Market
Information
Marine fenders are an integral part of most large multi-use docks
and piers. A well-designed fender system, tailored to specific vessel
requirements, will protect a berthing facility and vessels for many
years with minimal upkeep and/or future modification. The dock fender
system selected to protect a dock structure will affect both the
safety and economics of that structure for the rest of structure’s
life, even after the fender system is replaced. The job of the fenders
is to actually limit the forces applied to dock structures during
berthing.
Source: Internet
Malaysia’s Export of Fenders
|
Year/ |
Value (RM) |
Total |
HS Code |
4016.94.000 |
4016.99.700 |
|
|
| 1996 |
846,508 |
13,833 |
14,679 |
| 1997 |
1,104,733 |
- |
1,104,733 |
| 1998 |
2,514,766 |
31,500 |
2,546,266 |
| 1999 |
849,507 |
41,528 |
891,035 |
| 2000 |
66,301 |
142,235 |
208,536 |
| 2001 |
403,005 |
130,803 |
533,808 |
| 2002 |
894,302 |
383,030 |
1,277,332 |
|
Note:
4016.94.000 – Boat or dock fenders whether or not inflatable
4016.99.700 – Deck fenders
Malaysian Customs Duties Order
|
HS Code |
Unit Of Qty |
Import |
Export |
Sales Tax |
IL/EL |
Asean Cept |
Asean Pta |
|
| 4016.94.000 |
kg |
5% |
nil |
10% |
IL/EL* |
5% |
- |
| 4016.99.700 |
kg |
5% |
nil |
5% |
|
5% |
- |
|
*Required imports and exports permit, issued by Director General of Environmental Quality, Malaysia
Local Manufacturer
MSL Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd – Shah Alam, Selangor
Kossan Rubber Industries Berhad – Klang, Selangor
Pyrope Industries Sdn Bhd – Klang, Selangor
Sales & Marketing
Pricing
The prices are determined by the size of fenders and customers’ specifications.
Distribution Channels
Fenders are most commonly supplied to ports by contractors, who are
asked to provide fenders as part of a competitive bid for an entire
package of pier construction or refurbishment. The owner will almost
always receive the fender system that was offered at the lowest price.
Contractors feel considerable competitive pressure to provide the
lowest-price fenders that, they are told, meet owners’ specifications.
Because too little is known about what makes an optimum fender system,
owners feel a lot of pressure to allow after-the-bid variations from
specification, in order not to increase contractors’ costs “for
no reason”.
Source: Internet
Competition
In the implementation of AFTA, fierce competition is expected.
Currently, there are strong competitions from Singapore, Japan, Australia and in
the domestic market. One biggest fenders producer also claimed that China would pose
tougher competition soon. For international markets, the major markets for dock fenders
are shown in tables below:
Imports of Fenders in Major Markets
|
|
JAPAN
|
|
|
|
(in RM million)
|
|
HS Code
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
|
401 694 000 |
3.366
|
3.698
|
3.476
|
| Total Imports |
3.366
|
3.698
|
3.476
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Japan: Leading Suppliers,
% Share |
|
|
|
|
|
% share
|
|
|
HS Code
|
Country |
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
|
4016.94.000
|
1 Korea, South |
60.68 |
35.35 |
32.7200 |
| |
2 China |
5.94 |
28.24 |
25.53 |
| |
3 UK |
0 |
0 |
18.61 |
| |
4 US |
25.95 |
20.91 |
11.84 |
| |
5 Singapore |
3.99 |
3.30 |
7.77 |
| |
0 Malaysia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NETHERLANDS
|
|
|
|
|
(in RM million)
|
|
|
HS Code
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
|
4016.94.000
|
6.654
|
2.904
|
2.921
|
| Total Imports |
6.654
|
2.904
|
2.921
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Netherlands: Leading
Suppliers, % Share |
|
|
|
|
|
% share
|
|
|
HS Code
|
Country |
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
|
4016.94.000
|
1 Singapore |
40.25 |
38.07 |
60.94 |
| |
2 Slovenia |
13.08 |
20.31 |
17.38 |
| |
3 Germany |
4.30 |
6.56 |
6.13 |
| |
4 Not Known, In Intra stat |
6.33 |
4.68 |
5.10 |
| |
5 Korea, South |
9.88 |
5.61 |
4.78 |
| |
22 Malaysia |
0.96 |
1.66 |
0.00 |
|
|
UNITED STATES
|
|
|
|
(in RM million)
|
|
HS Code
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
|
4016.94.000
|
4.164
|
4.839
|
3.823
|
| Total Imports |
4.164
|
4.839
|
3.823
|
|
| |
| United States: Leading
Suppliers, % Share |
|
|
|
|
|
% share
|
|
|
HS Code
|
Country |
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
|
4016.94.000
|
1 China |
9.00 |
29.12 |
28.78 |
| |
2 Japan |
34.55 |
32.48 |
23.42 |
| |
3 Mexico |
20.83 |
13.00 |
12.86 |
| |
4 Australia |
5.69 |
6.72 |
12.09 |
| |
5 Canada |
12.10 |
8.12 |
8.11 |
| |
0 Malaysia |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
| |
|
Prospects
The use of local fenders in local ports
is still minimal. This is so as local ports authorities have no knowledge of the existence of
local manufacturers and their whereabouts. Another cause for this situation is lack of promotions
on manufacturers’ part to promote their fenders to ports. Another reason why local ports are reluctant
to use local fenders is because of poor presentation approach. No endorsement from the third party such
as MRB or SIRIM also contributes to the unappealing local fenders.
The lack of interest to utilize local fenders had prompted MRB and MREPC to help promoting local fenders to
Malaysian ports. Several visits were made to PTP, Kuantan and Kuantan ports. They were responsive to secure
cheaper fenders for future projects. The project consultant for PTP, for instance, believed that local
manufacturers have the capability to produce good fenders at competitive prices.
The belief that local manufacturers are not able to produce the big-size
fenders should be put aside as local manufacturers are now ready to
produce big size fenders. They also export their fenders to countries
such as Vietnam, Jakarta, Pakistan and Europe. The authorities should
play more vital role in supporting the use of local made fenders at
our ports.
Testing/Designing
Guide specifications and standards are not widely available, are generally
very old and do not cover all the important issues.
The most widely used fender test performance guide is the Japanese
Test Standard as published in 24th PIANC Congress, 1977 Annexure 4.1.
This standard is now in excess of 20 years old.
Fatigue Testing
Most fenders are subjected to a combination of the following internal
factors that effect fatigue live.
- Metal to rubber interface stresses
- Rubber compressive stress and strain
- Rubber shear stress and strain
- Rubber tension stress and strain.
Most fenders are relatively "understressed" and operate with strain
levels in the order of 100% where the ultimate strain level of the
rubber is approximately 400%.
Specification for Marine Fenders
MS 1385 : 1995 Marine fenders - Specification
for rubber materials
This Malaysian Standard specifies requirements for vulcanized
rubber used in marine fenders for ports. General requirements for
rubber materials stipulated include the hardness properties, tensile
strength and elongation at break, accelerated ageing, compression
set, water absorption, ozone resistance, tear strength and abrasion
resistance. Other requirements in particular the functional tests
shall be the subject of agreement between interested parties.
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