East Asia

The Finance Ministry of Hong Kong announced on Friday that CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong conglomerate, plans to invest $1 Billion to upgrade its ports operations in Pakistan. The ministry released a statement saying that "Hutchison Ports has presented their $1 billion investment plan, which is aimed at upgrading existing terminals in order to improve operational efficiency, logistic connectivity, and automation." The proposed investment was not time-limited. Hutchison Ports said in a statement that the investment was expected to generate revenue of at least $4 billion over the next 25-years through royalties, rents, and tax contributions. The announcement...

These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. On Tuesday, over 45,000 dockworkers in the United States represented by the International Longshoremen's Association ratified a six-year contract. This formalized a deal that briefly halted work at ports from Maine to Texas last October. The U.S. and Ukraine have agreed on a deal for mineral rights that could be finalized by Friday during a meeting at the White House between U.S. president Donald Trump, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy. BlackRock has removed all references to its...

Chimbusco Pan Nation, a marine fuel supplier, announced on Friday it had delivered the largest amount of marine biofuel in Hong Kong. This is also the largest volume ever recorded for a single delivery in Chinese ports. According to sources in the bunker industry, recent marine biofuel stem sizes can range from 300 to 3,050 metric tons. However, stems can be bigger depending on specific needs. Chimbusco delivered 5,500 tons B24 marine biofuel in a single shipment to the vessel Xin Los Angeles this week, according to a statement posted online. The company said that it supplied more than 44,400...

Sources from the industry and government said that Peru will enter 10 new markets this year for its agricultural exports, including Indonesia, Israel and the Philippines, as the South American nation posted strong shipments. According to data from the government, Peru's agricultural exports increased by 22% last year to $12.8 billion. In a press briefing, Julio Perez of the Peruvian exporters' association ADEX said that the goal was to expand into at least 10 new countries this year, including the Philippines, and Israel. This would consolidate Peru's presence in Asia and Middle East. Perez stated that while the United States...

Iron ore futures fell on Monday, as fears over supply disruptions due to cyclones in Australia eased following the reopening local ports. However, positive data from top consumer China helped limit losses. The May contract for iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange matched some losses earlier to finish daytime trading 0.92% lower, at 806.5 Yuan ($111.26). Earlier in the session, the contract reached its lowest level since 16 January at 790 Yuan per ton. By 0710 GMT the benchmark March iron ore traded on the Singapore Exchange had fallen 0.19% to $105.95 per ton, after having hit its lowest...

Iron ore futures prices fell on Monday as fears over supply disruptions due to cyclones in Australia, a major supplier, eased following the reopening local iron ore port. As of 0143 GMT, the most traded May iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was trading 2.27% lower. It was 795.5 Yuan ($109.78), per metric ton. Earlier in the session, the contract reached its lowest level since 16 January at 790 Yuan per ton. The benchmark March ore price on the Singapore Exchange fell 1.46%, to $104.6 per ton. This is the lowest since the 6th of February. Port Hedland...

On Tuesday, a group of nine Senators from the Environment and Public Works Committee claimed that the Trump Administration is illegally withholding funds previously granted to the states for charging electric vehicles. The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Thursday that it would suspend the electric vehicle charging programs and rescind approval of state EV charger plans pending a re-evaluation. The Democratic Senators in the Committee led by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse stated that the action was "in blatant disregard of law." Whitehouse requested any emails which would indicate if Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and advisor to President Donald Trump was involved...

LME data on Monday showed that the number of Russian-made aluminium in London Metal Exchange storage warehouses was up in January compared to December. The amount of Indian metal, however, fell. According to traders, the majority of the aluminium in LME registered warehouses at Port Klang in Malaysia is of Indian origin. This is what Western consumers are looking for, as many have refused to purchase metal made in Russia after it invaded Ukraine almost three years ago. Stocks of aluminium with Russian origin, or those on warrant At the end January, the total reached 164 475 metric tonnes, or...

