Growth in emerging markets helped Honda Motor Co. Its operating profit is estimated at 120-170 billion yen for the October-December quarter, almost double the July-September tally. On top of rising demand for fuel-efficient midsize and subcompact autos in India, Thailand and other parts of Asia, the carmaker also slashed costs by purchasing more parts locally and taking other steps.
Source: The Nikkei Jan. 28 morning edition
East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) will launch supermarket operations later this year after acquiring Kinokuniya Co. - an operator of high-end supermarkets in the Tokyo metropolitan area - in April. The railway operator aims to elevate its retail business to compensate for weak prospects in its core operations as a result of Japan's graying population. The group already runs the Newdays convenience store chain as well as the Lumine and atre station-linked shopping malls, and now it will leverage Kinokuniya's established brand to get into supermarkets.
A total 16.8 million or so passengers pass through JR East stations each day. The stations' shopping facilities cater to the demands of Tokyo commuters, and each year they ring up sales of 1 trillion yen, putting them among the nation's top retailers.
Source: Nikkei Weekly
Control panel manufacturer NEO International early next month will release a fluorescent light that consumes 40% less electricity than conventional fluorescent bulbs.
NEO International will market the product as store lighting for retailers. By switching to the new bulb, a convenience store that uses 60 fluorescent lights could save 240,000 yen a year in electricity costs, while a midsize supermarket with 2,000 fluorescent lights could reduce its power bill by 3.5 million yen annually.
Each light will cost around 9,000 yen, and the firm is targeting annul sales of 50,000 bulbs. It is also developing a low-energy mercury bulb with reflectors and inverters and hopes to have it on the market in 2011.
Source: The Nikkei Business Daily Jan. 28 edition
Rare metals prices have risen sharply as of late, lifted by the recovery in manufacturing and by speculative buying.
That month, Japan imported 42 tons of indium, a level last seen in June 2007. Demand for indium from Japanese transparent electrode makers -- such firms control about 80% of the global market -- has been increasing in line with robust LCD TV sales in China and Japan.
The price of molybdenum trioxide, used to produce special steel products, has risen 38% since November to 14.88 dollars per pound. Ferrovanadium, likewise used to make special steel, now costs 28 dollars per kilogram, an increase of 30% from its recent low. Recovering output in the Japanese auto industry has meant increased demand for special steel.
Strong sales of hybrid cars have driven up the price of neodymium, a rare earth element used to make permanent magnets for the motors of green autos and energy-efficient appliances. Neodymium import prices have jumped 38% from November to 37-39 dollars per kilogram, the highest level in one year and six months.
Source: The Nikkei Jan. 26
The combination of a strong yen and penny-pinching consumers is driving down the prices of imported comestibles.
Of 30 key imported foods -- including fish, meat, vegetables and fruit -- 25 saw their average yen-denominated price slide last year, compared with 13 in 2008. And 17 of those products incurred double-digit percentage declines, almost triple the six recorded a year earlier.
Eel prices tumbled 23%. But imports of Taiwanese eel and inexpensive broiled offerings from China jumped around 20%, helped by frugal consumers and higher sales by restaurant operators and volume retailers. Prices of tuna slipped by double digits as well.
Banana prices dipped 5% to 74 yen per kilogram. Bananas accounted for around 60% of the total fresh fruit imports, which hit a record high of 1.88 million tons. They were in the spotlight due to a diet fad.
Source: The Nikkei Feb. 3 morning edition
Nippon Flour Mills Co. is likely to post a 10 billion yen group operating profit for the April-December period, up 15% on the year thanks to brisk overseas demand.
Shipments of premix flours, including those for donuts and fried-food batters, surged in Thailand. Demand increased from Japanese-affiliated companies making frozen food and other products in the Southeast Asian nation, as well as from local firms. The firm's pasta operations in the U.S. were also strong.
Domestic sales of consumer-oriented pasta, flour and mixed flour were steady as more people dined in. Frozen-food sales climbed too. And efforts to bump up factory utilization rates helped improve profitability in the pet food business, which likely broke even.
Source: The Nikkei Feb. 2 morning edition
Seven & i Holdings Co. supermarket subsidiary Ito-Yokado Co. will procure toys almost exclusively from a Tomy Co. unit, starting as early as this month. Ito-Yokado has been buying from four toy wholesalers, but will let U-Ace alone supply about 160 of the 180 Ito-Yokado supermarkets nationwide. Brands other than Tomy's will be purchased through U-Ace.
Its in-store toy sections, which generally have a floor space of about 200-260 sq. meters, sell mainly action figures and educational toys. But the growing number of displayed products amps up the decision process for customers and makes it difficult for store clerks to be knowledgeable about each product.
Tomy will advise on ways to make Ito-Yokado's in-store sales sections more attractive. The number of items offered will be reduced by 20% to focus on popular products, which will be displayed by characters.
Source: The Nikkei Feb. 2 morning edition
The Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo, Japan
Source : http://www.depthai.go.th