United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)
A blog about the Manufacturing Industries and Companies in the Philippines
United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)
MANILA, Philippines — SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. is putting up five steel plants with a total cost of P82 billion in the next four years.
In a statement, SteelAsia said the five steel plants are being built to replace imports, as well help create jobs and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
SteelAsia’s upcoming plants include those in Lemery, Batangas (which costs P18 billion), Candelaria, Quezon (P30 billion) and Davao City (P8 billion).
These three plants are expected to be completed by 2026.
Meanwhile, two plants in Concepcion, Tarlac, which are projected to cost P26 billion, will be completed in 2027.
SteelAsia chairman and CEO Benjamin Yao said the new plants would produce new steel products that are currently being imported by the country.
In 2022, the country spent more than $3 billion to import products like wire rods, billets, sections and sheet piles.
Yao said the products to be made at SteelAsia’s new plants would have applications in infrastructure and construction, as well as in various downstream steel-intensive manufacturing industries.
“We are building the mother industry for manufacturing. We are way behind our neighbors but we will catch up. And as we do so, our mills and steel products will create new manufacturing industries that will result in more jobs and higher skilled workers and economic growth, among others,” Yao said.
SteelAsia shared its expansion plans to President Marcos during the inauguration of the company’s P10 billion plant in Compostela, Cebu earlier this month.
Marcos cited the need to revitalize the local steel industry and pledged government support for the company’s expansion plans, with over 70 percent of all infrastructure, housing, power, industrial and other business developments in the country using SteelAsia rebar.
In the same event, the President directed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to update the country’s iron and steel roadmap to address issues affecting the industry’s growth amid domestic and global challenges.
Marcos also directed the DTI, the Department of Energy and other agencies to resolve the steel industry’s concerns like high power and logistics costs, which make up the bulk of production plants inputs.
As part of its strategy, SteelAsia has plants in Batangas, Bulacan, Davao and Cebu to cut transport costs and sell to customers at the same price across the country.
The Gokongwei-led carrier said it signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus to buy up to 152 A321neo aircraft for $24 billion, or around P1.4 trillion.
The company said this was the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history.
The deal covers firm orders for up to 102 A321neo planes, plus 50 A320neo units.
“The order is designed to provide Cebu Pacific with maximum flexibility to adapt fleet growth to market conditions, with the ability to switch between the A321neo and A320neo,” said Cebu Pacific CEO Michael Szucs.
“When finalized, the deal will be a significant milestone for the local airline industry and a testament to CEB’s unwavering commitment to support the Philippine growth story.”
The purchase agreement to finalize this transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year, the company added.
Cebu Pacific reversed a P14 billion loss in 2022 to make P7.9 billion in net income in 2023 on the back of stronger demand for air travel.
The airline said it flew over 20 million passengers on more than 140,000 flights in 2023, up 41 percent and 31 percent, respectively, from 2022 figures.
The company also earlier said its net income doubled in the first quarter of the year as travel demand remained strong.
Net income grew to over P2.2 billion in the first three months of 2024, higher by 108 percent over the same period last year.
In June, the airline announced a program to train more cadet pilots as it expands its fleet.
Airlines have roared back after the Covid-19 pandemic, with passenger numbers and revenues expected to hit record highs this year, trade body IATA said in June.
The International Air Transport Association said nearly five billion passengers were expected to fly in 2024 and revenues would near $1 trillion.
But airlines are also facing a sharp rise in costs caused by shortages of parts and labour, and challenges related to climate change.
Their total expenses are also expected to hit a record high this year, climbing 9.4 percent to $936 billion, IATA said.
At a Singapore airshow in February, Szucs told AFP that Cebu Pacific had a "shortfall in capacity" owing to aircraft grounded or delays in deliveries.
"It's just never been more difficult to keep the fleet flying," he said.
- With a report from Agence France-Presse
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