Southeast Asian Market Research Articles

Successful Marketing Strategies in Emerging Markets

The global market is facing numerous changes nowadays, and also is the Southeast Asian market. Among those of some other regions, the Southeast Asian market is especially important to Korea for many reasons since it is one of the rapidly emerging markets, is geographically close to Korea, and has fair conditions for investigation. And in order to succeed in Southeast Asian markets, thorough examination about the countries is in need. This article catches a glimpse of the global market, the current status and changes of Southeast Asian markets, and Korean firms now doing business in these markets. Also, the article suggests some tips for successful marketing strategies.

A comparative evaluation of physical and chemical properties of biodiesel synthesized from edible and non-edible oils and study on the effect of biodiesel blending

Traditionally, biodiesel has been produced from edible oils due to their low free fatty acids. However, their use has elevated some issues such as food versus fuel and many other problems that have negatively affected their economic viability. Therefore, exploration of non-edible oils may significantly reduce the cost of biodiesel especially in poor countries which can barely afford the high cost of edible oils. This paper aims to produce biodiesel from several edible and non-edible oils that are readily available in the South East Asian market. These oils include; Jatropha curcas, Calophyllum inophyllum, Sterculia foetida, Moringa oleifera, Croton megalocarpus, Patchouli, Elaeis guineensis (palm), Cocos nucifera (coconut), Brassica napus (canola) and Glycine Max (soybean) oils. This was followed by an investigation of physico-chemical properties of the produced biodiesel. This paper also discusses the concept of biodiesel blending to improve some of the properties of these feedstocks. For instance, blending of SFME and CoME improves the viscosity of SFME from 6.3717 mm2/s to 5.3349 mm2/s (3:1), 4.4912 mm2/s (1:1) and 3.879 mm2/s (1:3). The properties of other biodiesel blends were estimated using the polynomial curve fitting method.

Strategies for Increasing Competitiveness of Korean Apple in Southeast Asian Markets

Strategies for Increasing Competitiveness of Korean Apple in Southeast Asian Markets

China's Emergence and Impact on Technology in East Asia: The Case of Machinebuilding

Two Taiwan-based economists estimate the technology content of exports by the machinebuilding industry of the East Asia region during 2004-2008, using comparative analysis to clarify changes in the relative competitiveness of four East Asian nations (China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan) accompanying the formation of a regional trading bloc and production networks. In particular, they examine the technology content of these countries' machinebuilding sub-industries' exports within the Southeast Asian market (documenting the rise of the machinebuilding industry in China) as well as the penetration of Japanese, South Korean, and Taiwanese sub-industries into China's market. The results point to areas of emerging competition among China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan for East Asian markets, which can only be expected to intensify in the future. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: F14, F15, F36, O14, P23. 7 tables, 36 references.

Decoupling Theory: A Study of Global Markets in the Present Era of Volatility

It is commonly remarked that world markets catch cold when the US market sneezes. In this context what happened in the year 2000 has been well recorded in the chronicles of stock exchanges. Steep fall in NASDAQ resulted in impacting Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex as well as most South-East Asian Markets. The phenomenon of global stock market contagion is now familiar and has become more pronounced in recent years apparently because of the rapid global economic integration. This paper reports a study to find out if there is a correlation between Indian and Global stock markets and to further find out which market affects the Indian market maximum. In the context of the study, the paper examines the emerging concept of decoupling theory, which believes that because of strong GDP growth of countries as China and India, the stock markets of these countries will remain bullish even when there is recession in the US. The study presents an overall picture that although there is no perfect correlation, stock indices of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, London, NASDAQ and Brazil had more impact on Indian index.

Estimating the Dynamic Impact of Financial Liberalization on Equity Returns in Southeast Asian Markets

Recent studies of the impact of financial liberalization in emerging markets have not examined the dynamic impact of the liberalization process on equity returns despite the important implications on ongoing reform policies. We analyze six Asian equity markets using a dynamic adjustment model with three independent variables: market capitalization value, pricebook value ratio, and price‐earnings ratio. We use panel data for the period 1991‐2000 and the LSDVR (least square dummy variable regression) approach to identify the timing effects of liberalization. The stability of the model is also tested. The results indicate, in most cases, the significance of all three variables and the timing effects. Evidence of significant structural changes is also supported.

