Commodities

China's first single-series 10-million-ton refinery is in Qingdao, Shandong province. The country is a major producer and importer of crude oil.
Energy

$100 oil unlikely to dent Asian demand in short term: analysts

China and India expected to keep buying in part thanks to 'sanctions discount'

27 September 2023
A customer looks at pork at a market in Beijing in July. That month, the Chinese government said it had added 20,000 more tonnes to the national reserves.
Food & Beverage

China's pork prices climb after government tops off reserves

Futures jump more than 20% from July, following bulk purchases by Beijing

24 September 2023
Eni Asia-Pacific President Ciro Antonio Pagano says Indonesia is "central" to the Italian energy company's new investment strategy. (Screenshot from Humas SKK Migas YouTube channel)
Energy

Italy's Eni focuses on Indonesia amid shift from Russian gas

Energy company bucks trend of oil majors exiting Southeast Asian country

21 September 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo inspects a Hyundai Motor electric vehicle at a plant in West Java. His dream of building a domestic electric vehicle industry is running into natural resource and political obstacles.
Supply Chain

Indonesia EV battery dream hits lithium, U.S. inflation act walls

EU Green Deal adds another challenge to nickel-rich but coal-reliant country

21 September 2023
BP and Indonesian state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina sign a new joint study on carbon capture on Sept 20 in Bali, Indonesia, including its potential application in blue ammonia production. (Photo by Erwida Maulia)
Energy

BP, ExxonMobil bullish on carbon capture projects in Indonesia

Jakarta to issue new regulation to boost technology adoption

21 September 2023
Australian resource producers are rushing to diversify as China's economic slowdown has sapped demand for the country's iron ore.
Commodities

Australia miners BHP, Fortescue race to curb iron ore dependence

As Chinese demand shrinks, attention shifts to hydrogen and copper

18 September 2023
Cranes unload coal from a cargo ship at a port in Lianyungang, China. The country is relying more on coal because of a drought-induced decline in hydroelectricity output.
Commodities

Coal prices jump to 4-month high on China's power demand

Nation leans on coal-fired plants as drought cuts into hydroelectricity

15 September 2023
A vendor sells rice at a store in Quezon City, the Philippines, on Aug. 14. Countries everywhere are scrambling to secure rice after a partial ban on exports by India cut supplies by roughly a fifth.
Commodities

Asia's rice squeeze after India export ban: 4 things to know

Market turmoil, government action, inflation jitters follow supply fears

14 September 2023
Strong demand in China is driving a sharp increase in global oil consumption.
Commodities

Chinese demand buoys global crude oil prices despite real estate slump

Country seen accounting for 70% of demand increase this year

13 September 2023
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered a surge in wheat prices, given the countries' importance in the global supply of the grain.
Commodities

Japan to cut imported wheat price for first time in 3 years

Effects on food prices remain uncertain as businesses weigh options

13 September 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim addressed parliament on Sept. 11 on optimization of rare earth resources. (Photo courtesy of Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia)
Trade

Malaysia plans to ban exports of rare earth minerals

Anwar wants 'maximum returns' from critical resources for high-tech sector

11 September 2023
Combines load wheat into a truck during harvest in the Cherlaksky district of the Omsk region of Russia on Sept. 8.
G20 Summit

G20 calls for exports of Ukraine grain to ease inflation

Developing nations depend on shipments from war-affected region, group says

9 September 2023
A worker loads harvested palm fruits in Malaysia. Major exporters Indonesia and Malaysia are pushing new uses for the tropical oil in the face of market headwinds.
Market Spotlight

Indonesia, Malaysia push biofuel to offset palm oil price downturn

Falling prices hurt companies; risks loom from El Nino and EU deforestation law

4 September 2023
A paper mill outside St. Petersburg. Russia is a leading paper producer, thanks to its abundant forest resources.
Commodities

Deepening China-Russia ties revealed in paper products trade

Increased purchases, despite slump, are said to be 'de facto' support for Moscow

2 September 2023
Steel inventories have piled up in China, but production has not slowed as steelmakers anticipate economic stimulus measures by the government. 
Commodities

China's economic woes send prices of steelmaking metals sliding

Steel inventories pile up as Chinese real estate trouble depresses housing starts

2 September 2023
A person checks rice at a store in Quezon City, Philippines on  Aug. 14.
Economy

Philippines' Marcos announces cap on rice prices

Official limit on price of staple item meant to ease costs for households

1 September 2023
China's imports of Russian crude increased 25% in the first seven months of the year.  
Energy

China's PetroChina, Sinopec mum on Russian oil imports

Crude imports increase, but buyers are reluctant to speak up

1 September 2023
Tengku Muhammad Taufik, center, president and group CEO of Petronas, on August 30 in Kuala Lumpur says a weak global economy will keep the energy market bearish for the rest of the year. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Energy

Petronas gas project in Canada aims to start exports next year

Malaysian state energy company posts 13% net profit decline in 2023 first half

30 August 2023
The retail price of gold in Japan continues to reach new highs, hitting $68.31 per gram on Tuesday in Tokyo.
Commodities

Japan's retail gold prices top 10,000 yen per gram for 1st time

Steep depreciation of yen pushes up domestic prices for precious metal

29 August 2023
The AI platform from KoBold Metals is expected to streamline the exploration of critical minerals, such as copper ore.
Startups

Finding minerals faster with AI: Investors flock to U.S. startup

KoBold Metals raises funds from BHP, Mitsubishi, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos

27 August 2023
The ASEAN region produced 3.5 million tonnes of electronic waste, such as circuit boards, in 2019.
Environment

Japan, ASEAN partner to recover critical metals from e-waste

Tokyo to help region set up rules for environmentally safe extraction

25 August 2023
The price of aluminum, used in autos and construction, has slipped to a one-month low.
Commodities

Copper and nickel lose shine in China's construction slump

Worries rise about economic slowdown lingering longer than expected

19 August 2023
Rice sacks in a market in Ahmedabad: India currently holds about 40% of the global rice export market, sending its grain to more than 130 countries.
Opinion

India has better options than banning rice exports

Frequent policy changes may jeopardize country's leading market position

17 August 2023
A farmer works in a rice paddy in Thailand's central Khon Kaen province. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Commodities

India's rice export ban brings chaos to Thai market

Surging demand sparks speculative hoarding, undercuts export opportunity

17 August 2023
Workers load grain at a port in Izmail, Ukraine, on April 26, before Russia pulled out of the Black Sea shipment deal.
Interview

Russia grain deal exit hurting 345m vulnerable people: WFP chief

Cindy McCain warns of climate risks to food supplies during Pacific visit

16 August 2023