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Tag: Industry

  • Vietnam’s largest brewery, foreign-owned, refuses to humor taxman

    Vietnam’s largest brewery, foreign-owned, refuses to humor taxman

    While Sabeco is still at loggerheads with the taxman over alleged back taxes of $135.73 million, it has not provisioned for it. Its 2018 accounts make no mention of the amount in dispute though the HCMC Tax Department has claimed it owes that in taxes and fines and even tried to seize the money from the company’s bank account. Vietnam’s largest brewer, Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation (Sabeco), claims it has accurately declared and paid taxes based on guidance from the Ministry of Finance and tax authorities.

    A month ago the department said it would seize VND3.1 trillion ($135.73 million) from the brewery’s bank account for overdue special consumption tax payable between 2007 and 2015 and penalties for administrative violations. But there was reportedly no money in the account.

    Le Duy Minh, deputy head of the tax department, said the account has been temporarily blocked.

    “We have asked Sabeco to provide details of other bank accounts, but it has not fulfilled that request.”

    Sabeco general director Neo Gim Siong Bennett said in a statement on December 30 that Sabeco had not violated any tax regulations.

    Thus, the enforcement action by the tax department was a violation of Vietnamese laws since it was taken “without a valid administrative decision” and “contradicts the written guidance issued by the finance ministry, General Department of Taxation and the city department itself.”

    Speaking about the dispute, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc earlier this month asked the tax authorities to desist from action and wait for related ministries and other agencies to come to a decision.

    Mai Tien Dung, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Office said that government agencies are scrutinizing the case as it involves “foreign elements.”

    Sabeco’s revenues last year rose 5 percent to more than VND36 trillion ($1.56 billion) but higher expenses and falling profits at its joint venture and affiliate companies caused its profit after tax to fall by 11 percent to VND4.4 trillion ($191 million).

    In December 2017 Thai Beverage acquired a 53.59 percent stake in Sabeco from the Ministry of Industry and Trade for $4.84 billion through a local entity, Viet Beverage (VietBev).

    Sabeco now has a 42.8 percent of the beer market, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Securities Corporation. It produced nearly 1.85 billion liters of beer last year.

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  • At Kia, sales go up, but profit doesn’t follow

    At Kia, sales go up, but profit doesn’t follow

    Kia Motors’ sales expanded last year, but profits faltered. Korea’s second-largest carmaker by sales said Friday it posted 94.3 billion won ($84 million) in net profit for the fourth quarter last year, a 10 percent drop year on year.
    Though the carmaker’s revenue in the fourth quarter increased by 3.6 percent to 13.47 trillion won due to increased sales, the company said the Korean won’s strength against the U.S. dollar dragged down profits.

    A similar trend is evident in the company’s annual earnings report. The company posted 54.17 trillion won in revenue for the whole of last year, a 1.2 percent increase from the previous year. Global sales also increased by 2.4 percent during the year, selling more than 2.8 million units.

    Despite expanded sales, the company’s net profit was limited to 1.16 trillion won, a 19.4 percent jump from 2017, but still below market expectations or the company’s average profit recorded between 2014 and 2016.

    Profit in 2017 fell to below a trillion won due to a one-off cost of around a trillion won that was reflected that year after a local court ordered the company to make an overdue payment to employees.

    The goal this year for Hyundai Motor’s sister company is to ramp up profitability, especially in the U.S. and Chinese markets, with new car launches and stronger SUV lineups. The automaker also plans to tackle emerging markets like Russia and India with localized models.

    Kia is betting big on its Telluride SUV to turn its business around in the U.S. market. The largest SUV yet in Kia’s lineup will launch in the United States during the first half of this year.

    “As we launch new cars in the U.S. market including the Telluride SUV and new Soul crossover and diversify our product mix, we expect our profitability to improve,” said Joo Woo-jeong, chief financial officer at Kia, during a conference call with analysts on Friday. “The Telluride SUV was well received at the Detroit Motor Show and its image as an off-roader fits well with demands in the U.S. market.”

    The SUV was recently introduced during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

    For China, Joo said Kia will strengthen its local dealer network and better manage car inventories there to improve business. The company is also planning on launching dedicated SUV models for the Chinese market. While Kia sold 370,000 cars in China last year, it hopes to sell 410,000 cars this year based on the new strategies.

    Joo admitted that “China is the most difficult market for Kia” at the moment. Kia plans to sell a total of 2.92 million cars this year, a 3.9 percent increase from last year.

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  • International Food Business: Current scenario and future in India

    International Food Business: Current scenario and future in India

    The misconception about Gourmet Food in India is amazing. There are many who equate gourmet with imported food, which is far from the reality. To encapsulate what the concept of gourmet is all about, let me say that it is less about the food than about the person who is the subject of the word. The term and its associated connotations are used positively to describe people with a refined taste and passion towards food.

    Add the word gourmet to any food or drink and, voila, it feels fancier, more upscale and generally more desirable. Gourmet food connotes food and drink that takes extra care to make or acquire. Gourmet food has a certain flair around it as it is usually found or made only in certain locations. The ingredients used are usually exotic, hard to find in regular grocery stores, and they are usually unique in flavor and/ or texture. Gourmet ingredients usually blend herbs and spices in an interesting manner to add flavour to the food. For example, lemon olive oil spray, black truffle balsamic glaze, and white wine vinegar are a unique take on the otherwise simple ingredients.

    Being an advocate of international food business for over 20 years now, I have seen the F&B sector in India go through various highs and lows over the years. But the one thing that I can say with absolute certainty is that the gourmet food category in the country has a tremendous scope and potential to grow in multiple areas, many of which still remain a virgin territory for food companies wanting to explore the business of international foods. We have been working diligently to bring new and exciting global gourmet food brands from all around the world to India. We have built our reputation through a commitment to offer unique products at competitive prices and we strive to never compromise on the quality of products or services that we offer. It is a passion for many of us who function in the realm of international food business and we aim to bring diversity to our Indian consumer base.

    Two-Way Trade is the Key to Future

    We firmly believe in two-way trade and in the current globalized world, it is a grave mistake to keep our consumers deprived of food options and opportunities available elsewhere in the world – from gourmet cheese to epicurean chocolates to the varieties of rice or spices or fresh fruits or exotic vegetables. The list is never ending and we must continue to explore to make it even more expansive. Unfortunately, our trade figures have been none too encouraging on this count. In the calendar year (CY) 2016, India exported consumer foods worth US$ 11 billion and imported consumer foods valued at US$ 4.25 billion. While our exports grew by 0.50 percent over the previous year, imports showed a decline of about five percent.

    The low takeoff of international food in India is surprising considering that there are quite a few success narratives around it: Italian pasta, Vietnamese basa, mayonnaise, Californian almonds, Canadian canola oil, Chileans walnuts and Washington apples, to name a few. When we look at Italian pasta, considered to be one of the most gourmet ingredients in Italian cuisine, the product is widely available in the country – from hand made to artisanal to commercially made – and it has penetrated the deepest corners of the Indian market with extensive marketing, transforming the kitchens of the aspirational Indians.

    A commodity like Californian almonds, which has about 80 percent of almond market share in India, touched a whopping US$ 693 million sales figure in India for 2016.

    For imported foods to expand their consumer base in India, it must be kept in mind that Indian consumers are rational shoppers who want value for money.

    Obviously, there is no one-size fits-all concept for a country as big as India but to have a deeper market penetration it is important to learn from the market leaders and try to do things the right way. Many of us confuse India with China, which is just not the case as the Indian market has its own set of business dynamics and consumption patterns here continue to evolve and offer valuable lessons in business.

    Teething Issues and Role of Associations like FIFI

    While on the one hand, we are facing teething issues like those associated with demonetization or Goods and Service Tax (GST), on the other hand, we also have government agencies like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India that is willing to think out of the box and listen to the version of the trade side. We, at the Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI), have given numerous representations to Government of India and are pleased to note that several of our suggestions have been entertained as we always had a logical and scientific presentation to make. We still have some pending areas of concerns but are pretty confident that the regulator and trade will be able to come together on a common ground in the interest of the greater good of the food industry and consumers. Food safety is of utmost priority for us and, as industry representatives, we want global suppliers to understand the fact that Indian consumers have become very demanding and want only quality products. We are clearly out of the era when international companies looked at India as a not very important market for their food products. For many global food companies, India is now a critical country for doing international trade.

    Government’s Initiatives

    The Food and Beverage sector is governed by several Government of India agencies like Ministry of Health’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Food Processing and Industries (MoFPI), Ministry of Consumer Welfare, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, and Ministry of Finance.

    With Government of India’s “Make in India” campaign, MoFPI aims to boost growth in the food processing sector by leveraging reforms such as 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in marketing of food products and by offering various incentives at the central and state government level along with a strong focus on supply chain infrastructure.