The Establishment of e-Trade Network through SCM in the East Asian Region

The establishment of e-Trade Network is imperative to facilitate trade in the East Asian Region, since most of trade liberalization efforts have turned out to be ineffective in multilateral basis during last decades. The East Asian Region, market is divided into two sub-markets: Southeast Asian market and Northeast Asian market. For the trade facilitation in East Asian region, it seems to be effective to utilize electronic trade for the establishment of a e-Trade Network incorporating the whole area of the East Asian Region. On the recognition that SCM is an effective tool to strengthen e-Trade Network, this paper suggests a conceptual model of global trade SCM model.

An Analysis of the Level of Maturity in South-East Asian Property Markets

Previous literature has argued that mature markets should have the ability to accommodate a full range of use and investment objectives, with the provision of a sophisticated property profession and its associated institutions and networks. As a consequence, maturity level can be seen to influence office investment activities. South-East Asian cities present an interesting array of property markets at various stages of evolution. Where each city is now and where it is heading is the result of a complex mix of underlying factors. This paper attempts to apply the methodology which has been developed in the European context to the South-East Asian market.

A Nation under the Influence: The Creative Strategy Process for Advertising in Thailand

Thailand leads the Southeast Asian market in advertising expenditures. Although numerous studies have examined the content of Thai advertising and compared it to its Western counterpart, no research to date has examined the process of creative strategy development. We conducted ten in-depth interviews among Thai advertising creative professionals from different agencies in Bangkok. Based on our findings, we provide insight to foreign companies that want to further understand Thai advertising and to successfully communicate to Thai consumers within their own cultural context.

Competition between the ports of Hong Kong and Singapore: a structural vector error correction model to forecast the demand for container handling services

The objective of this paper is to provide the Hong Kong government with an alternative forecast of container throughput, by studying various interactive relationships between major ports in East and Southeast Asia. As the demand for container handling services is 'derived' from the demand for imports, the resulting market shares for the container handling services gripped by different regions inevitably become a mirror image of the relative competitiveness of their exports. When the markets of the two ports overlap, their market shares will become a function of the prices they charge and how well they meet the needs of the shippers and shipping lines. A vector error correction model (VECM) with structural identification was set up to capture this kind of trade-interdependency and oligopolistic relationship in the East and Southeast Asian market for container handling services. In the course of so-doing, the upward sloping supply curves and downward sloping demand curve for the container handling services provided by Hong Kong and Singapore are identified from the model. Interestingly, the impulse response functions display what is reminiscent of the trade-interdependency and oligopolistic relationship. The forecast of Hong Kong container throughput generated by the structural VECM is then compared with that obtained by the Hong Kong Port Development Board (PDB). The sensitivity analysis shows that, in all possible cases, the structural VECM produces higher growth paths for the Hong Kong container throughput than the PDB does and, hence, suggests an earlier construction of new terminals.

A guide to intellectual property rights in Southeast Asia and China

G lobalization of the world’s economy has opened new, international markets to North American businesses. The “Asian Tigers”-China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailandare particularly attractive. This is because their booming economies have seen growth rates of up to 10.2 percent, compared with Canada’s 2.2 percent and the United States’ 2 percent, in 1995. These Asian countries, however, have the world’s worst records for copyright piracy and other intellectual property rights (IPR) infringements. North American trade to these developing countries has changed substantially in terms of export product categories. Developing countries have grown more aware of the importance of high-tech imports to their national economic development and have begun to import high-tech goods and services such as communication systems, information technology, and other electronic products. In 1980, 68 percent of total U.S. exports and 49 percent of Canada’s total exports were in machinery and transport equipment and other manufactures. By 1994, however, these figures had increased to 83 percent for the United States and 67 percent for Canada. Among the manufacturing exports, a substantial amount is attributed to high-tech products. For instance, the priority sectors for exports to developing countries identified by Canadian External Affairs and International Trade include a huge variety-from agricultural and food products to biotech and pharmaceuticals, from oil and gas equipment to transportation systems. Weak IPR legislation and the absence of enforcement in Southeast Asia present a major risk for some of these businesses. Unfortunately, there is little published material on IPR protection with practical advice for managers. Most is in the form of legal texts, which are tedious for the non-expert to use. We have endeavored to fill the gap by providing useful information directed at small and medium-sized North American businesses entering new niche markets. Our guide summarizes current laws and enforcement practices in Southeast Asia and China, and provides tips on how best to try to protect intellectual property. One caveat before proceeding: This guide is intended as a planning tool for developing strategies and determining the initial feasibility of entering the Southeast Asian market. Specific legal advice should be obtained before finalizing your plans.

