InfoQuest, (February 13, 2020) -- According to Ms. Suchada Thansap, spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry (MOI) of Thailand, Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has assigned Director-General Kobchai Sungsitthisawad to urge the Ministry of Industrial Engineering of Thailand, Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) and industrial offices of Changwats with mask factories to coordinate with surgical mask factories to ensure continuous production.
Factories are required to operate at full capacity to meet domestic demand before considering export. In particular, Thai factories should produce enough surgical masks to meet domestic demand within the next month or two. Generally speaking, surgical mask factories in Thailand mostly sell domestically, first to hospitals and then to pharmacies and retail stores.
The MOI has inquired about 10 surgical mask factories located in 6 Changwats including Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Phetchaburi that their total capacity is about 537 million per year, with an average capacity of 1.2 million per day, excluding small producers or small importers with capacities less than factory-level.
At present, all factories are operating at full capacity and extended working hours to enlarge production capacity.
In addition, the investment promotion projects of two more surgical mask exporters, namely, Siam Koken Co., Ltd. and Emerald Nonwovens International Co., Ltd., have been approved by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Previously, all surgical masks produced by the two factories were exported.
At present, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has issued a restrictive measure on export. The export of more than 500 surgical masks must be licensed, with or without foreign orders received. This measure aims to ensure that domestic demands are met first.
After the capacity of the above factories being transferred to domestic supply, the capacity for surgical masks for domestic use is expected to increase by 128 million per year or 350 thousand per day. It is believed that the current capacity can surely meet the domestic demand. It is hoped that traders can cooperate and do not hoard goods.
Next week, in order to help the people out, the MOI will send executive working groups to distribute masks and alcohol-based gel in communities around Bangkok, such as those around the Victory Monument, Ramathibodi Hospital, Rama 6 near the MOI office, Priest Hospital and other hospitals and schools.
Source: InfoQuest, by Nisarat Wichiensri / Rachada, translated by Xinhua Silk Road
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A single purchase
