Chocolate is a beloved sweet treat for many people. However, not many people know where their chocolates come from, even fewer know that Southeast Asia actually has the suitable climate for growing cocoa beans and that Indonesia is one of the larger global producers of cocoa bean. As someone who occasionally dabbles in baking and has a weakness for chocolate, I am pleasantly surprised to discover that a chocolate confectionery company is listed on the Singapore Exchange – Delfi Limited (SGX: P34). Delfi Limited is the company behind notable chocolate brands such as Van Houten, Delfi, SilverQueen, Ceres, Goya and Knick Knacks. While Singaporeans may not have heard of some of these brands, they would be familiar to Indonesians and Filipinos who would have snacked on these established b

Singapore has one of the world’s busiest ports. Unsurprisingly, many marine and shipping companies, big and small, have made Singapore their home harbour. Aside from the large offshore and marine conglomerates such Sembcorp Marine and Keppel O&M, there are many smaller marine companies that call Singapore their home harbour. Today, we bring to your attention Kim Heng Limited (SGX: 5G2), an integrated marine and offshore company in Singapore. Listed on the SGX Catalist since 2014, Kim Heng Limited’s key revenue segments are renewable energy support services, vessel chartering, heavy equipment sales and rental and marine offshore support services in FY2020. The company also has 2 shipyards, fabrication facilities, 15 cranes as well as a vessel fleet of 11 tugs, 25 barges, 3 (Offshore

We all tend to take our water for granted in Singapore. Most of us do not realise that much of our water supply doesn’t just come from rain (through our catchment reservoirs) and water imports. NEWater plants actually supply up to 40% of our water needs and desalinated water supplies up to 30% of our water needs. This means that water and wastewater management solutions are essential to Singapore’s water security. As ESG investing gains prominence, water and wastewater management solutions is an area that lends itself naturally to sustainability and environmental concerns. While the winding up of Hyflux (confirmed on 21 July 2021, after 3 years of restructuring attempts) may leave a poor impression on the general public and investors, the industry is more than just a single high-profil

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, stocks of glove companies (both the supplies and the shares) were in hot demand globally. As healthcare providers rushed to stock up sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, investors rushed to buy the stocks of glove suppliers. In fact, the top performing stock on SGX for 2020 was Medtecs International, a supplier of medical consumables and PPE, with a stock gain of 2600%. While it has been more than a year since the start of the pandemic, the continued surge of the virus (including the more infectious Delta variant) has ensured that the demand for medical PPE has remained high. It is in this environment that Enviro-Hub (SGX: L23) has repositioned its business focus to recycling of e-waste and supply of medica

Singapore is internationally recognized as one of the world’s top maritime ports, accorded as the world’s Top Maritime Centre for 8 consecutive years by the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISDC) Index and the world’s Top Leading Maritime Capital Of The World for 4 consecutive years by Menon Economic’s Leading Maritime Capitals Of the World report. With such accolades, Singapore is home to many marine and shipping companies. While most Singaporeans are familiar with Sembcorp Marine and Keppel O&M, Singapore is also host to many smaller players in the marine industry that all play a part in our bustling port. One of these marine companies is Marco Polo Marine (SGX: 5LY) which has been listed on the SGX Mainboard since 2007. Macro Polo Marine operates regi

For furniture industry veteran James Koh, just like English poet John Keats, “a thing of beauty is a joy forever.” The 64-year-old Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SGX-listed, home-grown furniture specialist Koda Ltd is passionate about crafting aesthetically pleasing designs for customers to enjoy for generations to come. “Many have called the furniture industry a sunset industry, but until the day comes that we don’t need a table to eat from, or a chair to sit on, there will always be a demand for home furnishings,” Koh pointed out. “What we have done successfully, and will continue to do, is to be innovative – both from a product design as well as manufacturing standpoint. We’re constantly inspired to create well-designed and well-made products

For those of us who have been working from home (or in the office), sitting and slouching over our laptops has probably contributed to problems such as back pains and stiff shoulders. Such bodily pains are common and usually goes away on it on own. We have all experienced pain at some time in our lives and thankfully most of it is painful but short-lived. However, imagine if you have chronic pain that doesn’t go away. Such a life sounds torturous but is the reality for patients who suffer from chronic pain conditions. Thankfully, there are specialised services available to such patients. Listed on SGX’s Catalist on 30 July 2020, Singapore Paincare Holdings is a medical services group specialising in paincare services. They aim to be a one-stop provider covering the full spectrum of pai

As we spend more time at home, working or studying from home, some of us may feel the desire to spruce up our home environment. Getting the right home furnishing can make a big difference in how your home looks and feels. While most of us immediately think of overseas manufacturers for our home furniture, there is already an Original Design Manufacturer in Singapore listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX): Koda (SGX: BJZ). Koda started in 1972 in a small workshop in Geylang and has expanded to exporting furniture to about 30 countries globally, across Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. The Company has been recognised by Forbes Asia under the category of ‘Best Under A Billion Company’ in 2006 and profiled by CSIL Milano in its Top World Furniture Manufacturers Report 2006 as one of

Since 20 Aug 2020, Avarga has more than doubled from $0.146 to close $0.305 on 1 Jun 2021. Avarga’s strength is likely attributed to its 69.7% stake in Taiga (Taiga is Canada’s largest wholesale distributor of building materials, such as lumber, panels, doors, engineered wood, roofing and others). Taiga’s business has been flourishing due to the strength in home furnishings and the housing market in Canada and US. By extension, Koda may be another proxy to benefit from the surge in home furnishing spending trend. It is noteworthy that Koda is an Original Design Manufacturer / Original Equipment Manufacturer to its customers in North America. In fact, customers in the North America region constitute approximately 55% of its FY20 revenue. Its forte is in home furniture, and it is possi