Manufacturing & Logistics
Soaring wages in China force hat maker to move aboard
Sky-rocketing wages in Shenzhen will force Mainland Headwear Holdings, one of the world's largest cap makers, to relocate as much as 50 percent of its output to Bangladesh over the next two years.
The relocation was being fast-tracked after the special economic zone lifted the monthly minimum wage by 13.6 percent to CNY1,500 (USD237.9) yesterday, the nation's highest and the third increase in two years, managing director Pauline Ngan Po-ling said on Tuesday.
HK air cargo traffic hit by downturn
Hong Kong International Airport, the world's busiest air cargo hub, said air cargo traffic last year fell 4.6 percent as deepening global economic uncertainty in Europe and the US hurt demand for exports from Asia, particularly China.
The outlook for air cargo, an important indicator of trade and economic momentum, is uncertain as consumer sentiment in Hong Kong's two major export markets, North America and Europe, remains fragile.
China's Lianhua plans logistics base in Shanghai
Chinese supermarket retail chain operator Lianhua Supermarket Holdings Company Limited announced plans to invest over CNY800 million (USD126.73m) to build a large modern logistics system in Jiading, Shanghai.
With a storage area of over 200,000 square metres, the new base will integrate functions like product procurement, storage, sorting, cargo handling, processing, distribution, information processing, and financial settlement. Products handled in the logistics base will include food, commodities, and home appliances.
DHL appointed logistics partner for Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza 2012
DHL Express has been appointed by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) to be the logistics partner for the city's leading fashion show event of Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza 2012, which opens today (16 January) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Manhattan Associates receives award for best IT supply chain solution provider in Asia
Global supply chain optimisation provider, Manhattan Associates, Inc. has been named "Best IT Supply Chain Solution Provider in Asia" by a panel of independent industry experts from the Global Supply Chain Council. The successful deployment of Manhattan's Warehouse Management system (WMS) by Sinpoharm, China's largest pharmaceuticals distributor, was a key factor in helping Manhattan win the CHaINA award for the second time.
Malaysia Nov industrial output below target
Malaysia's industrial output as measured by the Industrial Production Index (IPI) edged higher by 1.8 percent in November, coming in below market expectations.
Manufacturing activities grew by 4 percent and electricity grew by 2.9 percent, while mining contracted by 4.2 percent.
China to become the world's largest importer by 2014
We have heard a lot about China becoming the world's largest this and that. In 2009, when the world was in recession, China leapfrogged the US to become the world's largest auto market. In 2010, China overtook Germany as the world's largest exporter. This year, China is likely to surpass Japan to become the world's largest luxury goods market.
Keeping Thailand's supply chains rolling
Logistics of consumer goods were heavily disrupted during last year's severe flooding in Thailand, causing serious shortages in the market as the situation was prolonged.
Now, with the floodwater almost entirely subsided, Thailand's logistics service operators say it is a time to look at ways to decentralise the logistics system to prepare for floods and any natural disasters that could strike in the future.
Report: PMI on China manufacturing rebounds to 50.3pc in Dec, Li & Fung Research Centre
After declining from 50.4 percent in October to 49 percent in November, China's manufacturing PMI rebounded to 50.3 percent in December, according to a report by Li & Fung Research Centre.
The index rose above the critical level of 50 percent again, indicating an expansion in the manufacturing sector in China, the PMI Report on China Manufacturing shows.
To download the full report, click here.
Thai industrial output tumbles
Thailand's industrial production index plunged 48.6 percent in November from a year earlier to 97.90, as severe flooding hurt the country's manufacturing industry.
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