Bangkok Post, Thailand, Business Briefs Column.

Sep. 3--HOTELS AND OFFICES SPUR CARPET SALES: Hotels and office buildings are driving carpet sales this year in a recovery from the slump that started in 1997, according to Somboon Lohmahadej, Asean area manager for Nylon flooring of Du Pont (Thailand).

However, he said local carpet purchases were growing at a slower rate than the export market. Currently 80 percent of total carpet production in the country is exported with annual sales worth 2.5 billion baht.

Interface Modernform Co, Carpets International (Thailand) Co and Tai Ping Co control a combined share of 80 percent of total export sales. Thailand is the biggest carpet production centre in Southeast Asia.

"Du Pont (Thailand) sees a big opportunity for both export and local markets. Despite the difficult years, the firm is promoting its Antron carpet fibre among carpet producers, especially the main exporters," he said.

The firm projects sales of Antron carpet fibre to grow by 10 percent to 330 million baht by the end of this year. The total fibre market is worth 900 million baht.

WELLA PLANS B200M INVESTMENT DRIVE: Wella, the German hair-care and colouring producer, plans to invest 200 million baht next year to expand its production and warehouse systems in Thailand.

The added capacity would serve expanding businesses in Thailand and Southeast Asia over the next five years, said Suvannee Suttikan, retail division manager of Wella (Thailand) Co.