Malaysian palm oil prices are likely to rise about 12% to 5,200 ringgit ($1,316) a metric ton by mid-July, as higher energy prices from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran boost biodiesel demand and tighten…
A new B50 fuel is about to hit the market, and the 50% palm-oil diesel mix could shake engines, imports, and global prices
Indonesia says it will begin rolling out a mandatory B50 biodiesel blend on July 1, 2026, pushing diesel fuel toward a 50% palm oil-based mix. Officials say the shift could save up to Rp157.28 trillio…
Advancing Bangladesh’s energy sovereignty for a resilient future
Over more than five decades, Bangladesh has progressed reasonably well in socioeconomic terms compared to many of its peers among the least developed and developing countries. Strong economic growth o…
Advancing China‑ASEAN Blue Economy Common Market In Evolving Global Economic And Geopolitical Landscape – OpEd
Building a China‑ASEAN Blue Economy Common Market is not merely economic in nature but also strategic, developmental, and deeply geopolitical as it deals with how to shape the future of Asia and the w…
Islamic finance aligns naturally with ESG, says Maybank’s first-ever chief sustainability officer
Islamic finance covers roughly $2.8 trillion in assets worldwide, yet only a sliver of sustainable loans today are sharia-compliant. But Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin, Maybank’s chief sustainability offic…
The Philippines’ renewable energy drive: Growth, gaps, and a pipeline reset
The Philippines is becoming an attractive destination for the renewable energy industry, largely due to its market policies and structure that have led to sizeable investments. So much so, in fact, th…
Taking Stock of the Economy
Over the past decade, the Nepali economy has faced multiple major shocks, including the devastating 2015 earthquakes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and political unrests such as last September’s Gen Z moveme…
Tourism boom and improved connectivity help China-Laos Railway achieve key milestone, international rail travel gains momentum
The China Laos Railway has achieved a key milestone in international rail travel, as a tourism boom and improved cross border connectivity continue to drive strong passenger growth between China and L…
Indonesia’s palm-based biodiesel consumption crosses 3.9 million kiloliters as B50 transition nears
Indonesia consumed 3.9 million kiloliters of palm-based biodiesel in the period from January 1 to April 13, 2026, under its mandatory biodiesel blending programme, even as the country prepared to rais…
Beijing’s AI Governance Approach And Its Outreach To Southeast Asia – Analysis
In January 2025, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek launched its R1 model, sparking debate over how open-source, cost-effective models can reshape the global AI landscape. Calling it the “DeepSeek moment,” C…