Thailand Company News

Radioactive contamination has been detected in udo - a type of Japanese vegetable -brought into Thailand by Japanese passengers. Thais are advised not to eat it, regardless of the source, the Food and Drugs Administration warned Thursday.

Amid a recovery in the UK property market, Sansiri Plc will launch its first project in London this year - six apartment units worth a combined 600 million baht.The company is looking at New York as its next destination, with a net profit target of 15%.

While world markets for office space continue their slow recovery from the global financial crisis, Bangkok is found to contain more office space than other ASEAN commercial citiesm including Singapore, according to international property agencies.

Demand for new homes in Thailand remained robust in the first quarter despite measures passed by the Bank of Thailand limiting loans to 90 per cent of the value of condo units.

Apartment rentals in Bangkok's prime expatriate area decreased slightly in the fourth quarter of 2010 due to a surge in condominium developments, according to CBRE's latest market research.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association released, Monday, preliminary figures for international visitor arrivals to the Asia Pacific region for January 2011, showing a 7% year-on-year expansion.

Local carmakers estimate the overtime stoppage begun two weeks ago in the wake of the Japanese disaster has cost them 10,000 vehicles to date, but normal production is expected to resume after next month's Songkran holiday.

Banpu will continue to look for new acquisition targets after the takeover of a coal mine in Mongolia, but the value of any deals will be lower than those sealed to date.

Thai Union Frozen Products Plc, the country's largest seafood exporter, is warning that local shrimp prices may rise due to southern flooding.

Thai Stanley Electric, Thailand's largest manufacturer of lighting equipment for the automotive industry, will invest more than Bt1.8b in a new manufacturing plant to produce lights for eco-cars.