoted by the Shipping Gazette saying.
“As we announced on August 26, TSK’s intra-Asia liner business will be transferred to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha from November 1, and all TSK staff members will be moved to NYK Line Japan, which is in charge of NYK’s liner service and related businesses in Japan,” the statement said.
“Together with TSK staff members, NYK Container Line will provide an enhanced container service by utilising TSK’s know-how in intra-Asia containership operations and logistics designs,” the company said.

– Source:  Shipping Gazette

According to MeatProcess.com, nearly 40,000 people have signed up to a Facebook group criticising the packaging material, plant-based polylactic acid (PLA), for being too loud. It is said to biodegrade in as little as 14 weeks, while conventional chip packets typically take over 100 years.

“The loudest, most annoying bag on the planet.” That’s how one Facebook user describes the new compostable SunChips bag – and she’s not alone. But its makers are doing a great job of rejecting the ruckus.

Backed into a corner, the company has incorporated the reaction into its marketing strategy, attaching signs to store shelves that read: “Yes, the bag is loud. That’s what change sounds like.”

The report said however despite the fracas from froth-mouthed Facebook fanatics, most consumers welcome more biodegradable packaging.

Market research organization Mintel recently found that 43% of consumers said they were likely to buy SunChips on the back of their strong eco-friendly positioning.

However, the question Mintel didn’t ask is how many would still buy SunChips if the package is eco-friendly and annoying.

This is not the first time a social network has spoken up about their dislike of a product and companies are beginning to realize that they need to listen.

PepsiCo (incidentally FritoLay’s parent company) had a similar experience with its Tropicana juice packaging, which drew such heavy criticism via Twitter that the company withdrew the new design just weeks after it was introduced.

Compostable packaging is an important innovation. FritoLay cannot withdraw the packaging without upsetting the (hopefully many) people who actually care that it has developed a product to help deal with our mountainous waste problem. Its challenge now is to ensure that doing the right thing remains profitable.

The report added that the company now says it is actively trying to address the issue, and is currently working on quieter packaging. — Source: MeatProcess.com

AquaBounty of Waltham, Massachusetts says it has developed salmon that has been genetically modified to reach market size in half the time of traditional salmon – a trait that could help feed a growing global population and protect dwindling fish stocks, the company claims.

According to the report, if the Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee (VMAC) decides that the fish is fit for human consumption, it would be the first animal produced through genetic engineering to be approved. Some environmentalists and scientists have said they see this as a watershed case, with the result likely to either pave the way for further genetic engineering of food animals or discourage its use.

The VMAC has said it will discuss the fishing and disease pressures on wild fish stocks; the genetics and farming of Atlantic salmon around the world; and the potential risks of GE fish, including possible mitigation strategies.

“This is welcome and exciting news for the company as we near the end of the detailed and necessary process to receive regulatory approval for our AquAdvantage Salmon,” president and CEO of AquaBounty Dr. Ronald Stotish was quoted saying in a statement.

“The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to understand how the application of our technology will enable the safe and sustainable production of high quality fish. We believe the economic and environmental benefits of our salmon will very effectively help to meet the demand for food from the growing world population.”

The FDA said it could not estimate how long it might take to review public comments following next month’s meeting.

The report added that after the committee convenes, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition has said it will lead a public hearing on September 21 to consider the legal issues around labeling of AquAvantage salmon.

At the moment, foods produced through genetic modification are not required to be labeled as such in the United States, and the FDA’s position has been that labeling should not “suggest or imply that GM/GE foods are in any way different from other foods”. — Source MeatProcess.com

The report quoted a recent global media survey by Universal McCann saying that the Philippines has the highest percentage of online video viewers which include sites such as YouTube, Metcafe and Hulu among others.

Filipinos hold the distinction as biggest online video viewers despite findings that say that the number of houses connected to the internet is relatively low. This could probably be traced to the proliferation of neighbourhood internet cafes or similar establishments in the country.

Universal McCann had conducted the poll under its “Power to the People — Social Media Tracker — Wave 4″ survey.

The poll said that out of more than 4 million Filipinos who are active internet users, 98.1% watch videos on the internet. This figure is higher than the global average of 82.8%.

Trailing the Philippines in a distant second and third position in video viewership are China and Spain with 89.1% and 84.1%, respectively.

Local telecoms operator, Smart Communications Inc, had shared the results of the survey. – Source Gulf News

On the tip of the Lekki Peninsula in Lagos, Nigeria and China are building a 16,000 hectare free trade zone to develop local manufacturing and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported consumer goods.

It is one of the fastest growing areas in Lagos State and will soon have a new deep water port, an international airport and new hotels as part of a 60-40 partnership between the Chinese government and Lagos State.

Adeyemo Thompson is deputy managing director of the Lekki Free Zone Development Company. He says construction is on schedule for Chinese shareholders that include the China Railway Construction Corporation and the China-Africa Development Fund.

