https://www.scmp.com/rss/318754/feed News about the global transport and logistics industry with a focus on developments in shipping, aviation and rail particularly in relation to Hong Kong and China. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Carol Yang Carol Yang As drones become a common sight in China’s skies, authorities are shifting from one-size-fits-all regulation to a more nuanced approach as they seek to balance management of a rapidly growing fleet with the sector’s billion-dollar market ambitions. The country is promoting a new drone-clearance model in designated areas in Shanghai and in the southwestern province of Sichuan, a few months after abruptly banning all drones in Beijing, the national capital. A new WeChat mini-program – dubbed... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3355682/how-mini-program-helping-china-fine-tune-drone-regulation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3355682/how-mini-program-helping-china-fine-tune-drone-regulation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:26:59 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Businesses around the world are confronting a painful – and potentially long-lasting – rise in costs amid the US-Israel war on Iran, as global shipping firms introduce steep price increases to offset a mounting fuel crisis. In Shanghai, one of the world’s busiest ports, the price of shipping a container has already surged dramatically since the start of the war, according to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index – a gauge tracking spot rates across 13 global trade lanes out of the city. The... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3355536/businesses-face-huge-spike-shipping-costs-hormuz-fuel-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3355536/businesses-face-huge-spike-shipping-costs-hormuz-fuel-crisis-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Athanasios Platias,Vasilis Trigkas Athanasios Platias,Vasilis Trigkas Sun Tzu wrote that “fighting and winning all your battles is not the height of skill; subduing the enemy without fighting is the height of skill”. That maxim offers perhaps the clearest lens to interpret the logic of American grand strategy under US President Donald Trump. What many dismiss as inconsistency may conceal a patient strategic deception. The aim is not direct confrontation, but the quiet reshaping of the global economy in support of long-term US power. The US wants to improve its... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355267/us-quietly-plays-long-game-energy-dominance-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3355267/us-quietly-plays-long-game-energy-dominance-against-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 12:30:05 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday rejected suggestions that US pressure had shaped his government’s handling of a dispute over ports near the Panama Canal, as Panama seeks to stabilise relations with Beijing and renew a key maritime agreement. “The decision we made regarding those two ports was genuinely Panamanian,” Mulino said during his weekly press conference, after China accused unnamed “third parties” of interfering in bilateral ties. Mulino also expressed hope that... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355229/panama-rejects-us-pressure-claims-it-seeks-ease-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355229/panama-rejects-us-pressure-claims-it-seeks-ease-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 21:12:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Months of disruption through the Strait of Hormuz have prompted a rethink of global supply chains, with South Korea now following China in pushing to commercialise the Arctic shipping route to Europe. South Korea aimed to open a regular route through the waters by 2030, following a trial voyage set to debut later this year, according to a broader maritime development plan released on Tuesday by Seoul’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. “To prepare for the Arctic shipping era approaching after... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3355044/first-china-now-south-korea-why-asian-powers-are-turning-commercial-arctic-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3355044/first-china-now-south-korea-why-asian-powers-are-turning-commercial-arctic-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 23:00:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The opening of an expanded second passenger terminal at Hong Kong International Airport has rightly been hailed as a milestone in the city’s journey to bolster its role as a global aviation hub. It was encouraging to see praise from passengers using Terminal 2 on its first full day of operations yesterday. Operators must now remain agile in planning further enhancements to ensure the facility remains world-class. The opening marks the official completion of the airport’s HK$141.5 billion... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355016/terminal-2-relaunch-global-aviation-hub-milestone-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355016/terminal-2-relaunch-global-aviation-hub-milestone-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 22:46:04 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen More than 4,000 passengers were expected to use the expanded second terminal at Hong Kong International Airport on its first day of operation on Wednesday, a launch the managing authority described as smooth Some passengers praised Terminal 2 for its efficiency but said that more convenient boarding arrangements were needed. Hong Kong Airlines became the first – and so far only – carrier to use the upgraded terminal, with 36 flights scheduled to depart throughout the day. Fourteen more airlines... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354961/passengers-praise-efficiency-hong-kong-airports-terminal-2-opens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354961/passengers-praise-efficiency-hong-kong-airports-terminal-2-opens?