maybe five. There are probably 45 now. It s a
huge growth industry.”
EPT’s business is commodity and price
driven, Phillips said, so it’s largely based on
where prospective buyers can buy and
transport the cheapest product pound per
gallon. For example, if the glycerinmarket is
hot in the U.S., the company will be export
more product in flexitanks out of the U.S. If
the market heats up in Argentina in two
months, then all that product will be
exported fromArgentina in flexitanks.
The industry is largely split into two
segments, Sims said, with the first endmade
up of Asia-based manufacturers – mostly in
China and Malaysia – who simply supply
the tanks and leave the customers to arrange
their own logistics and other transportation
services.
On the other end, he said, are “tier one”
’
suppliers that include EPTandmaybe three
other companies worldwide who move
product in a complete door-to-door
process – including trucking and ocean
freight – providing what he referred to as a
“turnkey solution.”
May 2014
| BusinessWorld | 83
