Chinese tinplate export market still quiet

Factiva: "Demand for Chinese tinplate continues to be weak, especially as offers from other countries fall below Chinese offer prices of around $1,150 per tonne fob, said traders. Few bookings have been made, except for some small business for the long-term buyers. 

'The export market is quite weak, even Baosteel has made mixed offers to different buyers,' a Shanghai trader said. 'I've heard that South Korean producers are offering below $1,100 per tonne cif for delivery in south-east Asia, which has grabbed it a bigger market share than Chinese traders,' he said. 

'South Korean products are of good quality, and their offers are quite low, partly because of the seriously depreciating won, so I have turned my export business to domestic market for a while,' said a second trader in Jiangsu province. Given the weak tinplate export market, Beijing may increase the 5% export rebate on the product, said the Shanghai trader.

'Tinplate and cold rolled coil producers are mainly state-owned steel mills, which may get support from Beijing, which is said to be reviewing the export rebates, while hot-dipped galvanizing mills are mostly privately-owned, which may get less help from the government,' he said."

Tesco calls on drinks industry to work together on packaging

packagingnews.co.uk: "Tesco's head of packaging Sonia Raja has called on the drinks industry to follow the laundry sector's example and work together in moving to concentrates where possible and making the best use of packaging.

Speaking at Wrap's DrinksPack'09 event in London yesterday (25 February), Sonia Raja told delegates that they should collaborate on developing packaging to 'maximise returns and consumer acceptance'."

Q1 2009 ThyssenKrupp AG Earnings Conference Call

Factiva: "Second question, can you talk a little bit about the tinplate market. I think we all think steel is steel, but as I understand that tinplate market is absolutely booming and your position in that should be relatively healthy for you."....

ULRICH MIDDELMANN

Coming to your second question, the tinplate market is actually really in favor of us. We had the chance to increase prices. We are meanwhile fully booked so the situation is very stable.

Campbell Net Declines as Retailers Cut Soup Inventory

Bloomberg.com:.: "Campbell Soup Co., the world’s largest soupmaker, said second-quarter profit fell 15 percent as retailers cut back inventories.

Net income dropped to $233 million, or 64 cents a share, the Camden, New Jersey-based company said today in a statement. Sales fell as the dollar gained strength against other currencies. Excluding restructuring expenses, profit was 65 cents a share, a penny more than the average of 13 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg."