alt

November 21st, 2019

Unraveled

How automation and the death of fast fashion are reshaping Asia’s garment industry

View all editions

The Big Story

How the death of fast fashion is transforming Asia's garment industry

New technology and demanding consumers unravel a decadeslong race to the bottom

The days of stack-them-high, sell-them-cheap "fast fashion" are coming to an end, casting a shadow over the South and Southeast Asian economies that, for decades, positioned themselves as hubs for the most basic elements of the garment supply chain. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Murata Manufacturing President Tsuneo Murata expects to cash in on 5G in the coming years but faces the question of what comes next. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Company in focus

Thriving in a trade war: Japan's Murata finds a way

Apple and Huawei supplier steers path through tech cycles and geopolitics

Z Holdings CEO Kentaro Kawabe, left, and Line President Takeshi Idezawa, right, shake hands during a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 18. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Business deals

Dwarfed by Big Tech, Yahoo-Line fights for middleweight status in Asia

Merger driven by fear of 'winner takes all' battle for data and talent

The new company -- a merger between Yahoo Japan and Line -- will have a combined user base totaling 100 million people, becoming the dominant mobile payment service provider in Japan.
Business deals

How Yahoo Japan and Line dominate online life in Japan

More than 80% of Japanese netizens chat on Line, and 50% read Yahoo! News

China's home-share market is expected to grow by 50% over the next three years as more affluent tourists seek better appointed accommodation. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

Tujia, China's answer to Airbnb, nurses big ambitions

Aims to treble Asian bookings from China, world's largest source of travelers

The Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, home to half of Mongolia's population and 90% of its universities
Technology

Mongolia's emerging IT sector leads economy in new direction

Returnees armed with AI and fintech skills seed thriving startup scene

The tie-up will boost Southeast Asian expansion plans for both groups.
Business deals

Yoma shares surge on $238m capital tie-up with Ayala

Philippine conglomerate emerges as major shareholder of Myanmar group

Excessive competition, along with a weak South Korean economy, has contributed to Asiana's financial woes.
Transportation

Asiana bailout: Price war, weak economy blight South Korea airlines

HDC Hyundai Development to take control of No. 2 carrier in $2bn deal

Hindalco's net profit came in slightly lower than analysts had predicted. (Source photos by Reuters and Aditya Birla)
Materials

Hindalco quarterly profit slumps 33% amid falling commodity prices

One-time loss due to restructuring at Novelis unit also damped earnings

Petronas' net profit for the first half of 2019 rose 9% to $6.9 billion.
Nikkei Markets

Petronas Chemicals quarterly profit more-than-halves on-year

Cheaper prices weigh, analysts expect rebound in 4Q as utilization rate picks up

Singapore Exchange is preparing to launch Asia's first market for blockchain-based digital securities.
Markets

Singapore brings Japan into Asia's first digital securities market

Tokai Tokyo to take stake in company behind SGX's iSTOX platform

© Nikkei photo illustration
Asia Insight

Tourism proves hazardous to Thai hospitals' financial health

Japan shares pain as arrivals boom and unpaid medical bills balloon

An aerial photo of the Piraeus Port in Greece, the largest port in the Mediterranean region. (Xinhua)
Belt and Road

China bolsters Europe foothold with Belt and Road expansion

Cosco-run Greek port to receive fresh investment to expand

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's new president, addresses the nation, at his swearing-in ceremony in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, on Monday.
Politics

Sri Lanka's new 'Terminator' president polarizes nation

Gotabaya Rajapaksa win heralds shift toward strongman rule and closer China ties

The strengthening baht has made Thai exports less competitive and driven up costs for foreign tourists. (Nikkei montage/Reuters)
Currencies

Southeast Asia's strongest currency baht fights own success

Thailand eases capital controls with eye on US criticism

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet trainees at Bosch in Bangalore, India, in 2015. Bosch and Siemens are looking to step up their programs for Indian students over the next few years.
International relations

India seeks to emulate German vocational training system

Siemens seeks to boost skills of 500,000 Indians under new government deal

A performer sings at a North Korean-themed restaurant in Shenyang, China. North Korean laborers can skirt UN sanctions by applying for entertainment visas. (Photo by Tsukasa Hadano)
N Korea at crossroads

Sanctions on North Korean migrant workers undermined by 'interns'

Pyongyang exploits alternative visa programs while China looks the other way

Two well-known Chinese economists say the county's economy will struggle next year, hampered by falling investment and the ongoing trade dispute with the U.S. (Nikkei montage; source photo by Reuters)
Interview

China's growth to be below 6% next year, economist says

'Numbers don't add up,' Renmin University professor notes

Oyo founder Ritesh Agarwal borrowed $2 billion backed by his Oyo shares then recycled the borrowed money in the form of $700 million of fresh equity. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Opinion

Oyo's business model is looking a lot like WeWork's

SoftBank has much riding on Indian hotel company

The WTO headquarters in Geneva: changing the status of members like China or India could dramatically alter negotiating dynamics.
Opinion

Trade row over 'developing nation' status highlights Trump's fears

He worries World Trade Organization members are getting favorable treatment

Abominable is the story of a regular Chinese girl living with her family in modern-day Shanghai.
Opinion

'Abominable' shows China can melt US hearts even amid trade war

Movie's American success proves value of authenticity

Abe answers questions from reporters about the annual cherry blossom viewing party on Nov. 18. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
The Nikkei View

Abe needs to live up to his status as longest-serving prime minister

Japanese leader's achievements should not be overshadowed by lack of reform

The opening ceremony of the 2018 George Town Literary Festival. The main theme of this year's event is "forewords/afterwords." (Courtesy of George Town Literary Festival)
Life

Bookworms and big ideas collide at George Town Literary Festival

Award-winning Malaysian event gets a revamp under new leadership

Dry Clean Only founder Patipat "Best" Chaipukdee looks over some of his latest retro-collage creations. (Photo by John Krich)
Life

Boundary-busting Thai fashion upstarts enjoy breakout moment

Bangkok's emerging young designers seek to rival Paris and Tokyo

A firefighter works to contain a bush fire in the Australian town of Old Bar, in New South Wales, on Nov. 9.
Tea Leaves

Australians confront 'trial by fire'

Unprecedented bush blazes disrupt politics and social norms Down Under