Supply Chain

Some dealerships stopped accepting new orders for Toyota's Alphard minivan in November. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Automobiles

Toyota limits sales in Japan as it strives to keep up with demand

Automaker struggles to escape backlog stemming from pandemic production snarls

12 December 2023
A rare earths mine in Jiangxi province: As China limits the export of critical minerals, the Quad is putting increasing focus on securing supplies.
Opinion

Quad should lead region forward in securing mineral supply chains

U.S. and partners can pool efforts to de-risk and diversify sourcing of key inputs

11 December 2023
Refrigerated warehouses are cornerstones for the distribution of frozen foods, livestock products, marine products, dairy products and more. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Supply Chain

Japan faces disruption in food supplies as cold storage falls short

Rental-type warehouses gain popularity amid high costs and land scarcity

11 December 2023
Vietnam is emerging as an increasingly important production hub for Apple as the iPhone maker seeks to reduce its dependence on China. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP) 
Supply Chain

Apple to move key iPad engineering resources to Vietnam

China's BYD helps American giant with shift to alternative tech hubs

8 December 2023
A worker holds up clothing at a factory in Indonesia. Apparel companies are focusing more on mitigating human rights abuses in their supply chains.
Supply Chain

Japan clothier Aoyama to screen Indonesian plant for abuse risk

More Japanese companies perform human rights due diligence amid Tokyo's push

8 December 2023
Great Wall Motor is designing and producing its own semiconductors for the company's vehicles. (Photo by Tomoko Wakasugi)
Supply Chain

Chinese carmakers rush to build own semiconductor supply chains

Faced with U.S. trade curbs, Beijing seeks to raise self-sufficiency

7 December 2023
Vietnam's property sector is grappling with a $12.5 billion alleged bribery and embezzlement case that may be the country's biggest. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Property

Vietnam's graft-plagued property sector seen recovering in 2024

Despite $12.5bn embezzlement case, factory land demand booming, estate agent says

6 December 2023
Shipping containers in California: China's share of U.S. imports has dropped over the past several years but its global share of green-tech exports is expanding.
Opinion

China's export dominance is getting stronger, not weaker

Falling monthly totals obscure growth of indigenous green tech supply chains

6 December 2023
A production line using the pyrometallurgical process at Tsingshan Park in Indonesia.
Caixin

Chinese nickel miners in Indonesia face threat from falling prices

A decade-long rush by China-based metal producers may end

5 December 2023
Toppan Holdings will use the plant acquired from JOLED to produce chip substrates. (JOLED)
Business deals

Former iPhone display plant to make chip material for Japan's Toppan

Company acquires factory from bankrupt screen maker JOLED

5 December 2023
An EV battery production line in Hefei, China: A global green-tech supply chain should not aim at displacing Chinese production.
Opinion

'Green tech partnership' offers way to de-risk while decarbonizing

Dependence on China carries supply risks beyond just geopolitics

5 December 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden stands next to a Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV at the Detroit Auto Show in September 2022.
US-China tensions

In EV tax rules, U.S. prefers China decoupling over decarbonization

Washington looks to further block China from supply chain, alarming EV makers

5 December 2023
An LNG terminal operated by JERA and Tokyo Gas in Yokohama. JERA seeks to diversify its sources of the fuel.
Insurance

Japan to back LNG purchases by insuring $680m bank loan

First guarantee of its kind help JERA diversify procurement

5 December 2023
Graphite anodes are a key component of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
Supply Chain

China's graphite export curbs take effect with uncertainty for EVs

Chinese battery material makers' push abroad raises questions over access

2 December 2023
This Mitsubishi Estate logistics center in Zama, Japan, will be one of the company's largest, with a floor space of 178,700 square meters. (Mitsubishi Estate)
Supply Chain

Mitsubishi Estate to triple logistics spending for batteries and self-driving

$3bn investment planned amid EV shift and looming driver shortage

1 December 2023
Porters carry imports into Mong Cai, Vietnam from China in 2018: Southeast Asia is depending more on Chinese imports but growth in exports has slowed.
Opinion

China's slowdown will not stop growth in Southeast Asia

Region's economies can offset impact by attracting relocating supply chains

28 November 2023
Japan relies on China for most of its natural graphite, a critical mineral for battery production.
Supply Chain

Japan looks beyond China for EV and chip materials

Mitsubishi Chemical, Panasonic seek to diversify supplies of graphite for batteries

28 November 2023
Toppan will consider overseas investments for its chip materials business, its CEO says. (Photo by Nikkei)
Companies

Japan's Toppan eyes AI with $400m in chip, electronics investment

Company plans to double production capacity for chip package substrates

25 November 2023
Vietnam is increasing the number of short-haul flights, which emit 100 times the carbon of road transport, despite targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Transportation

Vietnam bets on new airports to boost tourism and supply chains

Plan flies in face of net zero goal as flights emit more carbon than trains

23 November 2023
A machine engraves a palladium ingot at a plant in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk. Russia produces 40% of the world's palladium. 
Commodities

Palladium, nickel prices fall as supply chains cut Russia exposure

Manufacturers turn to alternative materials and sources

23 November 2023
Tesla has relied heavily on China for the production and sales of its electric vehicles.
Supply Chain

Tesla and Apple to attend China supply chain expo

Beijing stresses U.S. participation in push to prevent decoupling

22 November 2023
A Houthi fighter stands on the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released by the militants on Nov. 20. (Houthi Military Media via Reuters)
Middle East crisis

Red Sea ship hijacking delivers a warning on supply chain risks

Japan-operated vessel reportedly in Yemen; Suez still vital despite threat

21 November 2023
The British-owned Galaxy Leader, operated by NYK Line, was captured in the Red Sea.
Transportation

Cargo ship seizure could affect Japan supply chains, minister says

Crude oil and LNG imports not affected for the time being

21 November 2023
A cotton processing plant in Kashgar, in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Statistics show brisk trade from the region despite Western sanctions over alleged human rights abuses. (File photo by Getty Images)
Supply Chain

Xinjiang foreign trade hits record despite Western sanctions

Shipments in first 10 months of year jumped 40%, topping 2022 full-year results

20 November 2023
Leaders meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative summit leaders retreat on Nov. 17 in San Francisco. 
APEC

APEC treads carefully on Gaza: 5 takeaways from San Francisco

Geopolitics removed from joint statement after opposition from China and Russia

18 November 2023