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Published on April 10, 2008

Company sales suffered a drop of 2-3 per cent the last two years.

The property boom and rising consumer confidence have encouraged people to spend more on renovating their homes, while developers are launching more projects.

Marketing manager Salin Kuntanarumitkul yesterday said only two manufacturers controlled the Bt1-billion home-insulation market. With a 37-per-cent share, the company is second biggest.

The company's annual production reaches 10 million square metres, 60 per cent of which is exported to major markets like Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Bangladesh.

However, the export price is lower, because the products are made under contract.

Its exports will remain unchanged from last year's Bt150 million.

The stronger baht - recently about 31 to the US dollar - is beyond the company's expectations.

The global-warming factor has allowed the company to raise its export prices 10-30 per cent, thanks to rising demand.

A Bt20-million marketing budget has been earmarked to educate consumers about the benefits of insulation.

The government should also make people more concerned about global warming, so they use more insulation.

The company has shouldered increasing costs for foil and

packaging, while transportation charges have risen 10 per cent. However, it has no plans to adjust its retail price.

Chankit Trakoolwilai

The Nation