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 00:02:21 +0000 Oscar Liu,Edith Lin,Cannix Yau Oscar Liu,Edith Lin,Cannix Yau Hong Kong authorities have set a cap of 10,000 vehicles for ride-hailing service permits, marking a key step in their long-running effort to establish a regulatory framework, with applicants who have owned a private car for a certain period likely to be given priority. The news drew criticism from both ride-hailing giant Uber and the taxi trade. Uber Hong Kong warned that more than 20,000 people would lose a flexible earning opportunity, adding that a lottery-like quota allocation would put the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354927/hong-kong-set-ride-hailing-permit-quota-10000-under-regulatory-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354927/hong-kong-set-ride-hailing-permit-quota-10000-under-regulatory-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 11:48:47 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese companies have found it difficult to secure offices, logistics facilities and retail space when expanding their footprints abroad, forcing some to put their global expansion plans on hold due to failed property strategies, according to a JLL report. The real estate services firm said 82 per cent of corporate respondents in a survey reported either paying more than expected to buy or rent properties, or wasting time in failed searches or prolonged furnishing, representing a stern... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3354678/property-challenges-put-chinese-firms-go-global-plans-risk-jll-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3354678/property-challenges-put-chinese-firms-go-global-plans-risk-jll-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren XCMG Group, mainland China’s largest construction machinery maker, aims to achieve annual overseas sales of 100 billion yuan (US$14.7 billion), luring more international clients by turning its excavators, cranes and specialised vehicles greener and more automated. Yang Dongsheng, chairman of the state-owned machinery giant, told reporters in a media briefing last week that the target would be achieved in line with the company’s ambition of building itself into a top-class machinery producer... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3354691/chinas-machinery-giant-xcmg-eyes-bigger-scoop-global-sales-green-autonomous-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3354691/chinas-machinery-giant-xcmg-eyes-bigger-scoop-global-sales-green-autonomous-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 01:00:35 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As the US-Israel war on Iran stretches past its 80th day and continues to upend global naval shipping, a growing number of Chinese investors in Iran are turning to railway and overland transport routes to keep their businesses afloat. While disruptions to ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz show little sign of abating, many are hoping that transcontinental freight links across Eurasia could become a more reliable option. Chinese trader Han Yun has spent recent weeks travelling long distances... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353363/how-chinese-traders-iran-are-keeping-business-afloat-war-capsizes-naval-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353363/how-chinese-traders-iran-are-keeping-business-afloat-war-capsizes-naval-shipping?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 06:00:07 +0000 William Yiu,Connor Mycroft William Yiu,Connor Mycroft Ten passengers and crew members were injured when a Cathay Pacific Airways flight from Brisbane to Hong Kong was hit by severe turbulence on Saturday, with one traveller saying it felt like “free-falling from a drop tower” as everyone screamed and items flew through the air. The passenger said the sudden drop in altitude lasted about two seconds and occurred two hours before the expected landing time, just as flight attendants were about to serve economy-class passengers their meals. Cathay said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354606/10-injured-severe-turbulence-cathay-pacific-flight-brisbane-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354606/10-injured-severe-turbulence-cathay-pacific-flight-brisbane-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 04:18:30 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China’s landmark Pinglu Canal has entered its final phase of construction and is set to begin trial operations as early as September, with a first shipping route linking the country’s heartlands to the free-trade port of Hainan, according to Chinese state media reports. The Pinglu Canal – China’s most ambitious waterway project in centuries – will stretch 134km (83 miles) from Nanning, capital of the southern Guangxi region, to the Gulf of Tonkin, known as the Beibu Gulf in China. The aim is to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354380/chinas-vast-new-canal-link-southeast-asia-set-open-earlier-expected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354380/chinas-vast-new-canal-link-southeast-asia-set-open-earlier-expected?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 03:00:06 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Three fully laden supertankers – including two Chinese vessels – crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, in a possible sign that Tehran may be starting to open up the vital waterway to more shipping traffic. The exit of the three very large crude carriers (VLCCs) came on the same day that Iran confirmed it had allowed 26 vessels to transit the strait – a hefty uptick compared with the level of traffic Iranian forces have generally permitted since the war began. The moves appeared to signal an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354378/2-chinese-supertankers-join-flotilla-exiting-hormuz-stand-appears-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3354378/2-chinese-supertankers-join-flotilla-exiting-hormuz-stand-appears-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters A Paris appeal court on Thursday found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash ‌that killed 228 passengers and crew in France’s worst air disaster. The verdict is the latest milestone in a legal marathon involving two of France’s most emblematic companies and relatives of the mainly French, Brazilian and German victims. Relatives of some of the 228 passengers and crew who died when the Airbus A330 vanished in darkness during an Atlantic storm... