secure supplies

Manufacturers around the world are now racing to secure supplies of the scarcest components and materials, pushing up their prices.

It has gradually established a guarantee system for oil and natural gas supply emergencies to ensure secure supplies of energy.

The figures underline the increasing scale of the acquisition spree Chinese groups have embarked on to secure supplies.

This has spurred industrial consumers to scramble to secure supplies while speculators pour fresh money into the metal.

Ever since, it has become harder for Singapore to secure supplies for its booming construction industry and sea-fill plans.

This will make it tough for poor, rice-importing countries, in Africa as well as Asia, to secure supplies.

It also has been seen as a sign that Beijing recognises it must pay global market prices to secure supplies of LNG.

"Chinese buyers are coming to the market to secure supplies, as is everyone else, " said Richard Herselman at brokerage London Dry Bulk.

Last July, Apple made a $500 million prepayment to Toshiba to secure supplies of flash memory chips.

This has spurred industrial consumers to scramble to secure supplies.

Global demand for energy is rising steadily and the major powers are jostling to secure supplies.

What they want to talk to us about is long-term, stable, secure supplies.

It is keen to secure supplies now while prices are relatively low.

But this is Cnooc's fifth big deal of the past 12 months, suggesting a growing impatience in Beijing to secure supplies.

Cnooc is developing oil and gas fields off China's coast but also needs to secure supplies overseas.