https://www.scmp.com/rss/265840/feed Commodity market action from around the world with a focus on the commodities that matter most to investors in Hong Kong and China. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com David Dodwell David Dodwell As my wife and I quaffed our way through a sumptuous five-course South African wine tasting dinner at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) early this week, the world food crisis and global food insecurity seemed a very long way away. Yet as the US war on Iran approached its third month, with the Strait of Hormuz still blocked and a host of critical commodities hostage to the conflict, our FCC wine dinners must surely be in jeopardy. More seriously, millions worldwide may face much... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351187/iran-war-brewing-food-crisis-we-must-avert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351187/iran-war-brewing-food-crisis-we-must-avert?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen As key allies turn away and war costs soar, the US military campaign against Iran is spurring a growing consensus among Chinese observers and state media – that Washington’s unrivalled global dominance is crumbling. Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily issued a sharp critique on Thursday, warning that the United States’ shift from an “international rule-builder” to a “predatory hegemon” would ultimately undermine its prosperity and influence. “In the post-Cold War era, while the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351155/why-iran-war-surest-sign-us-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351155/why-iran-war-surest-sign-us-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Ann Cao,Iris Deng Ann Cao,Iris Deng The distant geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is sending shock waves through Asia’s semiconductor industry, exposing fresh vulnerabilities in the supply chain as shortages of photoresist – a critical chipmaking material – emerge as the latest weak link. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed since early March, supplies of naphtha – a key feedstock for specialty chemicals used in semiconductor production including photoresist – have been sharply curtailed. Produced during the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351192/asias-chipmakers-feel-heat-naphtha-crunch-hits-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3351192/asias-chipmakers-feel-heat-naphtha-crunch-hits-photoresist-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Burak Elmali Burak Elmali The Iran war has delivered a systemic shock to the Gulf’s security architecture and economic miracle. Two taboos were rapidly broken. The Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption and close to a quarter of seaborne crude, was paralysed for sustained periods. Iranian strikes reached deep into Gulf territory, hitting ports, energy terminals and airports with a frequency that exceeded attacks on Israel. War-risk insurance premiums and tanker charter rates surged... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350366/china-can-offer-gulf-states-more-just-security-umbrella?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3350366/china-can-offer-gulf-states-more-just-security-umbrella?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele Malaysia’s durian growers say they are in “survival mode” as an early bumper harvest collides with a surge in fuel and freight costs, squeezing an export trade built around getting premium fruit into China fast. Hot weather has brought harvests forward, swelling supply just as exporters face higher packaging, energy and transport costs, with the Iran war disrupting fuel supplies and making cargo more expensive. The strain is exposing the vulnerability of Malaysia’s durian industry, which has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351176/malaysias-durian-growers-survival-mode-early-glut-and-iran-war-hit-export-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351176/malaysias-durian-growers-survival-mode-early-glut-and-iran-war-hit-export-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:59:38 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Asia is entering a dangerous summer for food production as scientists warn of a “super El Nino” suppressing rainfall while the war on Iran drives up energy and fertiliser costs for farmers. India’s Meteorological Department has forecast a below-average monsoon, after two successive years of above-normal rains, while in Australia – a major wheat producer and exporter – a shortage of farm inputs and persistent dryness has reportedly pushed planting acreage to a seven-year low. Farmers across South... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350988/asia-braces-food-shortages-super-el-nino-iran-war-effects-collide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350988/asia-braces-food-shortages-super-el-nino-iran-war-effects-collide?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:38 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage China is backing Namibia’s bid to move beyond raw material exports by supporting the domestic processing of critical minerals and uranium. In a joint communique issued on Friday following talks in Beijing between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, China pledged to help transform Namibia’s natural resources into higher-value products through domestic processing and downstream cooperation. Namibia has exported unprocessed minerals for decades. It is now seeking... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350979/why-china-backs-namibias-nuclear-fuel-rod-production?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350979/why-china-backs-namibias-nuclear-fuel-rod-production?