2024 : Sustainable Intelligence

The two concepts of “sustainability” and “intelligence” are the highly anticipated topics of the coming future. In order for the company to maintain our leading position in the industry, we must prioritize and operate with these two concepts in mind, for the sustainability of our operations.

The world is moving at a fast pace and we are at a point where many things are in a state of transition. Opportunities for our company to gain a competitive advantage come and go in blink of an eye. To keep pace with the natural rubber industry’s intense competition, we need to be able to adapt and employ the most up-to-date technology to enable us to move forward.

Our concept of “intelligence” is to focus on advanced technology with thinking and learning capabilities and utilize intelligence systems to keep the company in a leading position. Advanced tools such as Artificial Intelligence and automative and robotic systems will need to be explored and employed to eliminate redundancy in the work process and increase productivity, speed and accuracy. Investing in these advanced technologies will enable us to maintain our competitive edge and leading position amid intense competition in the industry.

In addition, the “sustainability” concept has played an inevitably important role during the last decade and will be even more central to business operations in the upcoming future. Not only do we focus on advanced technology and state-of-the-art facilities, we also prioritize operational sustainability, with ongoing efforts to reduce our consumption of energy and resources and Co2 emissions and initiatives to protect the environment such as cooperation with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Compliance with the principles of corporate governance and community and social engagement will also continue to be in our focus.

Lastly, as the global economy continues to contend with a slowdown, with high inflation, interest rate increase, default on debt payment and geopolitical conflicts being obstacles for businesses, we cannot avoid having to deal with these external factors. It is because of the expertise and experience of our management that we have been able to withstand the economic uncertainties and continue our good performance. However, we cannot underestimate this challenging climate and must always be prepared to cope with any challenges.

I believe that operating under the two concepts of “sustainability” and “intelligence” will enhance our group performance and recognition in the upcoming future.

2023 : Normalization comes with Challenges

• Keep up the strength.
• Keep growing and maintain a leading position, with a focus on sustainability and ESG.
• Be ready for any challenges ahead.

During the past two years, Sri Trang Group has demonstrated our outstanding performance, which has led our group to a stronger position and to become widely recognized as a leading company in the industry.

The pandemic era has been coming towards its end as people have resumed their normal lives. We are now entering a new, post-pandemic era. However, the transition from the pandemic era to the post-pandemic one has not gotten off to a smooth start. Political conflicts and war and the global inflation have conspired to cause a global economic turbulence that will inevitably affect many businesses in the years to come.

Looking back at our group, we have been able to build up our financial strength, immunity and creditability over the last two years. Nevertheless, we cannot underestimate the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead and must be ready to deal with any unforeseeable occurrences. I am confident we will be well prepared for any challenges.

In addition, our group will continue to focus on growth through sustainability. It is not only through the ongoing capacity expansion and increase in market share, and technological development and innovation that we aim to maintain our leading position in the industry. We will also emphasize the ESG angles of our operations with many sustainability initiatives throughout the supply chain in order to make our industry and our world a better place.

We will take this opportunity to attract the demand that resulted from supply reduction in some parts of the world with scale and speed and on the basis of sustainability. We need to make sure our expansion is on time. At the same time, we need to present to the world our environmentally friendly products with competitive pricing.

Lastly, I’d like to wish everyone a good health, both physical and mental, and encourage everyone to keep up the strength. I am certain that we have a very strong financial immunity and will get through this turbulent period with a great accomplishment.

Keep up the strength, grow through sustainability, and be ready for any challenges ahead.

2022 : STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY

2021 was best ever in the history of Sri Trang Group and it will not be the last.

Covid-19 will still be with us for a while and we are learning how to manage and live with it either through vaccination or adopting to different types of behavior. More than 90% of our people have been vaccinated with 2 doses and we are still starting with 3rd booster dose and the whole exercise should be completed by January 2022. We will do whatever it takes to make our people safe and healthy.

Having able stay healthy and strong, we will use this opportunity to speed up and to scale up our operation and expansion into the next level.

Already I am feeling 2022 will be another great year for us.

