East Asia

The race to secure the critical minerals is opening up new opportunities for countries that have the fortune to possess the right deposits. The goal is to extract as much value from the metal?riches' in the earth as possible. The obvious answer is to process the ore. Smelters that convert ore to metal are not only more valuable, but also offer a path to economic and industrial development. It's a way for Western policymakers to loosen China's grip over midstream capacity in many critical metals. According to a joint study by the consultancy CRU, and the World Bank, the number...

Shipping data revealed that the number of tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz dropped to its lowest level in two months in the last day, after renewed strikes between Iran and the U.S.?and attacks against vessels raised safety concerns. Shipping industry sources say that vessels are increasingly turning off their public AIS?transponders. This makes it difficult to count the total number of ships on the waterway. According to Kpler's analysis, based on the data available, oil and gas tanker traffic has fallen to its lowest levels since May 25. In a recent report, ship broker Gibson stated that the world...

Bamboo bridges and road?closures helped protect Taiwan's biggest terrestrial crab species when they returned to the sea during breeding season. Taijiang National Park, located in southern Taiwan's city of Tainan, is home to the largest number of mangrove land crabs on the island. During the breeding season from July to September, female crabs descend to 'the sea' to release their eggs. However, because their migration route crosses roads, they are vulnerable to being hit by cars. Taijiang National Park 'Director Chen Junshan said that the road closures, bamboo bridges and other measures have reduced roadkill -and helped increase crab numbers...

Georgia's economy minister announced on Monday that the country will be taking over full development of the country's first deep water port on the Black Sea. This is the first definite indication that the Chinese-Singaporean consortium has pulled out of the project. Anaklia Deep Sea Port, originally planned as an important infrastructure link connecting Asia with Europe a decade earlier, has been plagued by delays since the Georgian Government in 2020 canceled a contract awarded to a Western-led group?to build it. The port will be the most ambitious infrastructure project in the country to date. It aims to handle approximately...

Three Iranian and Western sources confirmed that Iran has started 'talks' to sell oil to Japanese companies, but 'potential buyers' are requesting a longer U.S. sanction waiver and assurances about safe shipping conditions in Gulf. In June, the United States authorised Iranian oil exports. This was a significant step in easing decades-old sanctions and paving the way for a final peace agreement with Tehran. The deal would be in exchange for nuclear inspections?and freedom of movement through?the Strait of Hormuz?. China has been the largest buyer of Iranian oil over the past few years, after South Korea, Japan and Europe...

MBK Partners Actis and Bain Capital are among the bidders of KKR's Central Tank Terminal - a Japanese liquid storing company. The deal could be worth over $600,000,000 including debt. One of the sources said that binding bids must be submitted by August. Sources spoke under condition of anonymity as the matter is private. KKR Capital and Bain Capital declined comment. Actis stated that it does not comment on speculation about deals. MBK or Central Tank Terminal didn't immediately?response to a comment request. Central Tank Terminal stores and?handles liquid goods, including oil products, chemicals and other cargoes, near major Japanese...

Four industry sources have said that the London Metal Exchange may ease rules to boost Hong Kong's status as a "metals location", including allowing aluminium storage outside. This is in line with China's "drive" for greater influence on global metals markets. Hong Kong was designated as an LME warehouse in July 2025. However, very little metal has actually been deposited since then. Two sources claimed that HKEx executives asked warehouse companies to remove any barriers in order to make Hong Kong a viable storage location. In a consultation paper published in March, the 149-year old LME suggested outside storage for...

Four industry sources have said that the London Metal Exchange is looking at easing its rules to promote Hong Kong as a "metals location". This is in response to China's desire for greater control over global metals markets. Hong Kong became an LME warehouse in July 2025. However, very little metal was deposited since then. Two sources claimed that HKEx executives asked warehouse companies to remove any barriers in order to make Hong Kong a viable storage location. In a consultation paper published in March, the 149-year old LME suggested outside storage for aluminum "on a site-by-site basis". Four sources...

