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Managing director Kyeong Sig-cho yesterday said the South Korean-based manufacturer of air purifiers, ventilators and condensing units for air-conditioners was awaiting permission for exports to several countries in the Asia-Pacific, including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and India.

It will increase its production capacity of air purifiers from 10,000 units a month to 20,000 once it starts exporting.

Kohsan established its first Thai plant in 2007. Earlier, the entire production was reserved for the domestic market.

"Export markets will be our top priority in the near future. I'm targeting the proportion of export value to be 70 per cent by 2012," Kyeong said.

Besides air purifiers, Kohsan - the third-largest South Korean company in the Kingdom in terms of investment size - also manufactures in Thailand ventilator and condensing units used in air-conditioners. It supplies condensing units to major companies like LG, Samsung and Toshiba.

In South Korea, Scana is the No-1 air purifier in the vehicle market and the No-3 air-purifier for household use.

Kohsan so far has invested US$1 billion (Bt34.12 billion) in Thailand. Its Rayong factory employs 800 workers.

Kyeong said Scana would launch two products in the Thai market this year: one for household use and the other for large buildings. It has targeted revenue of Bt2 billion this year, up 11.11 per cent from Bt1.8 billion last year.

He said even though Scana was a new entrant in the market two years ago, the brand could be No 2 in the air-purifier market, behind leader Toshiba.

"The air-purifier market in Thailand has more room for growth compared with South Korea, because fewer Thais pay attention to this product. Once they care more about their health and clean air, I believe this market will be very big in the near future," Kyeong said.