The Weekly News Update is a weekly roundup of business news from around the Asia-Pacific region, covering Fusion Consulting's core industry practices: chemicals, consumer & retail, financial services, industrial & logistics, information & communication technology, life science and media & leisure. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.        China's personal care, cosmetics and toiletries industry   Product innovation in China's personal care sector is buoyant, but safety concerns  and regulations may become a barrier. Find out what's happening in the industry  and where the trends are heading. In collaboration with the PCHi exhibition.     Request free copy.

Consumer & retail

India - Rasna eyes ready-drink market Source: Business Standard, 4 March 2008 Soft drink concentrate maker Rasna has launched its read-to-drink fruit concentrate named Fruitplus, targeting kids above 15. The company is eyeing a 10% market share in the fruit-based drinks category with Fruitplus. Through this offering, Rasna will upgrade itself from being a player in the Rs4 billion (US$100 million) soft drink concentrate market to the Rs7 billion (US$175 million) fruit drink market, which is growing at 20% annually. Rasna holds a 93% market share in the soft drink concentrate segment in India and 82% of the in-house consumption of the soft drink market. Japan - Kirin keen to buy Aussie milk processor Source: Japan Times, 4 April 2008 Japanese beverage maker Kirin Holdings is interested in acquiring Dairy Farmers, Australia's second-largest seller of fresh milk. Australian giant Goodman Fielder and New Zealand-based Fonterra Cooperative Group are also believed interested in Dairy Farmers. Buying it would give Kirin more than half of Australia's milk and dairy market after it purchased National Foods from San Miguel in November 2007 to offset declining sales at its domestic beer business. Japanese beer companies are facing falling domestic beer sales as the population ages and younger consumers switch to wine and other beverages. Total beer shipments fell 0.3% in 2007 to the lowest level in at least 15 years. Singapore - Wyeth to expand milk products plant Source: Business Times Singapore, 8 April 2008 Wyeth is investing US$96 million to expand its US$170 million Singapore manufacturing plant to meet growing regional demand for its infant formula and milk products. The expansion will boost the Tuas plant's capacity by 50%. The Singapore facility will produce its key brands of nutrition products for infants and toddlers, including formula and milk products sold under the Progress and Promise names. The Singapore expansion marks the final phase of a US$500 million capital improvement project in the Asia-Pacific. The project includes previously announced investments in its nutrition manufacturing and supply operations in China and the Philippines.     View an example of our experience in this industry. Back to list of articles.  Visit our website to sign up for free intelligence on Asian markets.

This Weekly News Update is a free newsletter, providing a round-up of the week's Asia-Pacific news from our core industry practices. If you have colleagues or friends who may be interested in subscribing, please forward this email to them and copy knowledge@fusionc.com.

Fusion Consulting is a business intelligence consultancy providing clear strategic advice on Asia-Pacific markets. With offices in Shanghai, Singapore and Hong Kong and 400 industry consultants in 16 countries, we conduct custom research and consulting to help companies understand their markets, compete more effectively and grow into new areas of opportunity. Email more@fusionc.com or visit www.fusionc.com for more information.