Tropical storms passing through Taiwan caused torrential?rains? that shut down southern Taiwan, forcing more than 5,000,000 people to miss work or school. Japan also issued flood and landslide alerts. The outer bands of Typhoon Mekkhala - now a tropical storm - are bringing heavy rains to some parts of Taiwan. This is especially true in Kaohsiung and Tainan in the south. On Friday, the governments of three Taiwanese regions with more than five million residents ordered all offices and schools to close. Flooding in Tainan caused a section of main north-south rail line to be closed. Japan also experienced heavy...

A typhoon passing through southern Taiwan caused torrential rains, forcing more than 5 million people to miss work or school. Flooding also cut off a section of the main rail line. While Typhoon Mekkhala is currently over the Ryukyu islands in southern Japan, it did not directly landfall on Taiwan. However, its outer bands brought heavy rains to some parts of the island. All three governments, where more than 5 million people reside, have ordered that offices and schools be closed on Friday. The separate high-speed rail line did not report any problems, but a section of Tainan's main north-south...

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on Thursday that no tsunami warning had been issued following an earthquake of magnitude?6.9 which struck the east coast of Japan's northeastern Tohoku area. The agency stated that the epicentre was located off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 50km. No tsunami damage is expected except for "slight changes in sea level". It said that the earthquake in Aomori had an intensity of 6+, which is a situation where "it's impossible to stand or move without crawling" on a Japanese scale from 0-7. Tohoku Electric Power has said that no irregularities have...

The ambitions of the Democratic Republic of Congo in cobalt are?becoming more and more clear. Export restrictions have been used by the world's biggest producer of strategic metals, which are used in everything from stealth bombers to mobile phones, to reduce excesses and raise prices. Kinshasa is trying to shift its focus away from Chinese operators and towards the United States, as it gains more control of its cobalt industry. This rebalancing is accompanied by a renewed effort to integrate the artisanal and smaller-scale mining sector (ASM), a minefield of ethical issues for Western cobalt purchasers, into official sectors. MOVING...

UOB Private Bank (the wealth management arm of United Overseas Bank in Singapore) has appointed Judy Chan as managing director for Hong Kong. This appointment will take effect July 2026. The following is more information about the statement: Chan will report to Chew Mun Yew as the head of private banking for the group. She will oversee the local private banking team and lead the bank's work in Hong Kong with wealthy clients. Chan has over 30 years' experience in private and commercial banking. She has been in senior positions?managing teams, growing business?in key markets and advising on wealth planning...

China imported 11.5 million barrels per day on average in the past five years. Since April, the average has been just 8 million barrels per day. China's rapid slashing of imports - shipments dropped to 40% below pre-Iran War levels in June - has helped keep a lid on global prices, and has freed up cargoes that could be used by other countries. Market observers want to know if the decline in demand will last. Michal Meidan is the head of China Energy Research for the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. "There is a huge level of uncertainty, because we...

These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. The?has not checked these stories or?cannot?guarantee their accuracy. Databricks, a provider of data analytics, has raised a round of strategic funding valued at $188 billion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Taco Bell owned by Yum Brands would stop using shredded iceberg sourced from a supplier that has been linked with a parasitic outbreak causing a severe form of diarrhea and vomiting. Honda Motors will stop?the production?of its Prologue SUV, which is sold?in America?this?year. Honda Motors will not cancel sales immediately, but expects to continue them until...

A Moscow car dealer is struggling to meet the 'demand' for new electric vehicles imported from China, as drivers try to avoid a fuel shortage that has caused long queues and skyrocketing prices in much of Russia. In recent weeks, the escalating Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure has caused gasoline and diesel to be restricted in many regions. According to calculations, retail gasoline prices have reached some of the highest levels ever recorded in Europe. The Russian EV market has been slowed by the harsh climate and distances in Russia. Some motorists are switching to EVs because of the...