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3354402/paris-court-finds-airbus-air-france-guilty-2009-crash-killed-228?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3354402/paris-court-finds-airbus-air-france-guilty-2009-crash-killed-228?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 12:21:36 +0000 Daniel Ren,Ann Cao Daniel Ren,Ann Cao Chery Automobile, China’s largest car exporter by deliveries, expects its overseas sales of electric vehicles (EVs) to jump as much as 27 per cent this year, as a global energy crisis spurs demand for battery-powered vehicles. Zhang Guibing, the president of Chery International, said on Wednesday that pure electric and plug-in hybrid models were projected to represent as much as 70 per cent of the carmaker’s total deliveries outside the mainland in 2026. That would equate to roughly 1.05 million... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3354280/chinas-chery-sees-its-foreign-ev-sales-topping-1-million-world-wary-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3354280/chinas-chery-sees-its-foreign-ev-sales-topping-1-million-world-wary-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 23:00:11 +0000 Edward Yang Liu Edward Yang Liu As conflict in the Middle East sends marine insurance costs surging, Hong Kong has an opening to prove that it is more than a port city by becoming a trusted centre for risk pricing, legal certainty and maritime resilience. When tensions rise in the Middle East, the first signs of trouble in global shipping do not always appear at sea. Often, they appear in the insurance market. Premiums jump. Underwriters retreat. Shipowners rethink routes. Long before a vessel is struck, the cost of moving... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354092/how-war-risk-marine-insurance-can-set-hong-kong-apart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354092/how-war-risk-marine-insurance-can-set-hong-kong-apart?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠The ⁠US has ⁠charged seven Chinese executives and four of the world’s largest shipping container companies with conspiring to restrict supply, raising the price ‌of containers during the Covid-19 pandemic, Department of Justice officials said on Tuesday. The companies together manufacture about 95 per cent of the world’s standard dry shipping containers and conspired to ⁠restrict output and fix prices between November 2019 ‌and January 2024, the DOJ said. Prosecutors allege the scheme resulted... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3354151/us-charges-7-chinese-executives-and-4-shipping-firms-linked-container-cartel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3354151/us-charges-7-chinese-executives-and-4-shipping-firms-linked-container-cartel?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 21:03:25 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will largely complete the main structure of a new station on the Tung Chung line by the first half of 2027, using “community-friendly” construction measures to reduce noise. The rail giant said on Tuesday that it would finish boring a 1.3km (0.8-mile) tunnel in the next three months and complete most of the main structure of Tung Chung West station by the first half of next year. The new station is located west of Yat Tung Estate, a public housing estate in western... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354124/mtr-corp-track-complete-new-tung-chung-west-station-first-half-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354124/mtr-corp-track-complete-new-tung-chung-west-station-first-half-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 11:23:11 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Bangkok residents were digesting yet another avoidable tragedy on Monday after eight people were killed when a goods train ploughed into a city bus at a busy level crossing on Saturday afternoon. The train driver, who later tested positive for drugs, had also not received a valid operator’s licence from the Department of Rail Transport. A fireball erupted as the train struck the bus at the Asok-Dindaeng intersection, in a notoriously congested part of Thailand’s capital, igniting the vehicle’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353933/thailand-reels-deadly-bangkok-train-crash-its-latest-avoidable-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353933/thailand-reels-deadly-bangkok-train-crash-its-latest-avoidable-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 04:54:06 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse Hong Kong should not limit the number of vehicles licensed to provide ride-hailing services. In particular, every owner of an electric vehicle that complies with the regulations should, in principle, be able to obtain one on demand by paying the required fee. Normal market forces, together with fees and other licensing requirements, will be sufficient to strike the right balance. I have used ride-hailing services a lot recently. Knee replacement surgery has restricted my mobility, and I have a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353552/why-set-limit-hong-kongs-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353552/why-set-limit-hong-kongs-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 21:30:05 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng A second airport has become an eagerly sought feature for several of China’s largest cities, reflecting a broader shift towards airspace competition and multi-centre aviation networks. With dual-airport systems already in place in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, new projects in Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Chongqing are advancing even as concerns mount over long-term fiscal viability and regional traffic shifts. Second airports are being framed by local governments not only as capacity-expansion... