Economy
China’s exports of rare earth magnets and materials to Japan dropped sharply in March, reaching their lowest level in nine months and underscoring growing strain in a critical global supply chain. The decline follows export restrictions imposed by Beijing earlier this year amid escalating diplomatic......
The war between the United States and Iran has triggered a widening disruption in global chemical supply chains, with sulfur emerging as a critical bottleneck across multiple industries. As the conflict enters its seventh week, repeated closures of the Strait of Hormuz have restricted access to one of......
The war in Iran is reshaping global metal supply chains and forcing major producers to overhaul logistics. Nornickel, the world’s largest palladium producer and a key supplier of nickel and copper, has redirected all maritime shipments away from the Suez Canal. The company now routes exports around......
The Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou with record scale, bringing together more than 32,000 companies and over 210,000 registered foreign buyers. The event reflects strong global trade interest, yet it unfolds under the shadow of a prolonged conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The war......
A group of senior policymakers and economists has renewed concerns about the long-term strength of the US dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency, pointing to shifting capital flows, policy risks, and weakening global confidence. Janet Yellen, speaking at an investment summit hosted by......
Volkswagen is bracing for a potential downturn in the world’s largest auto market, with its China chief warning that passenger car sales could decline for the first time since 2018. Ralf Brandstätter said even flat sales would represent the best-case scenario for 2026, following about 24 million......
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the war involving the United States, Iran, and Israel, was expected to drive a surge in coal use. Instead, new data shows global fossil fuel electricity generation declined in March as renewable energy absorbed the shock. Analysis from the Centre for......
Global buyers are turning to China for aluminum as supply disruptions linked to the war in Iran tighten markets in the Gulf. Analysts cited by Bloomberg expect Chinese exports to rise sharply in the coming months as production outages in the region, which accounts for about 9 percent of global aluminum......
The war in Iran and disruptions to oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz are reshaping global energy markets, with China positioned to benefit most. In a Substack post published on April 13, Paul Krugman warned that rising geopolitical tensions are pushing energy-dependent economies away from......
The war in Iran has triggered what energy officials describe as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. The shock has reshaped energy demand patterns and accelerated a shift toward alternative sources, placing China at the center of the transition. Despite being Iran’s......
China has lifted restrictions on some iron ore purchases from BHP, signaling a shift in a trade dispute that had disrupted global supply chains for months and unsettled commodity markets. A state-backed buyer, China Mineral Resources Group, informed steel producers they could resume bidding on selected......
Gold prices are stabilizing near $4,730 per ounce, but analysts at Heraeus warn that the market may face further consolidation or declines before any sustained rally resumes. In its latest Precious Appraisal report dated March 30, Heraeus said short-term momentum remains bearish for both gold and silver.......
China's plan to eliminate customs duties on imports from 53 African nations takes effect May 1, just weeks away, reshaping trade diplomacy across two continents. The move draws sharp reactions from Western capitals viewing it as Beijing expanding economic sway under a development banner. President......
