Together, they have covered more than 10,000 km (by plane, train and car), in some of the most rural areas, to get an unbiased insight from the very heart of the Chinese bristles and hair industry. During three weeks in China, they visited 20 different factories in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces with one key objective: to find the best bristles in the world.

Exclusively for the Interbrush trade show, they shared their travel report with us. 

 

Despite the more challenging business environment in China these days, interest in producing hair and bristle materials seems to have regained some momentum in the country. The positive outlook of local workers and investors for the bristle business has improved, whilst activities and investment into alternative businesses have lost their appeal. Reinhold Hoerz and Wang Yong are optimistic that this swing will improve the overall supply situation in China.

As production facilities for bristle and hair materials continue to move into less developed areas, sourcing and logistics become even more challenging. However, thanks to DKSH’s sourcing network and infrastructure, these new sources in rural areas are still within reach for DKSH’s global customer base. 

 

Bristles are a by-product of (pork) meat production. As the Chinese meat industry moves towards higher manufacturing concentration, breeding methods and hog types are changing. The consequence is overall reduced availability of bristles in lower quality – lower stiffness and shorter length. However, in 2016 the situation has eased as one of the industry’s market leaders, Foxconn, disappeared completely from the market. Further pressure was taken out of the natural bristle market by DKSH’s active marketing of mixtures of pure bristles and first class synthetic filaments. Nonetheless, supply of long natural bristles remains tight and prices for these qualities are not expected to ease. It is clear that future economic developments will influence the bristle market, but the direction is difficult to predict.

Therefore, DKSH believes in a growing demand from the brush industry for mixtures of natural and synthetic filaments, whilst demand for high quality 100% natural bristles will likely top out. Thus, Reinhold and Wang continue to concentrate their efforts on sourcing the best natural and synthetic materials.

DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia. As the term "Market Expansion Services" suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets. Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered in Zurich. With 770 business locations in 36 countries – 740 of them in Asia – and 28,300 specialized staff, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 10.1 billion in 2015. DKSH was founded in 1865. With strong Swiss heritage, the company has a long tradition of doing business in and with Asia and is deeply rooted in communities and businesses across Asia Pacific.

DKSH Business Unit Performance Materials is a leading specialty chemicals distributor and provider of Market Expansion Services for performance materials, covering Europe, North America and the whole of Asia. The Business Unit sources, develops, markets and distributes a wide range of specialty chemicals and ingredients for pharmaceutical, personal care, food & beverage as well as various industrial applications. In addition, it creates innovative and cutting-edge concepts and applications in 26 innovation centers located worldwide. With 100 business locations in 30 countries and around 970 specialized staff, Business Unit Performance Materials generated net sales of CHF 782.5 million in 2015.

Visit us at: www.dksh.ch

DKSH will exhibit at stand 1.1.1 at Interbrush