ASEAN EXPORT ORDERS A BOON TO PRINTERS

       The printing industry expects its exports to rise by up to 15 per cent this year mainly on advance orders from the Asean market.
       Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Printing and Paper Packaging Industry Club of the Federation of Thai Industries, said yesterday that the main factor encouraging the industry for next year is orders from Asean, which accounts for 60 per cent of total printing exports. Overseas importers have placed orders for three to six months in advance.
       However, total printing sales this year were expected to be flat at US$1.45 billion or about Bt50 billion, he said.
       If markets abroad could improve next year, exports are estimated to reach Bt55 billion-Bt60 billion. The industry shifted its focus to Asean a few years ago as it saw stronger performance in this region than in the US and Europe.
       Printing exports in the first eight months of this year dropped by 9 per cent from the same period last year, but the export performances of other Southeast Asian countries were worse, declining 10-20 per cent.
       The Printing and Paper Packaging Industry Club formerly targeted the country to be the printing hub of Asia.
       Pornchai Rattanachaikanont, president of the Thai Printing Association, said manufacturers this year could export more kraft paper to Japan, and cardboard paper to India and Saudi Arabia.
       The industry has also gained a positive outlook for this quarter, as there are promising orders for Christmas and New Year from both local and overseas markets.
       Thailand is now hosting Pack Print International 2009 and the Thai Inter-national Plastic and Rubber Exhibition, which open today and continue to Saturday at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre. Some 400 printing, packaging, plastic and rubber manufacturers from 20 countries are joining the exhibition.
       Messe Dusseldorf Asia, the organiser, expects the event to attract about 20,000 visitors over its four-day run.