    – Government of India has relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for the sector, allowing up to 100 percent FDI in food product e-commerce through the automatic route.

    – FSSAI plans to invest around Rs 482 crore (US$ 72.3 million) to strengthen the food testing infrastructure in India, by upgrading 59 existing food testing laboratories and setting up 62 new mobile testing labs across the country. Additionally, FSSAI has been aggressively introducing numerous notifications pertaining to imported Food and Beverage category.

    – The Indian Council for Fertilizer and Nutrient Research (ICFNR) will adopt international best practices for research in the fertiliser sector, which will enable farmers to get good quality fertilizers at affordable rates and thereby achieve food security for the common man.

    International Chains Entering Indian Market

    With India opening the doors to numerous international restaurant chains, the youth is able to break the tradition and try several new international cuisines. This exposure is generating employment, changing the F&B scenario in India, bringing in international business practices, world-class technology, standard operating procedures and opening the way for trade. These chains buy imported ingredients or products to get a marketing edge or when such ingredients are not available domestically. They are able to lead the way for upscale manufacturing in the country and create more avenues for employment. It is important for us as an industry to understand that our strategy should be to grow hand-in-hand with these international chains and to open more ways for doing business with all stakeholders. Some of these chains, which already have a sizable market presence in India, are Chilli’s, Barista, Café Coffee Day, Au Bon Pain, McDonald’s, Subway, KFC, Starbucks, Tacobell, among others.

    Market Size Growing Despite all Odds:

    Despite numerous challenges such as high base tariffs and the fallout from the implementation of new regulations like demonetization and GST, the Indian market for imported and international foods is showing a noticeable growth trend. India is emerging as a favorite market destination for many national and international players in the food business. The Indian foodservice sector is valued at US$ 48 billion and is anticipated to grow to US$ 77 billion at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10 percent by 2021. The Indian food and grocery market is the world’s sixth largest, with retail contributing 70 percent of the sales. The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food market, is one of the largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. The Indian gourmet food market is currently valued at USD 1.3 billion and is growing at a CAGR of 20 percent. India’s organic food market is expected to increase three times its current size by 2020.

    The online food ordering business in India is in a nascent stage but has a huge potential and a promising future. The online food delivery industry grew at 150 percent year-on-year with an estimated Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of US$ 300 million in 2016.

    Emergence of Social Media

    We should not underestimate the role of the new generation bloggers and social media enthusiasts who are instrumental in shaping the trends and are helping brands and products to get visibility and gain popularity with the consumers. They are emerging as an alternative to the traditional media and are a less expensive media tool. However, they also act as watchdogs of quality and standards for the foodservice industry. Social media is helping to generate exciting stories around the foodservice industry but at the same time, we need more honest voices that understand the food business and its nuances better.

    Traditional Marketing Avenues Still Hold True

    While new marketing tools are becoming popular, the traditional methods should not be considered obsolete as they continue to have deeper penetration and visibility. Participation at trade shows and conferences, print and electronic media activities continue to rule the game and offer a range of visibility without comparable alternatives.

    Way Forward for the Imported F&B Industry

    The Indian consumers represent a community of diverse sentiments. A majority of them favour an experimental palate, which creates a plethora of opportunities for the international F&B sector in country. While maintaining a balance between aspiration and tradition agrees perfectly with the Indian palate, culinary trends originating in the West are promptly picked up by Indian social media and are translated on the ground with an instant recognition. The earlier practice of trends coming to India after three to five years of introduction in the Western world is now a thing of the past. This willingness to accept international trends without any inhibition has played a pivotal role in the marketing of international brands in India and has opened up the entire market for international foods. As a result, recent years have seen the launch of numerous new categories like gluten-free breads, organic chocolates and many others products in country. However, as mentioned earlier, it is important for us to ensure quality delivery to our consumers and adhere to the food safety regulations. We need a more organized voice in trade to echo the this message and to take the India story to many more global markets.

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  • Low export numbers put Hyundai profit in the red

    Low export numbers put Hyundai profit in the red

    Hyundai Motor swung to a net loss in the fourth quarter last year, largely due to the strength of the won over the U.S. dollar and weak global sales. It is the worst quarterly earnings reported since 2010, when the company first started posting earnings based on the International Financial Reporting Standards. Korea’s No. 1 automaker by sales on Thursday posted a net loss of 203.3 billion won ($180 million) for the quarter that ended December, a considerable drop from the 1.29 trillion won net profit inked a year earlier.