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353103/chinas-high-flying-cities-set-their-sights-second-airports-competition-soars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353103/chinas-high-flying-cities-set-their-sights-second-airports-competition-soars?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 04:00:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A collision between a goods train and a bus killed at least eight people and injured 35 in the Thai capital Bangkok on Saturday, police said. Firefighters and rescuers cordoned off the collision site, with investigators seen peering into the burnt-out shell of the bus. Pedestrians were ushered away from the busy downtown intersection, which is used by tens of thousands of vehicles each day. “Eight people have died and 35 others were injured,” Bangkok police chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3353825/bangkok-train-bus-crash-kills-8-thai-pm-orders-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3353825/bangkok-train-bus-crash-kills-8-thai-pm-orders-investigation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 12:20:44 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s shipyards have mounted an astonishing comeback after facing down US efforts to curb their dominance last year, as they saw orders for new vessels nearly double in the first quarter of 2026. Chinese shipbuilders received 59.53 million deadweight tonnes in new orders during the first three months of the year, a staggering 195.2 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, according to data released by the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353147/china-tightens-its-grip-global-shipbuilding-grabbing-85-new-orders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353147/china-tightens-its-grip-global-shipbuilding-grabbing-85-new-orders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 14:30:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s economy first took off as a trading hub, and then as a global financial centre. Given its advantageous location, it’s only natural that it should be a logistics and transport powerhouse. It’s not for nothing that some of our most famous tycoons of the last century made their names in shipping. Since major ports along coastal China have taken some of the shine off the city, it is even more important that we stay competitive and maintain our strategic maritime edge. That includes... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 22:45:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A South Korean cargo ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz six days ago was struck by unidentified aircraft, the foreign ministry in Seoul said on Sunday, days after the fire-damaged HMM Namu arrived in Dubai. US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran had “taken some shots” at the Panama-flagged vessel and urged South Korea to join US operations aimed at restoring normal shipping through the strait. The vital waterway has been virtually closed since the United States and Israel launched a war... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3353065/unidentified-aircraft-hit-korean-cargo-ship-hormuz-monday-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3353065/unidentified-aircraft-hit-korean-cargo-ship-hormuz-monday-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 14:57:38 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Tired of petrol shortages and skyrocketing prices, Simón Huanca took matters into his own hands. The 53-year-old Indigenous artisan imported a Chinese electric car to navigate El Alto, Bolivia’s highest city, using the vehicle to transport both his family and the alpaca wool for his weaving workshop. He also installed a dedicated charger in his own garage, mainly for convenience, but also because there are only three public charging stations serving the vast metropolitan area of El Alto and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3353036/evs-surge-bolivia-amid-fuel-shortages-junk-gas-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3353036/evs-surge-bolivia-amid-fuel-shortages-junk-gas-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 08:52:10 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China’s flagship civilian aircraft maker is planning to upgrade the cabin capacity of its C919 narrowbody airliner to improve passenger experience and boost the plane’s chances of challenging the Boeing-Airbus duopoly, a source with knowledge of the plans said. Bigger overhead luggage compartments and drip-proof air conditioning outlets are among the design upgrades being sketched out by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac). “Comac has realised it must make passengers as... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352901/chinas-comac-looking-upgrade-c919-flying-experience-more-cabin-luggage-capacity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352901/chinas-comac-looking-upgrade-c919-flying-experience-more-cabin-luggage-capacity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 08:00:12 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing About 100 ships registered in Hong Kong or locally managed or owned are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz along with an estimated 2,300 seafarers, an industry leader has said. Richard Hext, chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, told the South China Morning Post on Friday that it was very risky to sail vessels through the strait due to the risk of attack, even though the United States and Iran had recently reached a temporary ceasefire. The United States-Israel war against Iran has... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353009/100-hong-kong-linked-ships-stranded-strait-hormuz-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353009/100-hong-kong-linked-ships-stranded-strait-hormuz-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 13:30:36 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China has moved early to help Laos plan its longest highway, the latest project in Beijing’s push to expand transport connectivity in Southeast Asia. The initiative underscores Beijing’s broader effort to strengthen its economic footprint in the region through roads and railway infrastructure, as it seeks alternative trade routes amid a fractious relationship with the United States. Laos is conducting route surveys for an expressway linking the capital Vientiane to its northeastern border with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352896/how-china-backed-highway-may-turn-landlocked-laos-trade-gateway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352896/how-china-backed-highway-may-turn-landlocked-laos-trade-gateway?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 23:00:11 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s shipping giants are bracing for a harsh new reality of persistent global volatility, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz shifts from being a problem of transit delays to a hard volume shock. With the crucial energy corridor still paralysed as the US-Israel war on Iran drags on with no clear end in sight, China’s state-backed shipping majors are doubling down on long-term contracts and creating new multimodal routes in an attempt to hedge against future shocks. Cosco Shipping Holdings,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352902/chinas-shipping-firms-brace-new-era-chaos-iran-war-drags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352902/chinas-shipping-firms-brace-new-era-chaos-iran-war-drags?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 13:30:06 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen The sudden collapse of Spirit Airlines is serving as a stark warning for the global aviation industry, as China’s own carriers just struggled through a disappointing May Day holiday marred by surging fuel costs and an embrace of the nation’s high-speed rail network. Hopes that the five-day “golden week” could provide a meaningful lift for airlines operating in China were dashed, as the US-Israel war with Iran, now in its third month, has caused fuel prices to nearly double. While no Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352759/fuel-shocks-thin-margins-why-chinas-airlines-should-heed-spirits-mistakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352759/fuel-shocks-thin-margins-why-chinas-airlines-should-heed-spirits-mistakes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 10:00:34 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A passenger bus collided head-on with a fuel tanker truck on a highway on Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and injuring four others, officials said. The crash occurred around midday on the Trans-Sumatra Highway in North Musi Rawas regency of South Sumatra province, when an intercity bus carrying at least 20 people struck a tanker truck travelling in the opposite direction, said Mugono, a local disaster management agency official. Mugono, who uses a single name... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352658/bus-and-oil-tanker-collide-indonesia-killing-least-16-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352658/bus-and-oil-tanker-collide-indonesia-killing-least-16-people?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 14:06:31 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Panama’s foreign minister has called on a group of opposition lawmakers visiting China to deliver a firm message defending the country’s sovereignty, as tensions over a wave of detentions of Panamanian-flagged vessels show no signs of easing. Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez said on Monday that the lawmakers should relay a clear message to their Chinese counterparts on Panama’s behalf. “I can only suggest that you convey that Panama respects China, but Panama first respects the Constitution of our... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352539/panama-minister-blasts-chinas-ship-crackdown-tells-deputies-demand-answers-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3352539/panama-minister-blasts-chinas-ship-crackdown-tells-deputies-demand-answers-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 18:01:22 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia is moving to reshape its ride-hailing industry from the inside, with officials saying the state has acquired stakes in app companies as President Prabowo Subianto seeks to raise drivers’ earnings and rein in commission fees. The move could mark a significant shift in one of Southeast Asia’s biggest on-demand economies, where millions of drivers for platforms such as Gojek and Grab have become a highly visible labour force and, analysts say, a potent political bloc. Last week, Prabowo... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352510/indonesia-caps-ride-hailing-commission-fees-8-radical-correction-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352510/indonesia-caps-ride-hailing-commission-fees-8-radical-correction-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 10:20:24 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese self-driving technology firm ZYT is edging closer to mass production of semi-autonomous trucks that can improve fuel efficiency and save logistics costs, likely to benefit the country’s manufacturing businesses amid a global energy crisis. The Shenzhen-based start-up, a spin-off from drone maker DJI, has formed partnerships with mainland China’s top six heavy-truck makers to produce models fitted with its navigation on autopilot (NOA) systems, with the first deliveries expected as early... