Happy Springtime!
“Where flowers bloom so does hope”
We wish you a warm spring begin and believe good things are coming.
The historical town center of Kempen
Our office is located in charming Kempen on the Lower Rhine. The city is established in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia and offers many attractions in the local area. Walking distance from our office, we can reach the medieval village center. Time seems to have stopped here, and medieval half-timbered houses and cobblestones exude an incredible enchantment. The many small streets and alleys, as well as lovingly landscaped green belts, invites you to stroll and relax. It’s worth a visit!
Ever Given: current situation
The Ever Given’s trap had far-reaching consequences. The giant container freighter, which had blocked the Suez Canal for six days, is now on the chain. Egypt claims damages from the Japanese owner. The vessel blocked the Suez Canal for about a week in March. But not only the global supply chain was constrained by this situation, but also the operators of the Suez Canal themselves suffered large losses. The Canal Office had said that Egypt had lost between 12 and 15 million dollars a day because of the blockade. As a result, they are demanding compensation of 900 million dollars for the blockade of the Suez Canal. Until the sum is received, the container ship is seized as security. We will keep you posted when the vessel will start moving.
Happy Labour Day!
1st May is an international holiday to commemorate the workers’ movement and its legacy. Rights that we now take for granted were fought for by our ancestors with the power of community and by a great deal of courage. The dangerous workers’ uprisings taking place all over the world have finally led to improvements in working and living conditions. Nevertheless, even today, fair working conditions are not yet in place all over the world and human rights are violated every day. It is our belief to work consciously against this system, which is why we are questioning and controlling our supply chain. We feel obliged to select only business partners who share the same ethical understanding and respect human rights.
Merger of Sinochem and Chemchina is imminent
The Chinese state-owned companies Sinochem and Chemchina have been planning an amalgamation for some time. They have now been cleared by the Chinese Commission for the Control and Management of State Assets to carry out the necessary restructuring. The merger would generate a total turnover of around $150 billion, making the company even more competitive. Chinese analysts consider the different growth models of the companies to be a challenge. The companies have started to bundle their business with agricultural products by taking over the Syngenta group. This holding now includes the previous agribusiness of Chemchina and Sinochem. The stock exchange also welcomes the development positively, which has already led to an increase in the value of Sinochem at this point.
China REACH
The new China REACH came into force on 1 January 2021. The regulation, also known as China New Chemical Substance Notification, got remarkable key updates regarding notification scope, notification type, notification procedure, notification material requirements, and post-notification requirements. There are 12 new definitions for chemicals and corresponding obligations e.g. annual reports for selected chemicals. Also, the regulation selects three types of substances for registration and notification. The CBI protection for substances will be abolished by 31 December 2025. New-post registration obligations were expanded and the timeline for the new registration types has been increased from 30 to 60 days after the first time importing or manufacturing. Data required for record notifications have been revised. A new guidance document for this process is expected soon. We are pleased about the new regulations, which help us to provide our high standards.