2021 : A Changing World

Covid-19 has changed the world. It has caused de-globalization, immobility, shutting down and locking down of the world economy and the movement of people of the world. The pandemic hits industries and economy hard and people are suffering and losing jobs in an unprecedented level. Worst still, the young and new graduates will have the least chance to get the jobs. The hardest hit will be more pronounced among those who are 20 to 24 years old. Most companies are in no rush to add in new staffs and there is a growing anxiety over job prospects among graduating students.

There comes a time when we heed a certain call, there are people suffering and there are hardship everywhere. We cannot keep on guessing day by day, someone, somewhere, somehow will soon make a change. Instead of waiting for a miracle, we should lend a helping hand and make the difference.

Though Technology is always our best friend and we are steadfast to engaging ourselves to better technology for business, we do need to unlocking the potential of our new generation. As a successful organization, we could do more for the schools and the students to be part of our business enhancement.

Government has rolled out New Job Incentive Schemes for new and young graduates. We will support and participate with full force. We hope with new generation, we can push through reform and convert from agricultural base to full industrialization and incorporate AI, robotic, sensor and digitalization to advance manufacturing.

We believe such a benevolent move is a pivotal part of Corporate Social Responsibility of a large and successful corporation like Sri Trang Group of Companies.

2020 : A Changing World

Trade war continues to escalate between China and US. This has caused serious damage across the globe. NR suffers due to demand disruption and many mid-stream suppliers went bankrupt and thus rubber price collapses.

Fortunately, Sri Trang came out from this global crisis unscratched due to our strong fundamental. In fact, we are growing stronger and more powerful and highly motivated.

Still, we have to stay vigilant and keep close watch on potential external pressure such as strong Thai baht, potential wage increase, Hong Kong crisis and demand stays slow and low.

While we will protect as many jobs as possible, we will continue to innovate and invest in more automations, more AI, sensors, digitalization, smarter factories and upgrade and more training in our HR forces.

It is, therefore, extremely important to realize the world today is different from the past. Either we adapt, improve, innovate, accept new technologies or we become irrelevant.

The world has changed!

2019 : Gen 2 (Generation 2)

The natural rubber expansion especially the great work of the past 10 years has pushed Sri Trang natural rubber manufacturing and distribution into the No. 1 spot in the worldwide natural rubber industry. Sri Trang has now the size, the economies of scale, depth and the dominance in the mid-stream supply chain and a force to be reckoned with in the natural rubber world for many years to come.

To ensure profitability and sustainability and to continue with our successful “Growth Strategy”, Sri Trang has further integrated and expanded into the downstream rubber finished product. The successful take over and acquisition of “Siam Sempermed Corporation” has given Sri Trang an edge and opportunity of a lifetime to go full steam into the manufacturing of medical gloves. The dream to complete the supply chain from top to bottom has finally come true and everyone in Sri Trang should be extremely proud of this moment and full of joys with our achievement. A sincere thanks to the 1st generation of Sri Trang warriors!

The synergy in securing our own raw material supply such as latex to support and grow our downstream medical glove manufacturing and operation is vitally important. Not only will it guarantee the smooth and no shortage in supply of latex but also guarantee a fair and sustainable profit margin for the group to fuel further expansion.

2^nd generation, will take over the glove expansion, which will mirror that of our NR expansion. Glove will continue to grow and expand at least for the next 10 years. Though this time the expansion of glove will be very different from that of NR. Most of new factories and management will be moving towards more and more automations, more AI, sensors, digitalization and smarter factories. Human factor will become less important and robotics and logistics will be taking over eventually. In other words, our labor intensive glove industry will be taken over by smarter automated process and eventually end up in less human and more efficient operation.

It is, therefore, extremely important to understand that the job today may be obsolete and not be relevant in the future as new expectations and challenges arise. We will continue to invest in our human capital in generation 2 in new knowledge, skills and health. Continual to upgrade and innovate the new generation as the demands on their time will grow 100 fold in the coming years.

“Gen 2” scheme for 2019 is timely and top management is totally committed.

