logo
SCG Packaging bullish on boosting revenue in H2

SCG Packaging bullish on boosting revenue in H2

Bangkok Post4 days ago
SCG Packaging Plc (SCGP) plans to take advantage of its robust sales in Southeast Asia to lift revenue in the second half of this year amid global concerns over the impact of the US's steep tariffs, set to take effect on Aug 1.
"Packaging demand in Asean is expected to continue its upward trend, particularly for food, beverages, and consumer goods," said chief executive Wichan Jitpukdee.
He attributed the growth to the state stimulus measures aimed at boosting consumer spending and projected GDP growth rates that remain higher than those in other regions, particularly in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Inventory restocking activities toward the year end has also been factored in to the projection of good sales during the latter half of the year, he said.
SCGP posted total revenue of 31.5 billion baht in the second quarter of this year, with profit standing at 1.01 billion baht.
The results were driven by a focus on sales in Southeast Asia, supported by increased domestic consumption, effective cost management of recovered paper and the use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance cost efficiency.
Good sales were also complemented by an acceleration in exports to the US ahead of scheduled import tariff adjustments, particularly for consumer goods and food and beverage products, said Mr Wichan.
However, in the pulp and paper business, sales volume decreased due to a slowdown in demand from the textile and garment industries.
Mr Wichan applauded the use of AI and machine learning to enhance business performance, particularly in Indonesian operations, where AI was put into practice for energy optimisation, increasing the use of domestic recovered paper and helping to manage financial costs effectively.
He said the impact of the US's tariff on its products is limited because current revenue from the American market accounts for 4% of its total revenue, derived from the export of consumer products.
"But the impact of reciprocal tariff measures from countries with unresolved policies still needs to be closely monitored," said Mr Wichan.
SCGP continues to expand is exports to new markets offering great potential, such as India, Bangladesh and Australia.
The firm remains intact from the Thai-Cambodian territorial conflict because it has not made investments there but faces some indirect impact from its clients who need to shift to transport goods by ship which will raise expenses.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Transformation is not a project. It's a power shift
Transformation is not a project. It's a power shift

Bangkok Post

time9 hours ago

  • Bangkok Post

Transformation is not a project. It's a power shift

In boardrooms across Asia, 'transformation' is the buzzword of the decade. Every company is launching a new initiative. Digital. Cultural. AI-powered. But here's the uncomfortable truth: Most transformations fail not because of bad strategy, but because people never truly changed. They introduced new technology. Hired consultants. Rewrote organisational charts. But they never rewired how people think, decide or lead. So what actually works in 2025? Let me share two stories. Both are real. Both are recent. The first is a well-known Thai conglomerate with more than 30 business units and decades of success. The board had a bold vision. They wanted more speed, synergy and innovation across companies. But when we spoke to division heads, we heard the same thing: 'We protect our turf because no one else plays fair.' The culture was high-control and high-performance, but low-trust. Senior leaders did not challenge one another. Decisions were delayed. Even great ideas died quietly in layers of approval. Now contrast this with a fast-growing wellness company in Vietnam, founded by a Thai and German entrepreneur. The business started small with one boutique health café, then grew into a multi-brand lifestyle group in three countries. They did not have complex systems or layers of hierarchy. What they had was psychological safety. People spoke up. They experimented. Their leadership team held weekly failure forums, where they openly shared what did not work. In 18 months, they pivoted their product line three times and tripled their revenue. What made the difference? Not size. Not resources. Not even strategy. It was Mindset. The Three Real Levers of Transformation 1. From Control to Courage: Too many senior leaders, especially those over 60, still lead with authority rather than vulnerability. But transformation requires admitting, 'I don't know,' and co-creating answers. Courage today is not about being right. It is about letting go of being the only one who is right. Try this: In your next team meeting, ask, 'What's one thing we need to stop pretending is working?' Then listen without defending. Let truth breathe. 2. From Process to Purpose: One regional bank launched an AI-led transformation to cut costs. It worked at first. But soon, mid-level staff disengaged. Morale dropped. Why? Because no one connected the change to something meaningful. In 2025, people — especially Gen Z — want more than efficiency. They want purpose. Try this: Ask your transformation team, 'Who will this change benefit most, and why should they care?' Make purpose visible, not just profit. 3. From Silos to Synergy: Middle managers are the squeezed generation. They absorb pressure from the top and frustration from the bottom. But they are also the most powerful agents of cultural change — if you unlock them. Try this: One logistics firm in Thailand created 90-day cross-silo labs. They paired operations, sales and technology teams to solve one real customer pain point. No titles. No blame. Just focus. One lab saved the company 18 million baht in a single quarter and sparked collaboration habits that continued to grow. The bottom line is this: Transformation is not a campaign. It is a power shift. From ego to empathy. From knowing to learning. From hierarchy to co-creation. The most future-ready leaders are not the loudest or longest-serving. They are the ones willing to evolve. So the real question is not, 'Are you transforming?' It is this: 'Are you letting yourself be transformed?' or visit her LinkedIn profile.