According to a government directive, India has permitted 'four Chinese manufacturers of power equipment with factories in the country' to participate in governmental tenders for critical 'power projects. The order from the Indian Ministry of Finance, dated June 24, and reviewed by said, allows TBEA Energy to participate in tenders. The document stated that India's Power Ministry?had requested the exemption in January of entities with manufacturing units located in India involved in critical energy projects. In January, it was reported that India is looking at a broader relaxation of the rules for Chinese bidders to win government contracts. New Delhi...

In Moscow, a car dealership struggles to keep up with the demand for new electric vehicles. Drivers are looking to avoid a fuel crisis which has caused long queues and skyrocketing prices in much of Russia. In recent weeks, the escalating Ukrainian strikes against Russian energy infrastructure has caused gasoline and diesel to be scarce. This has led to restrictions in many regions. According to calculations, retail gasoline prices have reached some of the highest levels ever seen in Europe. The vast distances between cities in Russia, the harsh climate and the limited charging infrastructure have all contributed to the...

Data showed that after an interim agreement to end the Iran War, the Fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz began to increase. Analysts say, however, it will be some time before they return to their pre-conflict level and bring relief to the market. Before the U.S. launched their war with Israel on February 28, a third or more of the global urea trade -- the most commonly used fertiliser in the world -- and almost half of the seaborne sulphur -- a critical input -- typically passed through the strait. But the near-closure of the crucial waterway during most...

Three?trading'sources' said that the Russian Far East ESPO blend crude differentials to be delivered to?China between July and August have fallen to parity with ICE Brent. This is due to weak Chinese demand, as well as expectations of a higher global supply after a??U.S.Iran peace agreement. India, the second largest buyer of Russian crude, is also seeing a softer price trend. This further reduces Moscow's revenue, which was already being squeezed by lower oil prices. The U.S. waiver of Iranian oil could push ESPO blend differentials to a discount compared to the ICE benchmark in China. According to one source,...

Brian Jean, Alberta's Energy minister, said that the government is in discussions to export more crude oil?to Japan and reduce the country's dependence on the Middle?East. Jean stated that Alberta offered to fund the construction of an oil coker unit to allow one or more Japanese firms to process the heavy crude produced by Alberta's sands. Jean said that the province is also exploring if heavy Alberta crude can be blended with lighter synthetic oil in order to create a blend more suitable for Japanese refiners. Jean was in Japan for in-person discussions with Japanese government officials and company representatives...

China's efforts to increase renewable energy for its rapidly expanding AI data centre sector are running into obstacles. Industry experts warn that it is difficult to forecast peak demand and grid operators do not want to take on additional risk. In China's work report for 2026, released earlier this summer, the government highlighted that ensuring reliable electricity is a priority. It also pledged a stronger integration of computing infrastructure with power supply networks. An ambitious plan is a key component of this effort to direct more green?electricity into the rapidly expanding data centre industry. The authorities aim to have renewables...

Bo Lingam said that the CEO of Malaysian budget airline AirAsia?X, has announced a 5% reduction in fares since June 15. The airline will continue to monitor the situation on a weekly basis as jet fuel prices fall, he added. As the U.S. - Iran war wreaked havoc on travel around the world, the airline has used the last three months to reduce underperforming flights, shift the demand, and renegotiate all contracts with vendors and lessors. Lingam said to reporters that they were still renegotiating and restructuring all of their contracts. He added that "week by week we will be...

Middle East oil producers will have to face the consequences. The Iran War exposed the dangers in relying solely on one chokepoint to export vital oil and gas. Gulf governments were left with a clear strategy imperative: diversify at all costs. A blockade by Iran of the Strait of Hormuz was long viewed as an "event of doomsday". It would never occur. Experts believed it would take a massive effort from the military and that Tehran wouldn't be willing to stop its exports. These assumptions were 'proven painfully incorrect. Iran used cheap drones and small vessels to impose a nearly...