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:37:16 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing is putting its power strategy under the microscope as China navigates the impact of a shipping crisis in the Strait of Hormuz that risks becoming a long-term economic liability. Calling energy security a pillar of national stability, Premier Li Qiang on Monday convened a high-level study session of the State Council, China’s Cabinet, according to Xinhua. The meeting, focused on coordinating energy security and the sector’s transformation, was the latest in a series of policy discussions... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350896/china-confronts-middle-east-supply-shock-state-council-mulls-energy-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350896/china-confronts-middle-east-supply-shock-state-council-mulls-energy-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan For Tim Avanzato and the team at Lanca Sales, Monday marked the start of a high-stakes digital scramble to recover tariffs paid after US President Donald Trump imposed steep duties on almost all imports, including from China, last year. While the New Jersey-based company that imports and exports food packaging has become accustomed to operating under tariffs and adjusting its business around them, Avanzato, who handles global trade and logistics at the firm, said the refund process has... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350794/us-firms-dash-recover-tariffs-paid-chinese-imports-refund-system-launches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3350794/us-firms-dash-recover-tariffs-paid-chinese-imports-refund-system-launches?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:11:14 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye A Hong Kong whisky investment firm is seeking to raise up to US$50 million for its second private equity-style fund, pitching the spirit as a hedge in volatile markets despite a slump in prices across the industry. Rickesh Kishnani, co-founder and chairman of Rare Whisky Holdings, said whisky had been gaining traction among wealthy investors seeking alternatives to traditional safe havens. “This is the market where people turn to gold, but we’ve seen even gold not hold up in terms of... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350690/liquid-gold-hong-kong-fund-pitches-whisky-alternative-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350690/liquid-gold-hong-kong-fund-pitches-whisky-alternative-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Two enormous sandlike dunes at an old chemical processing plant in South Africa are at the centre of an exploratory US-backed project to extract highly sought-after rare earth elements from industrial mining waste. The Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project has US support through a US$50 million equity investment by the government’s International Development Finance Corporation and is part of accelerated US efforts to reduce its reliance on China for the minerals crucial for making electronic devices,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3350632/trump-backs-us50-million-investment-south-africa-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3350632/trump-backs-us50-million-investment-south-africa-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:48:59 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The outbreak of the war in Iran resulted in a spike in oil prices, which remain elevated despite the announcement of a two-week ceasefire. For cities heavily reliant on energy imports, the challenge is not only to cushion abrupt shocks, but to build a system capable of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3350118/amid-elevated-oil-prices-hong-kongs-stable-energy-system-boon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3350118/amid-elevated-oil-prices-hong-kongs-stable-energy-system-boon?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s food supply could be vulnerable to global price spikes triggered by extreme weather or global conflict, as international bodies warn the US-Israel war on Iran is worsening food insecurity worldwide. The country has sufficient staple grain supplies, but Beijing said the nation’s food sector still faced structural challenges, including a weak processing industry and a lack of high-quality crop varieties in some areas. These weaknesses could pose problems for China if global food markets... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350320/china-warns-food-security-risks-iran-war-threatens-global-supplies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350320/china-warns-food-security-risks-iran-war-threatens-global-supplies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:00:23 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren One in every six Asia-Pacific companies would face credit pressure from a prolonged energy shock arising from the Middle East conflict, as they deal with higher costs from rising oil prices and supply disruptions, according to S&P Global Ratings. Companies in the fields of downstream oil and gas, aviation, automotive, engineering and construction, and building materials would bear the brunt of the pain brought on by the war that has already sent crude prices up more than 30 per cent since the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350357/one-six-asia-pacific-firms-faces-credit-pressure-iran-war-energy-shock-sp-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350357/one-six-asia-pacific-firms-faces-credit-pressure-iran-war-energy-shock-sp-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia and Australia pledged on Thursday to keep oil and gas flowing between them as the Iran war’s continuous squeeze