Economy

A cloth stall in Jakarta: Indonesia is seen exporting more textiles and clothing to the U.S. to fill the hole left by China.
Trade war

Southeast Asia poised for export boost from new US tariffs

Businesses seek reprieve as trade war squeezes Chinese shipments

13 August 2019
Narendra Modi visits Sri Lanka in June 2019: if connectivity initiatives have to succeed, "we must also build bridges of trust," said Modi.
Opinion

India responds to Belt and Road Initiative with infrastructure push

New Delhi does not want China to dominate its backyard so has started spending

13 August 2019
Reserve Bank of India led by Gov. Shaktikanta Das cut the policy rate to boost Indian economy.
Economy

Rate cut spreads in Asia, but currency risks loom

India, Thailand and New Zealand surprise analysts with bigger-than-expected moves

8 August 2019
The yen's rise reduces the odds Japan Inc. will fatten paychecks. (Photo by Kai Fujii)
Opinion

Japan and South Korea will be biggest losers in US-China currency war

ASEAN countries will also be collateral damage as demand falls and exports are hit

8 August 2019
If China starts leaking foreign capital, there may be little room for Beijing to use its foreign reserves to buttress the yuan.
Comment

Forex reserve needs: Thailand gains as China wanes

IMF data shows Beijing's foreign currency holdings less than 'adequate'

6 August 2019
The Port of Bangkok: Any drop in Chinese electronics exports will hit Thai suppliers of circuit boards and other components, a trade official said.
Trade war

New Trump tariff hits Asian exporters dependent on US consumers

Thai electronics industry faces drop in trade, but food and textiles to benefit

3 August 2019
Uttama Savanayana, Thailand's new minister of finance, speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo on July 31. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Interview

Thailand eyes new stimulus to ease trade war shock

Finance minister vows structural reform and has 'open mind' on Facebook's Libra

31 July 2019
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, seen here in Brussels in May, told the Nikkei Asian Review: "It is the EU as a whole that has decided to enhance its engagement on security issues in and with Asia, and we are intent on delivering on that objective."
Interview

EU keen to strengthen security ties with Asia: foreign policy chief

Korean Peninsula and South China Sea 'matter to all of us,' Federica Mogherini says

30 July 2019
Brian Eyler, who has written a book about the Mekong, says 103 dams have been built and 65 more are under construction along the river, threatening its flow during droughts.
Economy

Dams threaten way of life in Mekong countries

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia blame China and Laos for drought conditions

30 July 2019
Women fetch water from an opening made by residents at a dried-up lake in Chennai, India on June 11.
Economy

Droughts hit Thailand and India, risking stress on food supplies

Rice producers see further export cut; Australia scrambles to import wheat

29 July 2019
A ship loaded with containers readies to depart Qingdao in China's Shandong Province.
Trade war

Trade war triggers Asia-wide exports slump

China slowdown ripples through supply chain, hurting Singapore and Thailand

26 July 2019
Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha laid out his policy agenda in a speech to parliament in Bangkok on July 25. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Turbulent Thailand

Thai prime minister puts bread and butter issues at top of agenda

Prayuth's program focuses on lifting economy out of 'middle-income trap'

25 July 2019
A UPS logistics plane is parked at the company's hub in Shenzhen, China. (Photo courtesy of UPS)  
Interview

Thailand and Indonesia cargo traffic spikes amid trade war: UPS

Countries emerge as Asian growth leaders replacing Vietnam and Taiwan

25 July 2019
Harley-Davidson's LiveWire electric motorcycle will launch in the coming months. (Photo courtesy of Harley-Davidson)
Trade war

Harley revs up ASEAN sales as US market slows

Thai production powers motorbike maker to 77% growth in region

24 July 2019
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in 2014. The former general has managed to keep himself in power but now must contend with opposition lawmakers.
Comment

Thai junta bows out having failed to bridge the societal divide

After 62 months of military rule, prime minister drops 'interim' from title

20 July 2019
Malaysia has banned import of plastic scrap but the ruling has been poorly enforced and monitored.
Opinion

How to end Asia's plastic waste war

Trade bans in Southeast Asia risk shifting problem to South Asia and Africa

17 July 2019
Credit card companies' reputation for high fees has turned away many potential users in Asia.
Business trends

Credit cards fall behind in Asia's race to go cashless

Consumers flock to low-cost local mobile apps to meet their payment needs

15 July 2019
The strong baht could end up harming Thailand's tourism-led economy if foreign travelers decide vacationing in the kingdom is too expensive.
Economy

Thai central bank takes steps to suppress surging baht

Bank of Thailand 'ready to use additional measures' if speculative buying persists

12 July 2019
A port in Qingdao, Shandong province, China. Although the U.S. and China have agreed to reopen trade talks, the future direction of their trade relationship remains unclear.
Economy

US-China trade war will hit ASEAN economy harder

JCER quarterly survey records fourth straight downgrade as uncertainty remains

9 July 2019
Cannabis legalization is slowly spreading from Western countries to Asia. Many Thai companies are seeking opportunities to enter related markets.
Asia Insight

Pot of gold? Thailand leads slow push to legalize weed in Asia

Potential $8.5bn market looks tempting but experts advise caution

9 July 2019
Prayuth Chan-ocha smiles on June 6: when you grab power from a democratically-elected government it is best to have a plan. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Opinion

Thai baht races ahead of Prayuth's slow progress

The strong currency is hurting Thailand's competitiveness and threatens further damage

8 July 2019
Shipping containers await loading in the Thai port of Laem Chabang. Southeast Asian exports have surged as multinationals move production out of China. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Trade war

Southeast Asia exports to the US surge as the trade war smolders on

Production shift out of China provides tailwinds to Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand

5 July 2019
The appreciation of Thai baht was largely supported by the opposing monetary stances of Thai and U.S. central banks.
Markets

Thai baht outperforms Asian currency peers on Fed's dovish turn

Shanghai leads stock index gainers during first half

2 July 2019
A recycling plant near Bangkok: According to Greenpeace, Thailand's plastic waste imports jumped nearly sevenfold between 2016 and 2018 to 481,000 tons.
Environment

New law in Thailand risks drawing an avalanche of plastic waste

Junta-era rules are business-friendly, but greens object to lax monitoring

26 June 2019
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted business and forced Amata to revised down its land sale this year. (Photo courtesy of Amata)
Trade war

Thai industrial developers reap spoils of US-China trade war

Amata and WHA cash in as Chinese companies relocate production to avoid tariffs

26 June 2019