Q2 Newsletter 2024

Updated at: 12 July 2024

Welcome to our Q2 Newsletter, where we bring you the latest updates on market trends, shipping developments, highlights from recent trade fairs and Sasma team updates. This quarter has seen changes that impact our industry, and we're excited to share these insights with you.

All the best,
Team Sasma

Market & Shipping Updates

Shipping Updates

There has been a significant shipping crisis in the Red Sea, which is a vital route for 30% of the world's container traffic. This crisis, triggered by recent conflicts in the Middle East, resulting in drastically reduced maritime activity and causing container congestion. As of March 2024, traffic through the Suez Canal and Bab El-Mandeb Strait has halved, while navigation via the Cape of Good Hope has doubled.

Key impacts include:

Increased Travel Distances and Emissions: Longer alternative routes have increased travel distances by up to 53%, resulting in higher CO2 emissions due to more fuel consumption.
Economic Strain: There are higher freight rates and insurance costs, contributing to global inflation and negatively affecting regional and international shipping economies.

In recent weeks we have seen a drastic increase in container pricing, directly effecting our pricing.

Sources: World Bank Blogs, Dewry

Wheat Pricing

Wheat prices have recently hit their lowest levels in three years, showing weaker performance compared to corn prices within the EU. This trend is due to a larger than anticipated carryover in the EU and promising crop forecasts in Russia for 2024. Additionally, persistent wet weather has been affecting the planting plans of EU farmers. Consequently, wheat prices are projected to stay low in the short term, influenced by the combination of reduced corn acreage in the US and strong wheat outlooks in both the EU and Russia. How does this affect our industry? This means lower production costs, more competitive pricing, potential investment opportunities, and greater supply chain stability for wheat-based spirits and ethanol.

Source: Euronext

Sasma at ProWine, Singapore

At ProWine Singapore we showcased our current bestselling bulk spirits and bulk alcohol products – Bourbon, Scotch Whisky, Agave spirit, Rum and Neutral alcohol. Most of which are available from our own inventory.

From our Asia Sales Manager, Jolien Ten Broeke:

“Participating in ProWine Singapore was incredibly beneficial for us in connecting with our existing customers and attracting potential new leads. Meeting in person allowed us to have more meaningful conversations, showcase our products, and provide samples, which is always a great advantage. The event gave us valuable exposure, enabling new leads to learn about Sasma and our activities. It was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen relationships with our current customers and make new connections that could lead to future business opportunities.”

2024 Trade Fair Calendar

We are pleased to share our updated trade fair schedule. Please come and meet us!

Our team will be attending the following international trade fairs:

Imbibe London: London, UK, 1-2 July
Liquid Market: Vienna, Austria 5-7 September
Whisky Show: London, UK, 6-8 September
Whisky Live: Paris, France, 28-29 September
ProWine: Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1-3 October
Craft Distilling Expo: London, UK, 2-3 October
BCB Berlin: Berlin, Germany, 14-16 October
SIAL: Paris, France, 19-23 October
FI Europe: Frankfurt, Germany, 19-21 November
WBWE: Amsterdam, Netherlands, 25-26 November

Please contact your Sales Manager to arrange a meeting, or email us at sales@sasmabv.com

Sasma Team Updates

Our team is growing!

We're excited to welcome new colleagues to our Sales, Logistics, and Quality departments.

Recently, we enjoyed our third annual boat trip around Amsterdam. It was a fantastic time for team fun!

Logistics In the Press

Pim Schouten, our logistic manager gave an interview for a trade magazine. Enjoy this article in English here below.

What kind of business is Sasma?

Sasma is a trader of premium alcohol, bulk organic alcohol and bulk spirits. We are a family business founded in 2002 by Hans van der Kloot. 20 people now work in the office (in Zoetermeer) and we have colleagues from Spain, Bulgaria, Brazil and India. Not to mention our colleagues in the United States, because this is our sister company UltraPure. This company is independent, but also belongs to the van der Kloot family and we work closely together.

Aside from our office in Zoetermeer we have a dedicated warehouse in Antwerp (Belgium) and a warehouse of our sister company Ultrapure in Louisville, which opened this year.

How did you start working with us?

In July 2020, we had a bad batch of Chinese alcohol. It was so bad that we had to have it filtered with you!

How do you work together with us?

We work with one of our logistics operators on three different types of projects: denaturing alcohol from tanks with bitrex, mixing alcohol and also diluting and filtering alcohol if it has quality issues.

How is Sasma liking the collaboration together with us?

Cooperation is top notch! You are known for being very flexible, solution-oriented and customer-friendly. What I think is important is that this is in a business way, but also with a smile.

Furthermore, I would like to thank everyone we never speak to for everything they do for Sasma. Our assignments are often ad hoc and unexpected, but you always knows how to handle this well. The collaboration between our two companies is a good example of how all cooperation between two companies should be!

Sasma Logistics In the Press

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