    The company cited weak earnings from its affiliated locomotive maker Hyundai Rotem, unfavorable currency rates and the sluggish growth of the global automotive industry as major reasons that pulled down earnings in the fourth quarter.

    It added that the cost of its investment into developing futuristic cars was also reflected.

    Hyundai already surprised investors when it posted 306 billion won in net profit in the third quarter, a 67.4 percent year-on-year drop. At the time, the company blamed one-off costs of airbags, engine quality control and marketing activities as well as currency rates to explain its losses and said the fourth quarter would be a better quarter.

    Following the two bad quarters, the carmaker’s annual net profit also dropped to a record low since 2010 – 1.645 trillion won last year, less than half of 2017’s 4.546 trillion won. In 2012, its annual net profit exceeded 9.056 trillion won.

    Choi Byung-chul, chief financial officer at Hyundai Motor, however, said the automaker was able to ramp up automotive sales in the fourth quarter thanks to newly-released SUVs and that the company’s performance could bounce back with several new car launches scheduled this year.

    According to the earnings report, revenue from the automotive business increased by 9.3 percent on year to 20,399 billion won in the fourth quarter. Operating income also jumped up 556.7 percent year on year to 463 billion won for automotives.

    The most recently launched Palisade SUV has been well received by Korean consumers after its launch last month, and a Hyundai Motor spokesperson said it is considering expanding production of the SUV in accordance with the demand. The carmaker has taken orders for 30,000 Palisades so far, according to Koo Za-yong, head of investor relations at Hyundai Motor.

    “Growth of the global automotive market is expected to slow down, but we will strengthen our brand competitiveness by launching cars in segments [that Hyundai had little presence in],” said Koo during a conference call with analysts on Thursday.

    Highly anticipated Hyundai cars this year include a new Sonata sedan and a premium SUV GV80 branded under Genesis.

    Hyundai plans to sell a total of 4.68 million cars this year by selling 712,000 units domestically and 3.97 million units abroad. Last year, the company sold 4.59 million cars at home and abroad, a 1.8 percent increase year on year.

    The automaker commented on its governance reform plans during the conference call as well. It plans to complete reforms this year to break the cross-shareholding structure between affiliates and improve shareholder returns. Last year, its attempt to reform its governance structure failed after facing a series of complaints from U.S. activist hedge fund Elliott Management.

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  • Kia Motors Niro wins Car of the Year from U.K. magazine

    Kia Motors Niro wins Car of the Year from U.K. magazine

    Kia Motors said Thursday its Niro electric vehicle has won British consumer magazine and website What Car?’s Car of the Year Award. Kia said the model received high scores for its long range and reasonable price. The Niro also won the Electric Car of the Year.

    This year’s What Car? awards were given to 25 models in various categories.

    Kia and its larger affiliate Hyundai Motor have won a total of nine What Car? awards this year, the companies said in a statement.

    Kia’s Picanto was named the best City Car of the Year, with its Cee’d compact winning the best Family Car for less than ￡20,000. Kia’s Stinger fastback sports sedan received the best Performance Car for less than ￡50,000. Hyundai said its Ioniq passenger car was given the Hybrid Car of the Year Award.

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  • Qatar possible partner for Malaysia’s third national car project

    Qatar possible partner for Malaysia’s third national car project

    Malaysia is looking at the possibility of having Qatar on board the third national car project. In a statement, the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) said Minister Datuk Darell Leiking had a bilateral meeting with Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari and Qatar Investment Authority CEO Mansoor Ebrahim al-Mahmoud on Jan 22.

    “The main objective of the meeting is to explore the possibility of having Qatar on board Malaysia’s third national car project. This is to leverage on Qatar’s investments in Volkswagen and Audi. Qatar positively welcomed the idea and reiterated on the need to deliberate the details of the joint manufacturing project,“ Miti said.

    Darell highlighted that Qatar could look at the possibility of collaborating in Malaysia in other parts of the automotive sector such as investment in automotive components or producing electric cars. He also informed Qatar on the recent launching of the latest Proton model X70 and Perodua Aruz.

    “Qatar took the opportunity to update Malaysia on its current investment reforms including the relaxation of foreign investment ownership, of which 100% foreign ownership is now allowed in Qatar in various sectors.”

