Vigilancia Tecnológica

S’pore SMEs expanding overseas likely to rise 30% this year Singapore companies are wetting their toes in a brave, new market – Africa. While the vast continent presents a tremendous growth opportunity, experts warn that it comes with its unique challenges.

China has offered its support to eurozone countries to help them through the debt crisis that has gripped the region. “We are ready to support the eurozone to overcome the financial crisis and realise economic recovery,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.

Penang-based MTT Shipping Sdn Bhd (MTTS), a possible white knight to debt-laden PN17 company Swee Joo Bhd, has chartered 10 vessels from the latter. Swee Joo executive director Allistar Hilton Smith said the fleet comprised seven container ships and three tugboats and barges owned by Swee Joo’s subsidiary, Johan Shipping Sdn Bhd.

Baltic Oil Terminals buys bunker supplier Baltic Oil Terminals has completed the acquisition of the Netherlands-based bunker supplier Petroval Bunker International for US$10.8 million (€8.24 million).

Germany’s iron ore import prices nearly double in November According to a report released by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), in November this year the import price of iron ore increased by 99.1 percent year on year in Germany, while it declined by 1.6 percent as compared to October.

PetroVietnam to Import 640,000 Tons of Crude in First Half 2011 Vietnam Oil & Gas Group, the owner of the country’s only refinery, will import 640,000 metric tons of crude in the first six months of 2011, a 60 percent increase on total overseas purchases this year.

Cotton, Sugar Imports by Pakistan to Rise After Floods, Farm Minister Says Pakistan may import 700,000 metric tons of sugar and 4 million bales of cotton to ease shortages and cool prices after the country’s worst-ever floods damaged standing crops, the country’s farm minister said.

Taiwan iron ore imports in 11 months up by 159pct According to data, Taiwan imported 2.05 million tonnes of iron ore in November with the average price at TWD 4,829 per tonne. Furthermore, the total imports of iron ore in the first eleven months of 2010 have reached 17.56 million tonne soared sharply by 159% year on year.

Supertanker Rates May Gain on Pre-Holiday Demand, Imarex Says Imarex Asia Pte, a unit of freight derivatives broker Imarex ASA, comments in an e-mailed report today on supply and demand for supertankers to collect 2 million-barrel cargoes of Middle East crude oil.

Diana Shipping Inc. Announces Partial Spin-Off of Majority-Owned Subsidiary Diana Containerships Inc. Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, yesterday announced that its Board of Directors has approved the partial spin-off of its interest in the Company’s majority-owned subsidiary Diana Containerships Inc., of which Diana Shipping currently owns approximately 55% of the issued and outstanding common stock.