Graphic Arts Film and Chemistry to South East Asia: A Case Study

Du Pont′s strategy of supplying graphic arts film and chemistry to the South East Asian market from Australia rather than the United States or Japan is examined. Geographical factors are discussed and the idea that customer service to South East Asia would be greatly improved is expounded. Manufacturing and distribution approaches are also outlined as factors behind the strategy.

The Market Economies Of Southeast Asia In 1986

The weighted average growth in the ASEAN countries as a whole fell from 4.6 per cent in 1984 to 0.5 per cent in 1985. In the course of 1985, expectations were that growth would pick up in 1986 but this did not materialize, and the Nomura Research Institute estimates 1986 growth to be in the order of 0.6 per cent (report in the Business Times [Singapore], 19 December 1986). Commodity prices continued to fall and the failure of the indus trialized countries to show strong growth adversely affected the performance of the Southeast Asian market economies. Real output in the industrialized countries grew by only 2.7 per cent in 1986 as compared to 3.0 per cent in 1985. While ASEAN countries used to grow faster than the industrialized countries, only Thailand and Brunei recorded a higher rate of growth than the industrialized countries in 1986. However there are signs that this poor performance ? poor relative to earlier years ? can be reversed in 1987 with overall growth averaging a modest 2 per cent. The world economy is in a transition phase, adapting to major changes such as a large shift in the pattern of exchange rates, sharp reductions in interest rates and energy prices, and the planned strengthening in the U.S. fiscal position. For the industrial countries the key policy issue is how to sustain a satisfactory rate of demand growth while working toward the elimination of the financial imbalances between countries that have threatened the sustainability of expansion (International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook, October 1986). The year 1986 saw the beginnings of profound changes to Asian economies brought about by the 22 September 1985 summit of Finance Ministers from the five major industrial nations. This summit agreed on concerted steps to weaken the dollar, particularly against the yen. The yen has since then strengthened by about 40 per cent against the dollar. Japan's exports have become more expensive and its overseas sales have dropped in yen terms, driving down the country's growth rate which in fact turned negative in real terms in the first quarter of 1986. Consequently the Asian nations that compete with Japan for export markets, particularly those which are linked to the dollar, are enjoying a boom such as South Korea, Taiwan and Hongkong. Cheap oil and low interest rates have added to the windfall. However only Thailand among the market Southeast Asian economies has shown growth, comparable to 1985, of about 4 per cent for 1986. Singapore is expected to grow by about 1.9 per cent in real terms for 1986, itself a significant reversal from the minus 1.8 per cent in 1985 while Malaysia is expected to grow by about 1.0 per cent, also an improvement over the minus 1.0 per cent growth of 1985. Brunei's expected growth for 1986 is estimated by the Nomura Research Institute to be 4 per cent. According to that same source, the Philippines is expected to decline by 0.1 per cent and Indonesia by 1.1 per cent in 1986, the Philippine figure a significant improvement over the 3.8 per cent decline in 1985. Of all the market Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia has worsened most in its 1986 economic position as it had a positive 1.3 per

The Export Competitive Power of Japanese Capital Goods in the Southeast Asian Markets

The Export Competitive Power of Japanese Capital Goods in the Southeast Asian Markets