    Qatar expressed hope that more Malaysian companies to invest in Qatar. Qatar can be seen as a gateway to the Middle East market and Malaysia as a springboard to the Asean market. To this effect, the Second Malaysia-Qatar Joint Trade Committee Meeting is scheduled to be held on March 28-29 2019.

    “Noting the good relationship between Malaysia and Qatar, the minister also expressed the possibility of proposing Qatar to be a dialogue partner in Asean,“ Miti said.

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  • BMW Korea announces recall of 99,000 additional vehicles

    BMW Korea announces recall of 99,000 additional vehicles

    BMW on Wednesday announced another recall of an additional 99,000 vehicles, with 20,000 of them recalled immediately on concerns of engine fires. The remaining 79,000 will be recalled if replacement parts are found to be faulty. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Wednesday announced that it has told the German carmaker to follow up with a recall plan that it submitted last week.

    The recall plan followed the investigation results announced by a joint investigation team on Dec. 24 in regard to BMW vehicle catching fire in Korea.

    The investigation team at the time announced that the fires were not only caused by the emission reduction system, or exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, but also by the intake manifold.

    The 20,363 vehicles that were in the first recall in July last year will be the first in line to be re-recalled, this time to check the intake manifold.

    These are vehicles with EGR modules that have not been replaced.

    The government said it will also inspect 80,000 BMWs to see if they have any leakage problems.

    Last year, BMW recalled 106,000 vehicles after they began bursting into flames last summer.

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  • Boom abroad for Hyundai Mobis high-tech car parts

    Boom abroad for Hyundai Mobis high-tech car parts

    Hyundai Mobis said Tuesday it logged $1.7 billion worth of orders for high-tech automotive parts from non-Korean customers last year, setting a new record for overseas sales. High-tech parts include sensors, display and lamps used for self-driving and electric cars. Last year’s figure is a 40 percent jump from $1.2 billion worth of orders in 2017. The parts company has been rapidly expanding its global presence over the years. Orders for high-tech parts from overseas customers totaled just $500 million in 2015.

    The Hyundai affiliate said the record-breaking result is largely due to increasing demand from overseas electric vehicle companies and its focus on developing future car technologies.

    According to Mobis, it received nearly $1 billion worth orders, 60 percent of its total overseas orders, from electric vehicle companies in North America, Europe and China.

    Many electric car companies are start-ups. A Mobis spokesperson said companies at this stage of development tend to be more aggressive when it comes to investment in technology.

    Recently, Mobis signed a deal to supply steering wheel-mounted displays and smart lamps to electric car companies. The products have yet to be commercialized.

    Steering wheel-mounted displays are fit in the center of the wheel.

    Smart lamps will be used for communicating with pedestrians or other cars through the display of light pattern messages.

    The parts maker also signed a contract to supply lateral radars to a North American company. This type of radar extends the sensing coverage of autonomous vehicles.

    The company said it will continue to expand sales of high value-added electronic parts this year as global automakers increasingly rely on digital features to differentiate their products.

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  • Hyundai Motor offering a bigger, better Universe

    Hyundai Motor offering a bigger, better Universe

    Hyundai’s Universe is about to get bigger. Hyundai Motor unveiled an updated version of its luxury coach, the Universe, on Tuesday, increasing its size and adding safety features. The updated coach, scheduled for release next March, has an extended wheelbase of 12.5 meters (41 feet), 0.5 meters longer than the existing model. Distance between seats has been increased.

    The vehicle comes with a variety of new safety features applied for the first time in a coach in the local market, such as an engine fire extinguishing system, driver attention warning and a rear-view monitor.

    Hyundai Motor explained that the Universe’s driver attention warning system and smart cruise control are now offered to prevent drowsy driving and other avoidable accidents. The new Universe also has a refreshed exterior design with headlight changes and will be available in three trims.

  • Tech sector forecast to see slower growth ahead

    Tech sector forecast to see slower growth ahead

    Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research anticipates slower growth in the technology sector due to downside risks in the macro environment coupled with waning data trends. However, it expects automotive and Internet of Things (IoT) to take the forefront while smartphone takes a backseat. The research house said in a note that for the first 11 months of 2018 (11M18) global semiconductor sales were outstanding after growing 16%, thanks to the explosive growth of memory followed by discrete and optoelectronics.

    As for 2019, consensus is projecting 3% growth for that segment.

    “However, we see further downside to this projection considering the US-China trade conflict, stagnant smartphone demand, industry-wide inventory adjustment and weaker memory prices,” HLIB said.

