As per the ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics), export prices in Australia recorded a rise of 13.5% in Q2 2008, as reported by news.com.au. The export prices increased 13.3% in Q2 2008 – the highest quarterly increase since September 1974. This is due to a rise of 54.2% in prices paid for briquettes, coke and coal, as well as a 27% increase in metal scrap and metalliferous ores. The prices of petroleum products and related materials also rose 18.3%. Meanwhile, the import price index increased by 1.4% in Q2 2008 compared to 2.7% rise during January-March 2008.

Continue reading “Coal, Iron and Increasing Inflation Fuel Rise in Australian Export Prices” »

According to the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI), the world’s 66 steel manufacturing countries collectively produced 696 million tonnes of crude steel in the initial six months of 2008, a rise of 5.7% against January-June 2007.
Continue reading “High Demand and Strong Investments saw the Global Steel Industry rise 5.7% in the First Half of 2008″ »

Investment in warranty management technology solutions in the manufacturing sector is set to grow as manufacturers globally seek out additional cost and revenue opportunities. This is according to a new report, “The Waking World of Warranty Management”. The most common benefit associated with warranty management solutions is their ability to increase the visibility of warranty claims and the impact they have on current and future business imperatives. While almost all manufacturing companies will have some degree of warranty management established within their businesses, the report has identified a renewed focus on streamlining processes and technology functionality in the discipline. Continue reading “Global Manufacturers’ spend on Warranty Management Solutions tipped to exceed $1bn” »

While Maasai warriors from Tanzania managed to run the London marathon in shoes made from car tyres, a new report shows that Westerners increasingly demand specialist footwear designed for specific sports, activities and occupations.

In the case of sports footwear, one of the main market drivers is the ability of the shoe to improve the performance of the wearer. In some sectors, such as football boots, this feature is regarded by companies such as Adidas and Nike as being more important than cost. Fabric manufacturers are therefore being encouraged to develop high performance products which continually push the boundaries in terms of weight, moisture management properties and grip.

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We are used to the idea of organic food, and even the organic cosmetic industry, but if that wasn’t enough to make us feel guilty- now we have to get used to organic and eco-friendly home textiles.

According to a new report the continued hype over organic foods in the US contributes to the increased focus on organic textiles, and predicts the market to grow 40% through to 2010, in the US market alone. This, they argue, will be achieved by an increasingly diverse product mix in eco-friendly home textiles. Also, the entry into the market by well-known brands such as Ralph Lauren Home, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target will also have a positive impact.

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According to Fuld & Company, a Boston-based competitive intelligence (CI) consultancy, the USA’s top companies are likely to raise their budgets on information gathering and analysing over the next five years. Fuld’s predictions are based on data from the recent Global Benchmark Study of 141 corporations, which forecasts the amount that the top 1,000 companies will spend on CI will increase from a current $1 billion to at least $10 billion by 2012.

Continue reading “America’s Top Companies to Invest in Competitive Intelligence says Fuld” »

Ethical Business; it seems to be all the rage these days. So it was no surprise when BAE publicised their intentions to join the ethical bandwagon signing none other than ex Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, as their paragon of integrity.

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