Business Development Asia LLC
South East Asian Health News
ISSUE 2, AUGUST 1997
THAILAND
Bayer Thai Co. has appointed Zuellig Pharma as its sole distributor for pharmaceutical and diagnostic products in Thailand. Chaveng Hao, Bayer Thai's business group manager, said the appointment would expand Bayer's marketing and service activities in Thailand, would boost annual revenue by about Bht1bn (US$33m) and increase local market share by 4% by the year 2000. Last year, Bayer Thai generated revenue of Bht450m (US$15m), of which Bht300m (US$10m) came from pharmaceuticals and the balance from diagnostic products. (July 12th, 1997)
Inchcape Thailand announced that it now employs 3,000 people, including 240 focusing on healthcare. The company has invested Bht1bn (US$35m) on its new distribution center at Bang Pain. Inchcape is focusing on logistics and distribution for major clients such as Reckitt & Colman, while dropping smaller principals. (July 30th, 1997)
Mustika Ratu, the leading Indonesian manufacturer of traditional Indonesian health supplements and natural cosmetics, is seeking partners to manage a trading and distribution JV in Thailand. (July 30th, 1997)
Roche Thailand, one of the top three pharmaceutical companies in the country, has confirmed that it will not increase prices of its products in the next three months even though the pharmaceutical industry has been directly affected by the weaker baht value. Roche's General Manager, Luc Vierstraete, said his firm has estimated that costs have increased 10%, but that it would require three to four months to assess the situation before adjusting prices. Vierstraete added that any price increases of Roche Thailand's pharmaceutical products would be in line with those of other international pharmaceutical companies that are members of the Pharmaceutical Producers Association. In 1996 Roche Thailand saw its sales reach Bht1bn (US$32m) and expects sales of Bht1.2bn (US$38m) for 1997. For the first half of 1997, the company had Bht570m (US$18m) in sales with 31% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. (July 19th, 1997)
Recent News: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Regional Focus: Thailand: A growing private health sector
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