Commodities

Japan’s agriculture ministry plans to dramatically reduce rice production costs by developing technology like autonomous tractors. (Courtesy of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization)
Commodities

Japan looks to drones, self-driving tractors to lift rice exports

Farm ministry eyes 40% cost reduction using new tech and fast-growing varieties

2 May 2019
Iranian oil exports to four Asian countries including China jumped 36% in March.
Commodities

Asian imports of Iranian oil balloon ahead of full US ban

Beijing expected to battle Washington over Iran sanctions as waivers end

2 May 2019
Indonesian refinery projects have a revolving door that regularly sees the arrival and departure of potential partners.
Opinion

Pulling Indonesian oil refining out of decline

End fuel subsidies and develop a positive approach to foreign investment

2 May 2019
Makers of coffee products are optimistic of increased demand for decaffeinated beverages, especially among the elderly.
Business trends

Decaf poised to perk up Japan's coffee market

Imports of decaffeinated beans double in 5 years

1 May 2019
One half of the time Australian prosperity is based on digging things out of the ground and selling them to foreigners at good prices. 
Opinion

Australia's irrelevant election

Short sighted policies have left economy at the mercy of external events

30 April 2019
Demand for meat has grown rapidly in Asia along with population and income.
Commodities

China's swine fever outbreak sets off scrap over pork

Meat prices climb worldwide as importers scramble and consumers switch products

28 April 2019
Pork for sale at a market in Beijing. Pork is a staple meat in China.
Economy

China's deadly swine fever drives up global pork prices

Imports from US on track toward record despite tariffs as herds are depleted

24 April 2019
Prices for LCD panels used in 65-inch TVs, the main money-maker for manufacturers, have fallen by nearly a third over the past year and continue to slide.
China tech

Subsidized Chinese makers squeeze Asia's LCD industry

BOE helps push 65-inch panel price below $220, down 30% over past year

21 April 2019
Stream article image
CEO in the news

This rare earths miner is tiny: Why are so many people obsessing over it?

After five years as Lynas CEO, Amanda Lacaze has almost seen it all

19 April 2019
An almond-sorting line at a ranch in California: The U.S. state produces about 80% of the world's supply.
Commodities

Nut prices rise despite role as US-China trade war fodder

Brisk global demand outweighs dampening effect of Beijing's tariffs

18 April 2019
A farmer climbs a tree to harvest palm oil in West Bengal. The palm oil industry is trying to clean up its image.
Commodities

Asia cleans up commodities industry with transparent trading

Initiatives trace product origins in bid to tackle deforestation and corruption

13 April 2019
Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines says the company will continue to develop relationships with customers in Japan and South Korea.
Interview

Chinese steel output to grow 3-4%, says Fortescue CEO

Beijing's push for high-speed rail, airports to create demand despite trade war

11 April 2019
Malaysia's palm oil data for March was largely underwhelming. 
Nikkei Markets

Malaysia's March palm oil inventory slips to 5-month low

Exports outpaced production but demand growth still lags market expectations

10 April 2019
Stream article image
Economy

Dr. Copper gives troubling prognosis for China's economy

Price of metal has flattened out despite some stronger Chinese data

7 April 2019
Asia is riskier than Africa or the Middle East when it comes to investing in natural resources, according to a U.K. consultancy's latest report on resource nationalism.
Commodities

India and Thailand surge in resource nationalism ranking

Asia ranks worst region in the world, posing risks for investment

5 April 2019
Akira Kiyota, CEO of JPX, and executives from other bourses at a March 28 press conference announcing their agreement to create a one-stop marketplace (Photo by Kei Higuchi)
The Nikkei View

Japan is a step closer to its all-in-one bourse dream

Time to fast-track efforts to create a globally competitive exchange

3 April 2019
The surge in coal output gives a push to Coal India's efforts to expand its annual output to one billion tons.
Markets

Coal India annual output crosses record 600 million tons on rising power demand

State-owned company's production jumps nearly 10% last month

2 April 2019
China's shift toward Brazilian soybeans may not be easily undone, even if tariffs on imports of the crop from the U.S. are lowered.
Trade war

Trade war carves new paths for LNG and soybeans

One year on, US exporters see China opportunities lost to Brazil and Australia

1 April 2019
Japan Exchange Group and Tokyo Commodity Exchange have agreed to integrate to stay competitive with rivals overseas.
Business deals

Japan's stock and commodity exchanges to merge in October

Combined market aims to entice foreign investors with greater convenience

29 March 2019
Sumitomo Metal's test facilities for harvesting carbon materials from used electric-car batteries. (courtesy of Sumitomo Metal Mining)
Commodities

Milestone reached in the recycle of cobalt from spent EV batteries

Japan's Sumitomo Metal discovers way to conserve rare metal

28 March 2019
Korean-style barbecue restaurants are becoming more popular in Japan among both women and men.
Economy

Japan is hungry for meat but domestic producers aren't feasting

Country's reliance on imports and Asia's rising demand spark shortage fears

27 March 2019
LNG storage tanks at a Sinopec terminal in Tianjin, China: The Chinese government has been promoting a shift from coal to natural gas, pushing up demand.
Commodities

Asian LNG prices drop to three-year lows amid supply glut

Slower growth in Chinese demand raises doubts about US and Canada export plans

26 March 2019
Vietnam's Robusta coffee beans are known to brew a strong and bitter cup, and are favored for manufacturing instant coffee in Japan.
Business trends

Vietnam pours it on in Japan's coffee sector

Proximity and low-cost challenge Brazil for top market slot

26 March 2019
Canada is the world's No. 1 exporter of rapeseed, shipping 11 million tons a year.
Commodities

China-Canada spat over Huawei sends oilseed prices sliding

Exporter accuses Beijing of retaliatory 'attack' on Canadian agriculture

24 March 2019
The New National Stadium, the main venue for Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, is seen under construction in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward.
Business trends

Bolt shortage jams construction ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Shipments of other steel products disrupted as building plans are delayed

19 March 2019