These are the most popular stories in the British business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports. The Times British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and other airlines are asking the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to examine Heathrow costs before building a new runway. They fear that passenger fees will increase. AstraZeneca continues to pay Russian doctors and healthcare organisations despite the Ukraine War, citing a need to provide medicine globally and stating medicines are not under sanctions. The Guardian Great British Energy, the state-owned energy company in Britain, faces a difficult...

Investigators prepare to push forward on Friday with efforts to obtain the two aircraft involved in a crash in Washington that killed 67 people and raised questions about air safety in the U.S. capital. Fresh from recuperating the so-called black boxes from the American Airlines plane that crashed into the Potomac River after hitting an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday, scuba divers intend to salvage the aircraft and discover extra parts on Friday, Washington's fire department said. Overnight, boats will remain on scene for security and surface searches from regional, state, and federal regional partners, it stated. The National...

Private investigators plan to push forward on Friday with efforts to retrieve the two airplane associated with a crash in Washington that killed 67 people and raised questions about air safety in the U.S. capital. Fresh from recovering the so-called black boxes from the American Airlines airplane that crashed into the Potomac River after hitting an Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday, scuba divers intend to restore the airplane and discover additional elements on Friday, Washington's fire department said. Overnight, boats will remain on scene for security and surface searches from regional, state, and federal regional partners, it stated. The...

Truckers' transportation lobby said this week that a large grain transshipment center linking Brazil's heartland to the port of Santos was clogged by trucks unable unload grain quickly. According to a press release from ANATC (which represents 2.2 millions truckers), lines of up to 3,500 trucks formed at the Rondonopolis plant in Mato Grosso. The situation is alarming. Carley Welter said that unloading can take as long as 24 hours or 48 hours. Brazil's soybean program has a slow start due to logistics disruptions. Brazil's soybean exports fell by 1.3 million tonnes in January, compared to 2.4 million tons the...

After reopening domestic refineries after maintenance, oil loadings in Russia's west ports are expected to drop compared to February. However, other plants that were hit by drones may spoil this expectation. Two market sources stated that the exports and transits of Urals, KEBCO, and Siberian Light grades from Primorsk and Novorossiisk in March would be around 1.8-1.85 millions barrels per day. Calculations show that this is a drop of 8% per day compared with the revised lifting plans for Feburary. Calculations based on data provided by LSEG and other sources indicated that Russia's total offline primary crude oil refining capability...

A government spokesperson announced on Tuesday that Uganda would not start oil production in this year. This is a failure to meet a longstanding goal of beginning crude extraction from the western fields. Patricia Litho said, "Due unforeseen challenges we are not able to meet the target above," a spokesperson from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. She didn't give any reason why the country failed to reach the 2025 goal and stated that a new start date for production has yet to be announced. Uganda discovered commercial petroleum reserves in the Albertine Rift basin near its border to...

Thailand's government announced on Tuesday that it would suspend electricity to certain border areas with Myanmar to combat scam centres. This comes amid increasing pressure against illegal compounds which have captured a large number of people from different nationalities. The United Nations claims that hundreds of thousands have been forced into scam centres, illegal online operations, and other criminal activities across Southeast Asia by criminal gangs. This includes along the Thai-Myanmar Border. According to a U.N. 2023 report, the operations are generating billions of dollars each year. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy prime minister of Thailand, told reporters that the authorities would...

Some U.S. officials and lawmakers are citing a nearly 50-year-old treaty signed between the United States of America and Panama as a way to justify Trump's threat to take back the Panama Canal, provided they can prove that the waterway's operations are threatened. Some, however, believe that obstacles would arise if the U.S. tried to use the 1997 Panama Canal Neutrality Treaty - which went into effect in 1999 - to claim the canal. The treaty guarantees the canal will remain neutral and available to ships from any country. Since 1999, the Panama Canal Authority has controlled the 82-km waterway....