on global fuel supplies compels regional countries to deepen energy trade cooperation. Across Asia, governments have been scrambling for alternatives after crude oil and gas shipments from the Middle East were disrupted following Tehran’s move to choke access to the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli strikes against Iran that began on February 28. The disruption has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350345/malaysia-and-australia-strike-energy-supply-pledge-bypass-iran-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350345/malaysia-and-australia-strike-energy-supply-pledge-bypass-iran-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:32:50 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Geopolitical tensions are expected to further drive fundraising demand in the mining sector amid a commodities “supercycle”, although concerns over national security could complicate dealmaking, according to industry experts. Johnson Chui, head of global issuer services at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), said 2025 had been an inflection point. Mining and metals companies had become a key driver in the capital market as rising commodity prices, triggered by the energy transition and... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3350334/geopolitics-further-fuel-hong-kong-mining-fundraising-amid-supercycle-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3350334/geopolitics-further-fuel-hong-kong-mining-fundraising-amid-supercycle-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang China has issued its first map pinpointing seabed chemical elements in the country’s eastern waters as Japan also races to tap undersea rare earth resources and deep-sea minerals. The Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources published the results of marine geological surveys over the past two decades for the seas, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday. The result was an atlas charting the location, concentration and distribution patterns of dozens of elements in seabed sediments, including... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350168/next-frontier-china-maps-seabed-resources-japan-races-tap-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350168/next-frontier-china-maps-seabed-resources-japan-races-tap-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Though high-level officials in Washington have accused China of undermining global energy security by “hoarding” oil during the US-Israeli war on Iran, import and inventory data suggest Beijing is facing its own supply pressures as the conflict drags on. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday labelled China an “unreliable global partner,” alleging that Beijing has prioritised stockpiling crude over easing global shortages triggered by the war, according to a Reuters report. He also... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350180/us-officials-claim-china-hoarding-oil-what-does-data-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350180/us-officials-claim-china-hoarding-oil-what-does-data-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Gold has become a safe haven for many investors amid global turmoil, including the recent Middle East war. At the same time, volatile US policy has tarnished the appeal of the US Federal Reserve as a secure place for central banks to store reserves, creating a golden opportunity for China and especially Hong Kong. The biggest sign of shifting confidence came from the Bank of France. Radio France Internationale reported on April 4 that the central bank had replaced its remaining gold reserves... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349999/hong-kong-has-gilt-edged-opportunity-shine-gold-trading-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349999/hong-kong-has-gilt-edged-opportunity-shine-gold-trading-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil will require foreign partners to process rare earth minerals domestically as a condition for access to its reserves, a senior government official said this week, setting terms that could reshape how Chinese and Western firms compete for resources the country has long exported raw. “Our doors of Brazil to foreign investment are open, but our position has matured,” Leonardo Durans, a senior official at Brazil’s industry ministry, said at a press conference with international media on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350094/brazil-demands-rare-earths-be-processed-home-us-and-china-compete?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350094/brazil-demands-rare-earths-be-processed-home-us-and-china-compete?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:37:42 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Washington’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is threatening to tip Asia into its worst energy crisis in living memory, with peace talks on the Iran war stalled and no clear timeline for when oil flows might resume. The United States moved to seize control of the flashpoint waterway on Monday night, with US President Donald Trump framing the move as a way to force Iran to open the strait and accept a deal to end the war. Iran responded by threatening all ports in the Persian Gulf and the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350057/asias-energy-supply-breaking-point-us-blockades-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350057/asias-energy-supply-breaking-point-us-blockades-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:09:18 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong As China looks to central Asia for more energy supplies to offset shipping disruptions amid the Iran war, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang will travel to Turkmenistan to visit local gas fields and to attend a bilateral cooperation meeting. Ding, who is China’s top-ranking vice-premier, will kick off his three-day visit on Wednesday by attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the fourth phase of the Galkynysh gas field as President Xi Jinping’s special representative, Xinhua reported. Ding will also... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350028/china-turns-central-asia-us-blockade-hormuz-chokes-global-energy-flows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350028/china-turns-central-asia-us-blockade-hormuz-chokes-global-energy-flows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:30:02 +0000 Ralph Jennings,Mia Nurmamat,He Huifeng Ralph Jennings,Mia Nurmamat,He Huifeng As the Strait of Hormuz reopened and closed again this week, manufacturers across China are navigating a roller coaster of concerns rooted in supply and pricing volatilities. Soaring oil prices have already filtered through to processed fuel and petroleum-based raw materials that help power China’s manufacturing sector – the world’s largest – and a fragile two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States is unlikely to restore pre-conflict stability in the near term, according to industry... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349653/cancelling-orders-china-how-hormuz-oil-crisis-hitting-transport-manufacturing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349653/cancelling-orders-china-how-hormuz-oil-crisis-hitting-transport-manufacturing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:00:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In a rare and speedy move, the Hong Kong government is pressing ahead with diesel subsidies and toll cuts for the commercial transport sector as the global oil crisis escalates. The short-term measures are timely, targeted and reasonable. They are exactly what the industries need as they grapple with soaring fuel prices fuelled by conflict in the Middle East. The two-month HK$3 (US$0.38) per litre diesel subsidies for public and commercial vehicles, vessels and related industries as well as... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349641/hong-kongs-rare-speedy-response-fuel-price-surge-shows-preparedness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349641/hong-kongs-rare-speedy-response-fuel-price-surge-shows-preparedness?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s factory-gate prices rose for the first time in more than three years in March, in an early sign that the US-Israel war on Iran is starting to affect producers in the world’s second-largest economy. The producer price index (PPI) – a measure of factory-gate prices – increased by 0.5 per cent year on year in March, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Friday. The result broke a long deflationary period stretching for 41 consecutive months, with rising global... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349582/chinas-factory-gate-prices-rise-first-time-3-years-iran-war-bites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349582/chinas-factory-gate-prices-rise-first-time-3-years-iran-war-bites?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:32:34 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng While the world remains divided over the unresolved issue of toll collection in the Strait of Hormuz, some Chinese experts have proposed pegging fees to oil prices or using exportable digital tokens from China for settlements. If tolls were to be imposed in this strategic chokepoint for global energy trade, settlement mechanisms could be “innovative”, said Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University. “Tolls and settlements could be tied to oil prices or... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349545/hormuz-toll-debate-china-experts-propose-innovative-solutions-impasse-persists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3349545/hormuz-toll-debate-china-experts-propose-innovative-solutions-impasse-persists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China has implemented a new regulation on supply chain security that hands officials the power to punish any entities deemed to threaten the country’s access to vital resources and the free flow of goods, as Beijing confronts an increasingly turbulent global outlook. The 18-point regulation – which was passed and became effective on March 31, but the full text of which was only published on Tuesday – elevates safeguarding China’s industrial and supply chains to a national security issue. The new... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349351/china-enforces-new-security-rules-defend-supply-chains-global-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3349351/china-enforces-new-security-rules-defend-supply-chains-global-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Kolette Lim,Jean Iau Singapore’s economy will inevitably be hit by the global energy crunch even though it is in a better position to deal with the crisis compared with its neighbours, according to analysts, as the city state unveiled a raft of measures to help households and businesses. The conflict in the Middle East has roiled supply chains and sent fuel prices soaring in Southeast Asia, with governments scrambling to enforce measures such as fuel caps and work-from-home mandates. Singapore ministers in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349276/singapore-set-be-hit-global-energy-crisis-it-unveils-countermeasures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349276/singapore-set-be-hit-global-energy-crisis-it-unveils-countermeasures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:20:15 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Gold is likely to stabilise and resume its record-setting uptrend once Middle East tensions recede and new leadership at the US Federal Reserve adopts a policy of monetary easing, according to global financial institutions. The yellow metal would quickly rebound above US$5,000 an ounce as long as crude oil slipped back to between US$80 and US$85 a barrel, according to a report by William Blair, the US investment banking and wealth-management company. Lombard Odier, the Swiss private banking and... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349028/gold-may-reverse-course-once-iran-war-ends-fed-adopts-policy-easing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3349028/gold-may-reverse-course-once-iran-war-ends-fed-adopts-policy-easing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley A century on, T.S. Eliot’s poem The Hollow Men strikes a disturbingly ominous note: This is the way the world ends / Not with a bang but a whimper. With the way things are going at present, we could be about to find out which of these endings it will be. The hope is that the Iran-centred conflagration in the Middle East will not turn into a nuclear apocalypse and that the “whimper” will be merely a cry from the depths of global economic recession. But either scenario is possible while the Trump... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3348882/can-world-markets-ride-out-rest-trumps-reign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3348882/can-world-markets-ride-out-rest-trumps-reign?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The Iran war is rattling Asian chipmakers as damage to Qatar’s gas facilities chokes off supplies of helium, an essential ingredient in manufacturing products ranging from smartphones to medical scanners. Analysts warn that the supply disruption is expected to trigger ripple effects across the global economy for some time. Pradeep Philip, head of Deloitte Access Economics, said that while there had been considerable focus on the energy shock arising from the conflict, the crisis over helium... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348954/helium-supply-shock-threatens-asian-chipmakers-economic-slowdown-fears-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348954/helium-supply-shock-threatens-asian-chipmakers-economic-slowdown-fears-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:00:01 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia is accelerating the transition to clean and renewable energy while pushing for more investments in oil and gas projects, critical minerals and rare earth mining, amid the global energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict. In the past week, Jakarta signed a raft of deals with international partners to develop renewable and fossil fuel projects, aimed at achieving energy security as an insurance against the impact of heightened geopolitical tensions. Green energy could also... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348911/indonesia-rebalances-energy-policy-iran-war-spurs-new-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3348911/indonesia-rebalances-energy-policy-iran-war-spurs-new-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:20:59 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Stocks slumped and oil prices soared on Thursday after President Donald Trump vowed the US will continue to attack Iran and failed to offer a clear timetable for ending the conflict in the Middle East. The S&P 500 fell 1.1 per cent, with three out of every four stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 545 points, or 1.2 per cent, as of 9.52am Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.6 per cent. Major indexes throughout Europe and Asia also fell. The broad... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348851/us-crude-tops-us110-wall-street-falls-after-trump-vows-more-iran-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3348851/us-crude-tops-us110-wall-street-falls-after-trump-vows-more-iran-attacks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:28:54 +0000 Hao Nan Hao Nan A month into the Iran war, Washington still says it expects to achieve its objectives in weeks, not months. That may prove optimistic. The terms on offer from the United States and Iran barely overlap, and markets remain unconvinced a durable settlement is close. But one fact is clear: the war’s most consequential effects may be felt not only in the Middle East but across East Asia. It would be a mistake to see this as only an oil story. It is also about hierarchy. In East Asia, the war is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348429/how-east-asia-being-quietly-reordered-us-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3348429/how-east-asia-being-quietly-reordered-us-war-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong An oil-supply shock caused by the US-Israel conflict with Iran is complicating US President Donald Trump’s already fragile mineral-alliance strategy, analysts said, given the acute vulnerability of energy-intensive rare earth refining and critical metal supply chains to such disruption. Oil and gas are essential for the critical mineral industry, according to analysts. Hydrometallurgical extraction for rare earth elements and other metals, such as nickel and cobalt, relies on a suite of chemical... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348809/trumps-fragile-ex-china-mineral-alliance-plan-faces-cost-surge-amid-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348809/trumps-fragile-ex-china-mineral-alliance-plan-faces-cost-surge-amid-iran-war-oil-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:11 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick With one of the world’s highest benchmark interest rates among major economies, Brazilian importers who buy from China are turning to a state-owned Chinese credit insurer to sustain trade flows that reached US$158 billion in 2024. Facing working capital lines that cost upwards of two per cent a month, equivalent to roughly 27 per cent a year according to market calculations, mid-sized importers are securing deferred payment terms directly from Chinese suppliers through credit limits backed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348719/how-chinas-state-insurer-turning-brazils-credit-crisis-export-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348719/how-chinas-state-insurer-turning-brazils-credit-crisis-export-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:21:11 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Wednesday to design a road map for critical minerals supply as they seek to deepen cooperation in the sector amid China’s dominance of global rare earths. The two leaders also affirmed that Japan and France will maintain close communication in support of efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and establish a high-level dialogue on artificial intelligence, Takaichi said at a joint press appearance... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348694/japan-france-draw-road-map-supply-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348694/japan-france-draw-road-map-supply-critical-minerals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:58:08 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong China’s exports of jet fuel have declined sharply in recent weeks amid the US-Israel war on Iran, leaving countries including Australia and Japan facing a supply crunch and scrambling to find alternative sellers. China is Asia-Pacific’s largest jet fuel and kerosene exporter, but shipments from the country fell nearly 40 per cent month on month in March to 204,000 barrels per day, figures from trade data provider Kpler showed. The cutback is likely to hit hardest in Australia and Japan, which... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348642/australia-and-japan-face-jet-fuel-supply-crunch-china-cuts-exports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348642/australia-and-japan-face-jet-fuel-supply-crunch-china-cuts-exports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:22:29 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The US-Israel war on Iran has crippled exports of fertiliser from the Persian Gulf, raising the spectre of higher food prices if the conflict drags on. The disruption could hand China – the world’s largest fertiliser producer – greater political leverage over countries already locked in disputes with Beijing, though it is unlikely to weaponise exports, according to analysts. Global fertiliser prices have soared since Iran effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348573/why-spike-fertiliser-prices-could-boost-chinas-political-clout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348573/why-spike-fertiliser-prices-could-boost-chinas-political-clout?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has sufficient leeway to cope with imported inflationary shocks from Middle East instability, a monetary-policy adviser to the People’s Bank of China said, but the country must balance those pressures with economic-growth risks. Huang Yiping, a member of the PBOC’s Monetary Policy Committee, said that China was already experiencing upwards pressure on prices. But China’s consumer price index (CPI), a key gauge of inflation, has remained below its official target of 2 per cent in recent... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348567/china-has-room-imported-inflation-economic-risks-rising-pboc-adviser?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348567/china-has-room-imported-inflation-economic-risks-rising-pboc-adviser?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Themis Qi,Eunice Xu Themis Qi,Eunice Xu South Korea has become a focal point of Asia’s petrochemical crisis, a frontline economy suddenly forced to navigate the fallout from the Middle East turmoil while scrambling for alternatives. Its semiconductor and industrial sectors, already heavily dependent on imported naphtha, are now exposed to geopolitical shocks that are rippling across the region. South Korea relies on imports for about 45 per cent of its naphtha demand. About 77 per cent of those come from the Middle East. On Monday,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348503/asias-chip-industry-faces-naphtha-squeeze-and-south-korea-feels-it-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348503/asias-chip-industry-faces-naphtha-squeeze-and-south-korea-feels-it-most?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:30:13 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday she will consider holding talks with the Iranian leadership at an “appropriate” time based on the national interest as tensions remain high in the Middle East. Takaichi’s remarks come as prospects for a US-Iran meeting mediated by Pakistan remain uncertain, with US President Donald Trump later renewing threats to hit Iranian energy infrastructure if a deal is not reached. “I will judge the appropriate timing for holding talks based on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348442/japans-pm-will-mull-top-level-talks-iran-appropriate-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3348442/japans-pm-will-mull-top-level-talks-iran-appropriate-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:54:55 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Oil prices have surged amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, with attacks having disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – a critical chokepoint that roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil consumption moves through. With memories of 1970s stagflation still lingering, many are asking whether this is the start of another major oil crisis. Below is a concise look at prior shocks and what history suggests today. What happened during the 1970s oil shocks The first oil crisis in 1973-74... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348425/how-hormuz-attacks-stoke-oil-shock-fears-and-memories-1970s-stagflation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348425/how-hormuz-attacks-stoke-oil-shock-fears-and-memories-1970s-stagflation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse At least one of the world’s largest LNG plants remained closed on Sunday after a cyclone knocked out power to thousands of people in Western Australia. The outages were restricting already stretched fuel supplies caused by the war in the Middle East. Woodside Energy, which processes fuel from one of the world’s biggest offshore gas operations, said on Sunday that its Karratha plant remained offline. “We have commenced remobilising our workforce to some of our offshore facilities and inspections... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3348292/australias-karratha-lng-plant-closed-after-cyclone-amid-fuel-shortages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3348292/australias-karratha-lng-plant-closed-after-cyclone-amid-fuel-shortages?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:44:04 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal,Themis Qi Cheryl Arcibal,Themis Qi China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the country’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas, aims to further boost production this year amid geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices. The plan came after the state-backed company reported an 11.5 per cent drop in net profit to 122.08 billion yuan (US$17.7 billion) in 2025, owing to low oil prices during the year, even though it produced record-high volumes of the commodities. Its revenue in the period also dipped by... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348035/chinas-cnooc-boost-oil-and-gas-output-amid-middle-east-strife?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348035/chinas-cnooc-boost-oil-and-gas-output-amid-middle-east-strife?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:36:39 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China is urging companies to release their fertiliser reserves in time for the crucial spring planting season, as the US-Israel war on Iran strains supplies of key raw materials to the world’s largest grain producer. Beijing is also expected to keep export restrictions on some fertiliser ingredients in place beyond the spring, as it strives to ensure Chinese farmers retain uninterrupted access to vital agrichemicals at reasonable prices despite the Middle East conflict. Tehran’s effective... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347964/china-rushes-stabilise-fertiliser-market-iran-war-chokes-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347964/china-rushes-stabilise-fertiliser-market-iran-war-chokes-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Philippines is working with Washington to secure waivers and exemptions that will allow it to obtain oil from US-sanctioned countries and guarantee supplies, its ambassador to the United States said. The Philippines, which relies heavily on imported fuel, declared a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday to deal with the fallout from the Middle East war, including ‌the disruptions to oil procurement. “We are working with the State Department to get waivers or exemptions to purchase... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347899/philippines-says-it-working-us-obtain-oil-us-sanctioned-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3347899/philippines-says-it-working-us-obtain-oil-us-sanctioned-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:59:07 +0000 Dulue Mbachu Dulue Mbachu The Iran war has cut off a fifth of global oil and LNG supply, handing African producers “a structural advantage” in supplying global markets, although their capacity is hampered by factors beyond the Middle East conflict, according to analysts. “West and North African exports are largely insulated from the conflict, meaning barrels from Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Algeria and Libya are viewed as lower-risk alternatives,” said Grace Goodrich and Anne-Laure Klein of Energy, Capital & Power, a Cape... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347841/african-producers-may-have-energy-edge-during-iran-war-if-they-can-overcome-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347841/african-producers-may-have-energy-edge-during-iran-war-if-they-can-overcome-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:00:08 +0000 James David Spellman James David Spellman As war in the Middle East escalates, the financial fallout extends beyond energy price and supply-chain disruptions. Vulnerabilities in the US$3 trillion-plus global private-credit market are accelerating, driving investors to safe havens, while global finance undergoes a rapid transformation. China, the world’s largest creditor to developing countries, will feel the repercussions. This is the first real stress test confronting the vast lending empire. A meltdown was inevitable; only the timing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347602/why-global-private-credit-meltdown-would-hit-china-hard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347602/why-global-private-credit-meltdown-would-hit-china-hard?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:30:09 +0000