East Asia
The world’s most advanced economies and its most contested flashpoint sit side by side here. Technology leadership, demographic decline, and a strait that could redraw the global order — all in the same neighborhood.
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May- 2026 -25 MayCapital
Saudi Arabia’s $24.7 billion oil revenue masks market share loss in Asia
Saudi Arabia earned $24.7 billion from oil exports in April 2026, its highest monthly revenue in over three years, as Brent crude traded near $86 per barrel. However, Saudi crude…
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24 MayCapital
China’s $620 billion US debt sale reshapes global reserve system, avoids market crash
China has reduced its officially reported U.S. Treasury holdings from a peak of $1.316 trillion in November 2013 to $693.3 billion by February 2026 — a liquidation of more than…
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24 MayCapital
Hormuz blockade drives Japan, South Korea naphtha prices to record highs, threatening plastics supply
A three-month blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven Japan's benchmark naphtha spot price to $910 per metric ton, a 26% increase. This surge is forcing Japan and South…
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24 MayCapital
South Korea’s Middle East crude imports fall 37% as US supply nears parity
South Korea's crude oil imports from the Middle East fell 37.3 percent year-on-year in April 2026 to 4.49 million tons, reducing the Gulf's share of Korea's total import mix from…
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23 MayEarth
HSBC’s $4 billion facility routes Chinese clean energy to Philippines, bypassing US influence
HSBC has launched a $4-billion Sustainability and Transition Credit Facility to finance mainland Chinese clean energy companies expanding into Southeast Asia, with the Philippines identified as a primary destination. The…
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23 MayPower
Pakistan seeks China’s backing to mediate US-Iran tensions, Afghanistan border dispute
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in Beijing for a four-day state visit, seeking Chinese backing to mediate between the United States and Iran, and for support with Afghanistan. The…
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22 MayCapital
Wan Hai Lines raises Asia freight rates by up to $200 per container, citing Red Sea costs
Wan Hai Lines will apply a rate restoration on Asia trades from June 1, 2026, charging USD 100 per 20-foot container and USD 200 per 40-foot and high-cube containers, citing…
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22 MayEarth
Hormuz crisis forces South Asian nations to reverse decarbonisation, risking higher emissions
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is running at 5% of pre-war rates, causing widespread disruptions across South Asia and the Pacific. Bangladesh's fertiliser and garment factories are severely…
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22 MayCapital
South Korean airlines face margin crisis as fuel surcharges double on key routes
South Korean airlines face a margin crisis as domestic fuel surcharges on Korean Air and Jeju Air more than doubled on several routes since late 2025, driven by a 20%…
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21 MayPower
China and Russia deepen strategic ties with 20+ agreements, challenging Western sanctions
On May 16–17, 2026, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin signed two joint statements and over 20 bilateral cooperation documents in Beijing, deepening their strategic partnership. China–Russia bilateral trade reached a…