    The automotive sector is expected to be the major growth driver for global technology industry supported by its development towards full autonomy. The equipment industry remained solid with billings increasing 11% in 11M18, supported by heavy investments in all regions except Taiwan.

    “However, year-on-year growth has been on a snail’s pace for the past five months, translating into a significant deceleration from past 20 consecutive months’ double-digit growth rates,” the research house explained.

    According to SEMI, this reflected the near-term weakening demand for personal computers, mobile phones and servers as well as pulled back investments in response to recent softening of memory prices.

    “This is in line with its expectation of expansion in capital spending not outpacing sales growth on the long run and potentially lead to industry-wide overcapacity,” said HLIB.

    The research house also highlighted that local semiconductor players may experience strong demand to support the disrupted global supply chain should the procurement levy and technology transfer restriction from US take effect.

    Note that China sources substantial fabrication equipment from US players for its expansionary semiconductor industry towards the “Make in China 2025” vision. Vice versa, US fabless semiconductor players outsource their product fabrication and some are produced in China.

    With strong greenback, HLIB expects tech firms to be marginally boosted thanks to their US dollar-denominated sales while partly offset by the US dollar cost items.

    It estimates the ringgit to be weaker in FY19 with at full-year average of RM4.20 against US dollar.

    Nonetheless, pricier commodities, compounded by stronger US dollar projection, will exert pressures on margins for traditional packaging.

    Maintaining a “neutral” call on the sector, HLIB displayed a cautious stance in the absence of near-term catalyst as it expects global sales and capital spending to grow moderately.

    As for stock picks, it gave Frontken a “buy” call at a target price of RM1.05 on the back of bullish global semiconductor market outlook, robust fab investment, leading edge technology, oil and gas recovery and strong balance sheet.

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  • Samsung factories ready to make 5G and foldable phones

    Samsung factories ready to make 5G and foldable phones

    Samsung Electronics is ready to roll out both 5G and foldable phones, two of most highly-anticipated products from the electronics company. While Samsung has already announced a plan to introduce new Galaxy phones at an unpacking event next month in San Francisco, it is confirmed on Tuesday that Samsung’s global production base in Vietnam has completed preparation to mass-produce 5G phones.

    The 5G phone is tentatively called “Galaxy S10 X.” Two Samsung factories, located in the provinces of Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen, both north of Hanoi, produce 150 million smartphones a year. The 5G-enabled version of Galaxy S10 produced in Vietnam will be exported globally, starting with the United States. The first one million units of Samsung’s first foldable phone will be produced at the company’s production plant in Gumi, North Gyeongsang.

    The 5G phone “will roll out three to four weeks after the basic Galaxy S10 model hits the market. However, we have finished all preparations to mass produce a 5G phone,” a source from Samsung Electronics said.

    The phone will likely be introduced during the unpacking event on Feb. 20 along with three other versions of Samsung’s 10th-generation Galaxy family: S10, S10+ and S10 light.

    Phones that can connect to the 5G network are expected to bring revolutionary changes in media consumption habits. A 5G phone can download a 1.5 gigabyte movie in under a second.

    Samsung’s first 5G phone is likely to come with a 6.7-inch screen, larger than the 6.1-inch screen of S10 or 6.4-inch screen of S10+.

    The 5G-connected S10 will be powered by the Exynos 9820 chipset.

    Though it is designed for 5G connections, the phone will still be able to connect to 4G LTE as 5G infrastructure development is still underway. Even in Korea, where 5G infrastructure is quickly being built, next-generation connectivity is a work in progress.

    Samsung will first supply 5G phones to five telecom companies, including Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, all in the United States, and SK Telecom and KT in Korea

    Although the 5G phone will be introduced at the unpacking event, the actual launch of the model will come a bit later than the new S10s.

    While basic versions will be released in early March, the actual 5G-capable models will be available at the end of March.

    Samsung has greatly tightened security at its S10 production sites in Vietnam factories after a picture of the Galaxy S10 was leaked online.

    As for the company’s foldable phone, tentatively dubbed the “Galaxy F,” initial production will take place at the Gumi plant. Industry sources project that Samsung is likely to introduce the foldable phone at the unpacking event as well, but will release the phone April at the earliest.

    Federico Casalegno, head of the Samsung Design Innovation Center in North America, said “the foldable phone is a breakthrough in technology innovation,” during a press briefing last week.

    Industry insiders say the main reason for making foldable phones at the local Gumi plant is to prevent technology leaks and better control the initial production volume of the phone.

