Maersk, Syngenta in New 4PL Contract
Extending their partnership with a contract for fourth-party logistics (4PL), Maersk and Syngenta highlight their joint commitment to responsible logistics based on continuous supply chain optimization and innovation.As a player in the agrochemical industry, Syngenta continuously looks for ways to optimise its supply chains to deliver on its ambition of producing food efficiently and responsibly and thus increasing productivity without harming the planet. A long-term cooperation with Maersk, the global integrator of container logistics, enables both parties to jointly develop solutions that not only respond to the current logistics needs of the industry…
China Planning $100 bln Merger of Sinochem, ChemChina
Chinese state-owned chemical companies Sinochem Group and ChemChina are in discussions about a possible merger to create a chemicals, fertilizer and oil giant with almost $100 billion in annual revenue, reports Reuters. The deal was reportedly proposed by China’s central government. “The government has given the mandate to let Sinochem lead in this potential merger with ChemChina,” said a source. The combination of the two Chinese rivals is part of a broader strategy by the regulatory body that oversees the country’s state assets to merge state-owned companies to create larger and stronger national champions, says FT. The talks come as doubts have been raised in the Chinese media over the ability of ChemChina to close its acquisition of Syngenta…
China Issues New Rules on US DDG Imports
China's Import Inspection Authority, AQSIQ, is now requiring U.S. distiller's dried grains imports to be officially certified free of the MIR 162 GMO trait, the U.S. Grains Council, an export trade group, said in a letter emailed to Reuters by a trade source. The new requirement is effective immediately, the letter said. All DDGs shipments departing from July 24 that do not meet the certification requirement will be rejected, the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) said in a note to members, emailed to Reuters by another trade source. The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) added it would have to "discontinue its role as the agent for U.S.
China Stops Issuing Import Permits for US Distillers Grains
China has stopped issuing permits for imports of distillers dried grains (DDGs) from top exporter the United States on concerns they might contain an unapproved genetically-modified organism (GMO), traders said, sending U.S. prices tumbling. Quarantine authorities have also asked buyers to re-export earlier shipments that contained MIR 162, a GMO strain developed by Syngenta AG that has not been approved for import by China's agriculture ministry. Qingdao, China's largest port for DDGs, stopped issuing new permits for shipments last month to any buyers who had still not shipped out any cargoes previously denied entry by quarantine authorities. "Now it is countrywide. Quarantine authorities stopped issuing import permits last Friday," said one trading manager with a major buyer.
ABB's Michel Demaré To Step Down as CFO
ABB announce that Michel Demaré is to leave & will become Chairman of the Board of Syngenta beginning in April 2013. Demaré , 56, joined ABB in 2005 as Chief Financial Officer and acted as interim CEO for part of 2008. In addition, he was head of ABB’s Global Markets organization for several years. He will leave ABB at a date still to be determined. “Michel Demaré has had outstanding track records during his time with ABB. The company’s strong financial position today is testimony to his achievements”, said Joe Hogan, ABB’s Chief Executive Officer. “We congratulate him on his appointment as Chairman of Syngenta and thank him for the energy and professionalism that he has brought to his roles at ABB.” A successor to Demaré will be announced in due course.
WSS VP Speaks About Asia restructure
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) Asia Pacific is strengthening its’ regional management team to meet market demand and emerging business opportunities. Bjorn Tonsberg, Regional Vice President said: “We are reviewing the way we do things and rebuilding the organisation to meet the challenges that the next few years will bring. Constant improvements to better serve our customers are the only way forward. Part of the restructure comes from the appointment of Yoshihiro Iizuka as General Manager Japan and Jason Chew as General Manager for China.
