Hyve expands Breakbulk portfolio in Asia

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Singapore, 13th May: Hyve Group announced to expand its Breakbulk portfolio in Asia, by launching Breakbulk Asia in Singapore in 2026.

Breakbulk Asia will feature the full industrial supply chain to facilitate business, spark collaboration, and drive innovation in the region. The new event will take place at Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore, running from 18th to 19th November 2026.

Today, Breakbulk portfolio includes events in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Under the GO27 strategy, which is a plan to grow and optimise the business by 2027 through strategic expansion, innovation and scaling proven products globally, the launching of Breakbulk Asia is a key step.

Mark Shashoua, Hyve CEO, said, “Launching Breakbulk Asia is a stride forward in delivering Hyve’s growth ambitions. It reflects our commitment to building world-class platforms that serve critical global industries and our ability to scale them with purpose.”

Alibaba’s profit up 77% in FY24-25

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Hangzhou, 15th May: Earlier this week, China’s largest e-commerce company, the Alibaba Group, announced its financial results for the year ended 31st March 2025. Revenues in the financial year were US$137 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 6%. Net income in the year jumped 77% over the previous year, reaching US$17 billion. Diluted earnings per share for the year were RMB 53.59 (US$7.38).

In terms of its B2B business, revenues generated from Alibaba’s B2B business in China under the Taobao and Tmall Group, mainly through its 1688.com platform, were US$3.35 billion, resulting in a year-on-year increase of 19%. The international B2B business under the Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, primarily on Alibaba.com, posted a 14% increase in revenues, amounting at US$3.28 billion. The B2B businesses only accounted for just 4.8% of Alibaba’s total revenues.

The Alibaba Group also released its results for the quarter ended 31st March, with revenues of US$33 billion, representing moderate growth of 7% year-on-year. Net profit in the quarter was 12 times the same quarter in 2024, amounting at US$1.7 million.

Eddie Wu, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group, was quoted, “Our results this quarter and for the full fiscal year demonstrate the ongoing effectiveness of our ‘user first, AI-driven’ strategy, with core business growth continuing to accelerate. Driven by strong demand for AI, Cloud Intelligence Group quarterly revenue growth accelerated to 18%, with AI-related product revenue achieving triple-digit growth for the seventh consecutive quarter. Customer management revenue at Taobao and Tmall Group grew 12% this quarter, reflecting the sustained impact of investments in user experience and effective monetization. Looking ahead, we will remain focused on our core businesses and continue to drive AI + Cloud as a new engine for our long-term growth.”

BOL’s profit up 6.3% in Q1

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Bangkok, 13th May: Recently, Business Online (BOL), a leading online business information service provider in Thailand, has reported its financial results for the quarter ended 31st March 2025. The company recorded revenues of US$5.4 million for the quarter, flat with the figure recorded in the first quarter of 2024.

BOL’s net profits for the three-month period increased by 6.3%, reaching US$2.0 million. Diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2025 were Baht 0.08 (US$0.0024).

The company attributed the increase in profit to the increase revenue in information services, in the results of both new and existing customers.

At the same time, BOL also announced the approval of the appointment of Mr. Loh Kok Leong as a director, replacing Mr. Erick Hamburger Barraza, effective from 13th May 2025.

Quick takes

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Less than one month to GED 2025

The 10th edition of Global Exhibitions Day (GED) will take place on Wednesday, 4th June 2025, the first Wednesday of June. Under the theme of “Exhibitions Unleash Potential”, this year’s GED will showcase how exhibitions empower individuals, elevate organisations, and drive economic and social growth through direct in-person interactions and connections.

Chiang Mai wins to host 6 international conferences in 2025

Chiang Mai, the northern Thai capital, won to host six international conferences in 2025, targeting to bring some 3,600 delegates to the city. It also made another stride in securing at least one international conference for 2026. The conferences will be held in different venues, covering various industries, including engineering, medicine, environmental science and social science.

HKTB’s GM of event and product development to step down

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced its General Manager of Event and Product Development, Raymond Chan, will step down from his role in two months. Joined the HKTB in 2012, he has held key marketing and public affairs positions in Southeast Asian and other markets. In 2023, he relocated to the Hong Kong office and in charge of leading several mega events.

120,000+ visits at Global Sources’ April 2025 Hong Kong Shows

Hong Kong-based Online-to-Offline (O2O) sourcing platform, Global Sources, concluded its April 2025 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), attracting more than 120,000 buyer visits. Separating in three phases, nine professional sectors were held, including Gaming, Consumer Electronics, Electronic Components, Mobile Electronics, Smart Home, Security & Home Appliances, Home & Kitchen Products, Lifestyle Products, Sports & Outdoor, and Baby & Children Products. Nearly 5,000 Asian suppliers showcased over 340,000 innovative products at the shows.