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3352396/chinese-start-zyt-eyes-mass-production-semi-autonomous-trucks-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3352396/chinese-start-zyt-eyes-mass-production-semi-autonomous-trucks-year?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Seoul said on Monday that an “explosion and fire” had struck a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial Middle Eastern waterway effectively blocked following US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The foreign ministry said that, at around 8.40pm in Seoul, “an explosion and fire occurred on a vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company … anchored in waters near the United Arab Emirates inside the Strait of Hormuz”. There had been “no casualties to date” among the 24 crew members on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3352405/seoul-says-explosion-and-fire-south-korean-ship-hormuz-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3352405/seoul-says-explosion-and-fire-south-korean-ship-hormuz-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 14:55:30 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The United States will launch an effort on Monday to “guide” stranded ships from the Iran-gripped Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said, as two ships around the strait reported attacks. Trump gave few details about what could be a sweeping attempt to help hundreds of vessels and some 20,000 seafarers. Iran quickly denounced the move as a ceasefire violation. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that “neutral and innocent” countries have been affected by the Iran war, and “we have... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3352291/cargo-ship-near-strait-hormuz-reports-being-attacked-iran-makes-new-peace-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3352291/cargo-ship-near-strait-hormuz-reports-being-attacked-iran-makes-new-peace-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 17:04:40 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse Hong Kong should not renew the HK$3 per litre diesel subsidy when it expires at the end of June. Instead, it should use the funds to launch a crash programme to accelerate electrification of public transport, starting with the minibus fleet. The crisis in the Middle East has had a serious impact on fuel prices. In response, a government task force has recommended a package of measures to provide temporary relief, including the diesel subsidy to be paid directly to local fuel companies and a 50... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351844/why-hong-kong-subsidies-should-go-towards-food-not-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351844/why-hong-kong-subsidies-should-go-towards-food-not-fuel?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Tom Hussain Tom Hussain Middle Eastern governments are dusting off decades-old proposals for overland oil and gas pipelines, and urgently drawing up plans for new rail-sea transport corridors in a belated response to the wartime disruption of major maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. With the threats to these key shipping lanes and economic infrastructure set to linger after the multifront conflict between the US-Israel alliance and the Iran-led Axis of Resistance draws to a close, other... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352166/middle-east-states-eye-transport-resilience-new-logistics-corridor-bypass-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352166/middle-east-states-eye-transport-resilience-new-logistics-corridor-bypass-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A train hit a car in Indonesia on Friday, killing four people including two children, police said, days after another deadly train crash outside the capital Jakarta. The driver of the car involved in the collision in Central Java province did not see the oncoming train on a level crossing due to thick fog, local traffic officer Eko Ari Kisworo said in a statement issued by the police. The train then collided with the car, which carried nine people and was flung about 20m (66ft) before hitting a... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352180/4-killed-second-indonesia-train-crash-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3352180/4-killed-second-indonesia-train-crash-days?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 12:55:39 +0000 Aisyah Llewellyn Aisyah Llewellyn A horrific train crash that killed 16 passengers on the outskirts of Jakarta has prompted Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to pledge 4 trillion rupiah (US$230 million) to overhaul level crossings across Java after officials identified one such intersection as a key point in the chain collision. The pledge targets one of the key weaknesses in Indonesia’s rail network: crossings that are unguarded, poorly maintained or haphazardly created by local communities. Transport analysts said the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352157/deadly-train-crash-indonesia-exposes-severe-safety-gaps-dangerous-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3352157/deadly-train-crash-indonesia-exposes-severe-safety-gaps-dangerous-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 10:16:18 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The US economy accelerated at the start of 2026, expanding at a modest 2 per cent pace from January through March after recovering from last fall’s 43-day federal government shutdown. But the outlook is clouded by the Iran war. The Commerce Department reported on Thursday that gross domestic product – the nation’s output of goods and services – rebounded from a lacklustre 0.5 per cent expansion the last three months of 2025. The federal government’s spending and investment grew at a 9.3 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352072/us-economy-grows-2-january-march-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3352072/us-economy-grows-2-january-march-iran-war-clouds-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:50:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Operating costs for Hong Kong’s industrial and commercial sectors have jumped by 50 per cent since the start of the United States-Israel war with Iran, according to an oil industry representative, who has said distributors will pass on subsidies to customers. A taxi union leader on Thursday also called on the government to extend its subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) beyond two months if oil prices rose further. The government’s subsidy of HK$3 (38 US cents) per litre of diesel to support... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351977/industrial-costs-50-hong-kong-start-middle-east-war-oil-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351977/industrial-costs-50-hong-kong-start-middle-east-war-oil-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:11:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump said that a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices to spike to their highest level in more than four years which held into Thursday. With diplomacy between Iran and the United States at a standstill after false starts, Trump spoke by phone Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned him of “damaging consequences” if the United States and Israel resume their war on Iran. Meeting oil executives, Trump contended that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351904/trump-says-us-blockade-could-last-months-warns-iran-get-smart-soon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3351904/trump-says-us-blockade-could-last-months-warns-iran-get-smart-soon?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:59:59 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Emily Hung Matthew Cheng,Emily Hung Hong Kong will introduce a two-month subsidy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used by taxis, minibuses and school buses starting in May amid soaring fuel prices, while previously announced support on diesel costs for other transport operators begins on Thursday. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday that the interdepartmental task force monitoring fuel price movements had proposed a 50 HK cents per litre subsidy for two months, starting in May, to alleviate operational pressure... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351819/hong-kong-launch-liquefied-petroleum-gas-subsidy-support-transport-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351819/hong-kong-launch-liquefied-petroleum-gas-subsidy-support-transport-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:11:54 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong’s railway operator has deployed augmented reality (AR) technology to speed up construction of a station on a new link serving the Northern Metropolis megaproject to ensure it opens on time next year. The MTR Corporation said on Tuesday that the power supply had been connected at Kwu Tung station and AR technology had been adopted to hasten progress. “Applying the AR inspection system will allow us to simulate future scenarios and help workers carry out the assembly work accurately and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351747/mtr-corporation-using-ar-technology-fast-track-work-northern-link-station?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3351747/mtr-corporation-using-ar-technology-fast-track-work-northern-link-station?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:10:39 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Social media posts of Singapore politicians taking public transport amid the global energy crisis have divided public opinion online, with some users hailing the move as leading by example while others call it showmanship. Cabinet ministers, members of parliament and even a retired defence minister have followed with their own public transport posts after Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong urged Singaporeans in an April 7 ministerial statement in parliament to take public transport as part of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351744/leading-example-or-showmanship-singapore-politicians-train-rides-split-opinion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3351744/leading-example-or-showmanship-singapore-politicians-train-rides-split-opinion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:57:18 +0000 Aisyah Llewellyn Aisyah Llewellyn Herman Susanto and Dwi Aksan were heading from Indonesia’s capital Jakarta to the satellite city of Cikarang after a long day at work on Monday when disaster struck. Susanto, the head of the Indonesian Workers’ Federation, and his colleague, Aksan, were in the third carriage of a commuter train crammed with workers going home at around 9pm when it stopped to let passengers alight at Bekasi Timur station. The two men had hoped to rest before they reached their final stop, but instead, they found... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351713/survivors-describe-chaos-blood-and-twisted-metal-after-indonesia-train-crash-kills-15?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351713/survivors-describe-chaos-blood-and-twisted-metal-after-indonesia-train-crash-kills-15?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:33:12 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Last month, Hong Kong completed its first green methanol bunkering operation, a significant step in its efforts to support the decarbonisation of global shipping. As the maritime industry accelerates its transition towards cleaner fuels, this milestone signals Hong Kong’s intent to remain relevant. The global blue economy, defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and environmental health, is gaining urgency. No longer confined to environmental discussions, it is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000