    “We are not yet ready to mass-produce foldable phones as well in Vietnam,” a spokesperson from Samsung said. “The first one million units of foldable phones and 5G phones to be sold in the Korean market will be produced at the Gumi plant, which is in charge of producing our premium products.”

  • Vietnam liquor maker makes a loss, 4 years in a row

    Vietnam liquor maker makes a loss, 4 years in a row

    Nation’s leading liquor maker Halico has reported a loss of VND75 billion ($3.22 million) for 2018. With Vietnamese consumers moving towards foreign brands, the 120-year-old liquor maker, in which Vietnam’s second biggest brewery Habeco has 54.29 percent ownership and British multinational Diageo holds a 45.5 percent stake, Halico has reported losses for the fourth year in a row.

    It reported a loss of over VND20 billion ($859,780) in the fourth quarter of 2018, raising the total annual loss to VND75 billion ($3.22 million).

    In its annual statement for 2018, Halico’s board expressed doubts that the company can continue operating, with Vietnamese consumer tastes shifting to imported beer and foreign alcoholic products. It conceded that it has failed to capture younger consumer segments.

    In addition, Diageo has been unable to negotiate any substantial supply contracts with foreign partners, so the company has not been able to do well in exports.

    Furthermore, management costs have risen to over 60 percent of revenue. Despite a 30 percent rise in sales in 2018 (VND155 billion or $6.66 million), the difference was not able to compensate for expenses incurred.

    The Hanoi Liquor Joint Stock Company was originally a Hanoi winery, founded in 1898 and equitized in 2004 with initial charter capital of nearly VND50 billion ($2.15 million).

    In early 2011, Diageo Plc, a British multinational alcoholic beverages company, acquired an 18.67 percent stake in Halico for a total of VND800 billion ($34.4 million) from investment fund VinaCapital.

    Diageo is the world’s biggest liquor company, owning famous brands such as Johnnie Walker, Bailey and Smirnoff. It bought another 26.83 percent stake in 2012, hoping to cash in on the growing consumer market.

    Halico’s accumulated losses at the end of last year topped VND330 billion ($14.19 million), 1.6 times higher than its current charter capital at VND200 billion ($8.6 million).

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  • Hyundai develops safer airbag deployment system

    Hyundai develops safer airbag deployment system

    Hyundai Motor Group, Korea’s biggest carmaker by sales, said Monday it has developed a safer airbag deployment system to better protect people from multiple crashes. The advanced airbag system immediately prepares for additional crashes once it recognizes an initial collision, in cases where the collision is not serious enough to warrant a deployment, the conglomerate said in a statement.

    “If the first collision is a minor one, but the vehicle continues on and collides with something else, such as trees or street lamps, the airbag system optimizes itself to prepare for additional crashes,” a company spokesman explained to reporters over the phone.

    It is the first time a Korean carmaker has developed such a multi-crash airbag system, the statement said.

    Existing airbag systems do not inflate once they determine the initial collision is minor, even if subsequent impacts involve greater force and can lead to serious injury, it said.

  • Hyundai, Kia move ahead with recall in U.S.

    Hyundai, Kia move ahead with recall in U.S.

    Despite a government shutdown, Hyundai and Kia are moving ahead with a recall of about 168,000 vehicles to fix a fuel pipe problem that can cause engine fires. The problem stems from improper repairs during previous recalls for engine failures. The affiliated Korean automakers have been dogged by fire and engine failure complaints from across the nation. They’re both under investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has been trying to figure out whether initial recalls covered enough vehicles. But the agency is mostly closed due to the shutdown.

    In addition to the recall, each automaker says it will do a “product improvement campaign” covering a total of 3.7 million vehicles to install software that will alert drivers of possible engine failures and send the cars into a reduced-speed “limp” mode if problems are detected.

    Nhtsa employees who do safety investigations and recall notifications are not at work. Under normal circumstances, the agency would review the recalls to make sure they are adequate and post details on the agency website. It would also monitor notices to customers, and ensure customers could check to see if their vehicles are included.

    Kia spokesman James Bell said the company is proceeding with the recall and campaign regardless of government delays.

    “Making our customers comfortable is vastly more important than making sure we’re following additional government processes right now,” he said. Kia sent letters to dealers around Jan. 10 notifying them of the recall, he said.

    But a U.S. auto safety advocate called the recalls inadequate and said the product improvement campaigns should instead be recalls that are overseen by Nhtsa.