2018: Year of Smart Sri Trang

Over the last few years, new trends have emerged that have had an enormous influence on how we work, interact, communicate and collaborate between ourselves internally. The business intelligence influences our organizations’ strategies, operations and investments in a wide variety of ways.

We, Sri Trang Group are realizing that our ability to change is a key source of competitive advantage and one of the most critical competencies that we can grow. Building capability of change and improve organizational agility requires positiveness to drive the possibilities structure and intent. Our main objective is to maximize the usage of resources efficiently and effectively.

In 2018, we are ready to embark on the journey by embedding the ability to change and building individual competencies by using a variety of tools of business intelligence. In order to make it happen, every staff has to think smart, act smart and work smart accordingly. Let’s go and move towards “SMART SRI TRANG”.

2017: Year of Target 9.5

An inspiration and a common sense that was born out of the process of 2016 Standardization.

2016 Standardization has transformed Sri Trang Group into a very productive, one cost, one product and one technology powerhouse. Sri Trang Group is positioned for a bigger growth in coming years.

To ensure Sri Trang Group is on track to achieve STA 20, Sri Trang in-house creation and phenomenon Target 9.5, will be implemented across-the-board in 2017.

2016: Standardization

Natural rubber market and industry has been going through the downturn since 2011. In 2015, the downturn has continued unabated and the price has been slashed since 2011 by as much as 80%. In 2016, we do not expect much optimism and believe price will continue to stay low until 2017. The world oversupply situation has improved but still needed to be further curtail until the equilibrium is reached between supply vs demand. We believe this equilibrium will reach some time in 2017. Then there is a chance for market and the rubber industry to stabilize and probably recover.

As of today, the casualties from the rubber industry continues to pile up and no relief is at sight for some time to go. To survive, Sri Trang Group has been prepared well since 2011, we have been working on cost cutting, productivity, HR matters, marketing and sales and technology and improvement on management. These continual improvements in all areas has made Sri Trang Group strong and efficient and the key success of our company.

2016, we have designated the Year of Standardization, where every factory will be targeting one cost and one technology. I believe with our size and scale, this will reduce complexities and simplify our production process further resulted in huge saving and making our products very competitive in the international markets.

I believe our management, after going through 2015 intensive management upgrading, all of us will be ready to face this new challenge. Wish you all the best of efforts and success in coming 2016.

2015: Year of Strong Management

Not only considered as one of the most significant factor towards the growth of Sri Trang Group, but also a great propellant behind all the success is the “Strong Management Team”, which has always contributed to and collaborated on the successful work during the past years. We recognize the importance of nurturing skilled employees, by providing our employees with endless learning, exchange of experience and continuous development of oneself, in order to utilize the skill towards the growth of the organization. This is to achieve a sustainable development for both the organization and the employees. We also support all the employees with high capability towards the possibility thinking. This allows our employees to show their performance and achievement to be acknowledged by their colleagues and the management.

2014 : Year of High Productivity

High productivity is further key-issue of 2014.

The main target is to ensure and to extend our position as a successful key player in the rubber market worldwide for the next years. This means that our main focus on productivity issues has to ensure high competitiveness as the most important economic concern.

The basis is not only the continuation of the successful started current productivity project, but also further improvement in all positions and departments.

Sri Trang Group is currently in a transformation process to a modern organization structure. As a worldwide active key player, we achieve yearly increasing turnover and steady growing number of factories and offices in Thailand along with other countries worldwide.

This mission does not only give us the commitment, but also opportunity to monitor and establish best practice projects in all our locations to achieve higher productivity, particularly in the labour intensive factories, including the restructuring of some key- departments, better communication and coordination between the factories and departments, implementation of a generally accepted and binding reporting system containing significant and valid key figures.

The main target of Sri Trang Group is always the success of the organization over all, never the benefit of a single department or person. In 2013, we have achieved a great leap forward and we are convinced with your support, cooperation and participation. Thus, we reach again this ambitious and crucial target.

Only increasing productivity and competitiveness benefit all our employees in terms of secure workplaces, higher income and standard of living.