Three officials with knowledge of the situation say that Japan may offer support for a $44billion gas pipeline in Alaska to appease U.S. president Donald Trump and avoid potential trade friction. Sources said that officials in Tokyo believe Trump will bring up the project, which is a key part of the U.S. security and prosperity, at his first meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru ishiba in Washington, as early as next week. The overall cost of gas is causing Japan to doubt the viability the 800-mile pipeline that would link fields in Alaska to a southern port where the gas...

Three officials with knowledge of the situation say that Japan may offer support for a $44billion gas pipeline in Alaska to appease U.S. president Donald Trump and avoid potential trade friction. Sources said that officials in Tokyo believe Trump will bring up the project - which he said was important for U.S. security and prosperity - when he meets Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba in Washington for the first meeting as early as next week. The overall cost of gas is a concern for Japan, compared to other sources. Officials said that Japan is willing to look into a possible...

The Philippines' sovereign wealth fund would be interested in purchasing a Chinese state firm's. stake in the Southeast Asian nation's power transmission. operator, its president said on Tuesday, as the federal government seeks. to improve its oversight of the nationwide power grid. The wealth fund, Maharlika Investment Corp, revealed on Monday. it would buy a 20% stake in the National Grid Corp of the. Philippines, or NGCP, which in 2007 won a 25year concession to. be the Philippines' sole power transmission operator. Maharlika president and president Rafael. Consing Jr said the fund would likewise be interested in shares held. by...

The head of the Federal Maritime Commission will inform a U.S. Senate committee that the United States has choices to resolve the growing presence of China and Chinese firms in Panama. President Donald Trump has sworn that the United States would take back the Panama Canal however has actually given no more details on when or how he planned to reclaim the canal which is the sovereign territory of an ally. We require to increase assistance for American business seeking to do organization in Panama and throughout the Americas. Chinese companies must not be the sole bidders on agreements, Federal...

Travellers thronged train stations and airports on Friday, clutching large suitcases and gifts such as boxes of fruit as they joined millions of Chinese going back to their home towns to commemorate the Lunar New Year celebration with family. The vacation, China's greatest, this year falls between Jan. 28-Feb. 4 and marks the arrival of the Year of the Snake. The festivities generally supercharge companies such as stores, movie theaters and dining establishments as households delight in time together feasting and shopping. Authorities are specifically keen for individuals to open their wallets this year to improve the slow economy, and...

Tourists thronged railway stations and airports on Friday, clutching big suitcases and presents such as boxes of fruit as they signed up with millions of Chinese going back to their home towns to commemorate the Lunar New Year celebration with household. The holiday, China's greatest, this year falls between Jan. 28-Feb. 4 and marks the arrival of the Year of the Snake. The festivities typically supercharge companies such as shops, movie theaters and restaurants as households take pleasure in time together feasting and shopping. Authorities are particularly eager for individuals to open their wallets this year to enhance the slow...

Freight rates for Russian ESPO Blend oil loading from the Far Eastern port of Kozmino have leapt fivefold amidst an absence of vessels after fresh U.S. sanctions cut accessibility of tankers, three traders said and information showed. Higher freight costs cut Russian oil sellers' profits that are currently under pressure from U.S. sanctions and complicated logistics, while a lack of vessels in the region during the winter might lead to filling disruptions, traders said. On Jan. 10 the U.S. imposed the hardest sanctions yet on the Russian oil industry, targeting significant oil business, Surgutneftegaz and Gazprom Neft, along with more...

China's official data revealed on Tuesday that it broke its own record for new wind and sun power installations last year. The country has been accelerating its pace since 2023, when the country set a breakneck speed. It is aiming to reach its peak carbon emissions by 2030. The National Energy Administration reported on Tuesday that the installed solar and wind energy capacity will increase by 45.2% and 18.2%, respectively, between 2024 and 2026. It said that there are now 886.67 gigawatts of solar installed power, compared to 609.49 gigawatts in 2023. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, in...