    An Nhtsa spokeswoman said she could not comment due to the shutdown.

    Hyundai and Kia started recalling 1.7 million vehicles in 2015 – about 618,000 of which are Kias – because manufacturing debris can restrict oil flow to connecting rod bearings. That can cause bearings in 2-liter and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines to wear and fail. The problem can also cause fires. The repair in many cases is an expensive engine block replacement.

    Now the companies are acknowledging that the engine replacements may not have been properly done in all cases by dealers. A Kia statement says the high-pressure fuel pipe may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly tightened while the engines were being replaced under recall. That can allow fuel to leak and hit hot engine parts, causing fires.

    Kia says it has six reports of fires among the vehicles being recalled for possible fuel leaks, while Hyundai says it has no fire reports. Neither company had any reports of injuries.

    The fuel injector pipe recall covers some 2011 through 2014 Kia Optima cars, 2012 through 2014 Sorento SUVs, and 2011 through 2013 Sportage SUVs, all with 2-liter and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines. Also covered are many 2011 to 2014 Hyundai Sonata cars and 2013 and 2014 Santa Fe Sport SUVs.

    More than 2 million 2011 Sonatas from the 2011 through 2018 model years and Santa Fe Sports from 2013 through 2018 are covered by the software and engine-knock sensor updates. About 1.7 million Kias, including the 2011 through 2018 Optima, the 2012 through 2018 Sorento and 2011 through 18 Sportage, are covered.

    The companies say owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified by letter. Dealers will check the fuel pipe for leaks and replace the pipe if needed.

    Kia is only doing the fix on 68,000 of its 618,000 vehicles recalled for the engine problems, while Hyundai is recalling 100,000 of more than 1 million. Hyundai said only vehicles that had engines replaced in the previous recalls are covered by the new recall.

    He also raised concerns about the government shutdown’s impact on Nhtsa, which he said should be open to handle critical safety recalls.

  • Korean SUV sales soar globally

    Korean SUV sales soar globally

    SUVs have recently grabbed the spotlight in Korea, breaking both local and export sales records. According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), the number of exported SUVs by five local automakers reached a new record of 1.38 million units in 2018, a 6.7 percent increase from the previous year. In just 17 years, the figure rose by 700 percent – exports recorded merely 196,111 units in 2000.

    Over the same period, overall exports of passenger vehicles declined 3.1 percent to 2.34 million units. The share of SUVs also reached an all-time high.

    Compact SUVs from Korea were most popular in export markets.

    GM Korea’s Chevrolet Trax was shipped the most, at 239,800 units, followed by Hyundai Motor’s Tucson at 228,461 units.

    Small-sized SUVs also performed well, with 202,779 units of Hyundai Motor’s subcompact SUV Kona shipped abroad, a 437 percent rise from the previous year.

    Kia Motors’ Stonic exported 58,989 units, increasing 75.8 percent from 2017.

    Much of the enthusiasm surrounding SUVs in markets abroad was also present in the local market.

    Last year, 519,883 SUVs were sold in Korea, passing the 500,000 unit mark for the first time.

    With a 12.7 percent rise from 2017 sales figures of 461,385 units, SUVs currently take up a 40.1 percent share in the overall passenger car sales figures.

    Meanwhile, passenger car sales, excluding SUVs, dropped 6.9 percent last year from the previous year.

    Hyundai Motor’s mid-sized SUV, the Santa Fe, was the most popular in Korea, selling 107,202 units. This was the first time that an SUV model recorded an annual sales figure over 100,000 units.

    The SUV market is expected to grow this year.

    As compact and small-sized SUVs are poised to lead exports and medium and small-sized SUVs the local market, large-sized SUVs are also being rolled out this year.

    Hyundai Motor’s Palisade, unveiled last November, recorded over 25,000 preorders in just three weeks, hitting 62.5 percent of the automaker’s annual sales target of 40,000 units for the model.

    It will likely take customers around seven months to receive the vehicle if ordered now.

    According to Hyundai Motor, the large-sized SUV is popular among older drivers. Customers in their 40s accounted for 37 percent of orders and those in their 50s made up 26.9 percent.

    “As high-quality amenities and vehicle stability that used to be developed through sedans is now applied to SUVs, there was quite a bit of progress,” said Kim Pil-soo, a professor of automotive engineering at Daelim University.

    “This year’s SUV sales and market share will grow as local and foreign SUVs have adopted the advantages of sedans,” added Kim.

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