“In accordance with the master plan and the projections that we have made, I think, the first phase of the zone, that is the 3,000 hectare zone, will probably be close to a $5 billion (NZD$6.9 billion) investment, that is inclusive of the infrastructure we going to put on the ground, the roads, the power plants, the water plants,” Thompson said.

The global financial crisis has reduced demand for Chinese goods in the United States and Europe. Thompson says the Nigerian free trade zone gives Chinese companies greater access to growing African markets for consumer goods, electrical equipment, and industrial products.

“Part of the reason why Lekki Free Zone is so attractive to the Chinese is that, the Chinese government is encouraging those companies which are shutting down in China to move out,” he added.

He said the Chinese government has provided funds for these companies to move out and set up their factories in other parts of the world. “We have that market. Now the Nigeria government is also encouraging investors to go to China and probably buy those factories, which are shut down, maybe at a quarter of the price and bring them into Lekki, set it up and manufacture those goods which you know you have 100 percent market right here.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola says the free trade zone will help develop Nigeria’s manufacturing sector while cutting prices for consumers.

“There is a huge market immediately waiting, when you look at the how much our people spend importing goods from across the world, or for how much they pay in excess baggage at major airports, bringing this here is like bringing home prosperity,” said Fashola.

Nearly 90%t of products used in Nigeria come from outside the country. The free trade zone will allow Nigerians to buy many of the same products now produced in China without the cost of importing them, while creating jobs for Nigerian workers.

Chinese firms gain both more immediate access to African markets and far cheaper routes to ship their “Made in Nigeria” exports to Europe.

– Source Voice of America

Argos, owned by the FTSE-100 Home Retail Group, accuses the Danish logistics group of reneging on a contract to ship 5,000, 40ft containers from the Far East to the UK in each of 2010 and 2011, as well as attempting to impose a “unilateral” three-fold price increase in January.

Documents filed by Argos with the High Court claim Maersk “wrongfully repudiated and/or renounced the contract…. [Argos] had to find another shipping line in order to ship containers from the Far East to the UK. [Argos] duly obtained alternative space protection for a period of two years from Kuehne & Nagel. Accordingly, aggregate losses are $13,877,660.”

According to the report, in January Maersk announced that it was increasing its prices on cargo shipped between South Asia and Europe, and in a statement claimed: “The trading conditions for the carriers operating in these markets are still subject to unacceptable rate levels and the situation is unsustainable in the longer term. The rate increase is necessary to continue to operate our services with the high level of reliability our customers have come to expect from Maersk Line.”

The company has since increased rates between the Far East and West Africa, West Central Asia and Europe, and on transatlantic routes.

The legal documents add: “On 15 January 2010, [Maersk said it] would no longer provide any space protection for [Argos] at the agreed rate [$930 per container] and was instead unilaterally imposing an increased rate of $2,730 per container.”

It is not clear what goods Argos employed Maersk to import from the Far East or if the row over the contract caused any shortages in its stores. However, many of the products the retailer sells are manufactured in the region.

Both companies declined to comment on the case.

A P Moller-Maersk is one of Europe’s largest companies and last year made a pre-tax profit of $2.8 billion (NZD$5.9 billion) on revenues of $48.5 billion, although that represented a drop from $10.4 billion and $61.2 billion in the previous period. The company says it handles more than four million container movements to the UK each year.

Argos has revenues of just over £4 billion a year, by far the largest contributor of sales to Home Retail Group, which also includes the DIY chain Homebase. Home Retail Group reported pre-tax profits of £293 million on sales of £6.02 billion last year.

Pike River chief executive Gordon Ward says despite some damage at the wharf area at Lyttelton as a result of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Christchurch in the early hours of Saturday morning, coal loading on the ‘Isabella’ panamax vessel commenced on Sunday, just one day later than planned.

“Our coal was already stockpiled in Lyttelton ready for loading and will soon be on its way to one of our life-of-mine customers, Gujarat NRE who were also the recipients of our first export shipment in February this year,” says Ward.

“The Port of Lyttleton has confirmed that while there had been some damage to the port infrastructure around the coal loading area, this has had limited affect on our shipment and the vessel is expected to depart today. ”

Meanwhile, while tremors were felt across the West Coast, there was no impact on the undergound mine workings or surface facilities at the mine, the coal preparation plant, or the train loading facilities at Ikamatua. All mine site surface buildings and access roads, bridges and embankments have been checked and show no signs of damage.

“Miners working underground at the time of the earthquake were unaware of the event and felt no effects,” says Ward.

“The Midland rail-line suffered some track damage and required some quite extensive inspections to structures and the like, however it re-opened for service late yesterday afternoon.”

This Trade Centre contact is looking for manufactures of Sandalwood Oil to export to the Middle East. The client advises me that they are interested in any volume, be it large or small as his client will basically take what-ever he has to offer.

This contact is based here in New Zealand but is acting on behalf of his buyers based in the Middle East. Although I have never met with this buyer / agent personally we have had dealings with him in the past.

If you happen to be in business producing any of the above types of products and would like to learn more about this company or for a personal introduction, please email me, laurie@nztc.co.nz or call (09) 366 6879