US tariff opens 'opportunity' to reorient economy
US tariff opens 'opportunity' to reorient economy

Bangkok Post

time20 hours ago

  • Bangkok Post

US tariff opens 'opportunity' to reorient economy

An economist is urging the government to adopt a three-phase strategy to cushion the impact of the newly-imposed 19% US tariff, warning that while the immediate effect may not be catastrophic, the move exposes deeper structural vulnerabilities. Asst Prof Kiatanantha Lounkaew, of Thammasat University's Faculty of Economics, said on Saturday the tariff, which came into effect on Friday, should not only be seen as a threat but as an opportunity to reorient the economy for long-term resilience. He proposed a phased response to mitigate shocks and drive structural reform. In the short term (0–6 months), he recommended a relief fund be set up by the Finance Ministry and Board of Investment to offer low-interest loans and liquidity support to affected exporters, particularly SMEs. Temporary tax relief and tariff cuts on essential raw materials should also be considered, along with aggressive market diversification into regions such as India, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, he said. The medium-term plan (6–18 months) should focus on restructuring supply chains, reducing foreign dependency and promoting industries aligned with sustainability goals, he said. New investment incentives must align with global standards like ESG criteria and carbon border taxes, he added. He also stressed the need for workforce upskilling and the integration of digital tools like AI and big data. In the long run (1.5–5 years), Thailand must shift from being a low-cost manufacturing base to a regional hub for high-value services and innovation, he said. This requires robust investment in R&D, patent development and upstream technologies, he added. Asst Prof Kiatanantha also proposed the formation of a Thai-US economic dialogue platform and active engagement in multilateral forums to avoid future trade frictions.

Myanmar remains upbeat on trade talks despite 40% Trump tariffs
Myanmar remains upbeat on trade talks despite 40% Trump tariffs

Bangkok Post

timea day ago

  • Bangkok Post

Myanmar remains upbeat on trade talks despite 40% Trump tariffs

NAY PYI TAW — Myanmar's military government said it remains upbeat on reaching a deal with the US to see a decrease in US President Donald Trump's new tariffs of 40% on goods from the Southeast Asian country. 'The US continues to negotiate with us on this so it's still in a stage of negotiation,' Zaw Min Tun, chief spokesman of the ruling State Security and Peace Commission, told Bloomberg News on Saturday. Myanmar has offered to reduce its tariff on American goods entering the country to a range of 0%-15%, from the previous rate of 88%, and expects the ones imposed by the United States to drop to a range of 0%-7%, he said. The nature and channel of ongoing discussions between the US and Myanmar is not immediately clear as Washington has imposed sanctions on most of Myanmar generals and cabinet members following a military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government in 2021. Last month, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing praised Donald Trump in a rare letter and compared his military's coup to the American president's baseless claims of US election fraud, suggesting both leaders were victims of rigged votes. In there, he requested a reduced tariff rate and offered to send a high-level trade delegation to Washington. Myanmar's bilateral trade with the US is relatively small compared to other countries in the region. The value of two-way trade was US$588.3 million in the fiscal year ended March, down from $701.9 million a year earlier, while the US continued to see a trade deficit, according to government data. Myanmar has been struggling with a crippling economy and a growing civil war since the military seized power more than four years ago. Earlier this week, the regime lifted a 54-month state of emergency, paving way for long-promised general elections in December which many countries consider as a sham.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store