Strong demand, stable prices cited; China top tapioca importer
Kasikornbank sees bright prospects in the crop-trading industry as bio-energy demand has increased strongly, said Akaranan Titsiriwit, first senior vice president of the bank.
KBank has been supporting, through both lending and cash management, the tapioca and palm supply chains. Not only are these bio-energy crops, their prices are relatively stable.
He said China was the major market for Thai tapioca as a non-grain feedstock for ethanol production.
Half of Thailand's tapioca exports go to mainland China, and the rest to Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan.
The annual value of Thailand's tapioca exports amounts to Bt100 billion. Thailand is one of the three major exporters of palm products as well.
Even though the cassava harvest is only four months a year, starting from November, which means the demand for loans is short-term, the bank considers this crop low-risk because of the strong demand in the global market.
Akaranan said KBank was encouraging operators in the tapioca industry to use cash cards for payments so it can track clients' cash flows so the bank can understand this business more.
Bright prospect
"When we have more understanding of this business, we can offer more loans to them, as tapioca and palm are energy crops that should be grown a lot in the future," he said.
Loans for crop trading at KBank grow by 3-4 per cent per year, and this portfolio represents about 4 per cent of its SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) loan portfolio.
The bank expects outstanding loans in this category to reach Bt19 billion this year, growth of 3.4 per cent from last year.
Half of the outstanding loans are to retail and medium-sized operators in th be tapiocausinesses.
The bank facilitates financial support for tapioca business operators through both long-term loans for warehouse construction and working capital for purchasing raw cassava.
A tapioca business operator who is a client of KBank required working capital of Bt10 million to Bt12 million to buy cassava. Such a large business creates income for at least 1,800 individuals., stable prices cited; China top tapioca importer
Kasikornbank sees bright prospects in the crop-trading industry as bio-energy demand has increased strongly, said Akaranan Titsiriwit, first senior vice president of the bank.
KBank has been supporting, through both lending and cash management, the tapioca and palm supply chains. Not only are these bio-energy crops, their prices are relatively stable.
He said China was the major market for Thai tapioca as a non-grain feedstock for ethanol production.
Half of Thailand's tapioca exports go to mainland China, and the rest to Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan.
The annual value of Thailand's tapioca exports amounts to Bt100 billion. Thailand is one of the three major exporters of palm products as well.
Even though the cassava harvest is only four months a year, starting from November, which means the demand for loans is short-term, the bank considers this crop low-risk because of the strong demand in the global market.
Akaranan said KBank was encouraging operators in the tapioca industry to use cash cards for payments so it can track clients' cash flows so the bank can understand this business more.
Bright prospect
"When we have more understanding of this business, we can offer more loans to them, as tapioca and palm are energy crops that should be grown a lot in the future," he said.
Loans for crop trading at KBank grow by 3-4 per cent per year, and this portfolio represents about 4 per cent of its SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) loan portfolio.
The bank expects outstanding loans in this category to reach Bt19 billion this year, growth of 3.4 per cent from last year.
Half of the outstanding loans are to retail and medium-sized operators in the tapioca businesses.
The bank facilitates financial support for tapioca business operators through both long-term loans for warehouse construction and working capital for purchasing raw cassava.
A tapioca business operator who is a client of KBank required working capital of Bt10 million to Bt12 million to buy cassava. Such a large business creates income for at least 1,800 individuals.