China Looking to Reduce Social Cost of Covid Zero, Official Says
China is looking for ways to reduce the “social costs” of its strict Covid Zero strategy, an official said on Thursday, in a sign that Beijing is looking to adjust Continue Reading
How Will China Relax Its Zero-Covid Grip? With Bubbles, Drugs and New Messaging
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Why China Should Want Russia’s Invasion To End
While a large coalition of countries has come together to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China has refused to take sides in the conflict. China’s failure to condemn Russia and Continue Reading
China likely to lift March gasoline, gasoil outflows as export margins rise
Oil products price rise in Singapore outpaces China Current March gasoline outflows set at 520,000 mt March gasoil export target at 500,000 mt Chinese oil companies are likely to lift Continue Reading
Asian buyers grapple for wheat supply amid Russia-Ukraine conflict
CBH addresses logistical bottlenecks in view of demand surge Asian buyers hunting to secure wheat in fear of supply shortage Tight balance sheet to drive forward purchases Global wheat prices Continue Reading
Half a million Australians face flood evacuation orders
Authorities in Australia issued more orders for people to leave their homes on Thursday after heavy rain triggered flash floods in its largest city, with officials warning of worse to Continue Reading
China Moves to Secure Commodities Rocked by Ukraine War
Officials order agencies to ensure energy, commodity supplies State-owned buyers to scour markets for oil, gas, iron ore Bloomberg News China’s top government officials have issued orders to prioritize energy Continue Reading
Russia-China Trade Stifled by Yuan’s Surge Against Ruble
It has just got a lot more expensive for Russia to deal with its biggest trade partner China. The yuan hit a record high against the ruble this week — Continue Reading
Oil prices, not Russian trade flows, a bigger worry for India
Highlights High flat crude prices to create inflationary pressure: Platts Analytics Search for answers if SWIFT would work for legitimate Russian oil trades SPR crude an option if global prices Continue Reading
Two years after world’s biggest lockdown, India surges back to normal life
Almost two years after India went into the world’s biggest lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19, students headed back to school in Maharashtra state on Wednesday, a sign of Continue Reading
China ready to ‘play a role’ in Ukraine ceasefire
China signalled it was ready to play a role in finding a ceasefire in Ukraine as it “deplored” the outbreak of conflict in its strongest comments yet on the war. Beijing Continue Reading
SWIFT Ban Hits Russian Coal Exports To China
Chinese buyers of coal are having trouble securing financing to buy coal from Russia, the world’s third-largest coal exporter, as China’s banks are wary of sanctions themselves after selected Russian Continue Reading
China’s independent refiners cautious on procuring Russian crude due to payment challenges
China’s independent refineries have turned cautious of procuring Russian crudes following the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict , while difficulties faced in the issuance of letters of credit dampen Continue Reading
Iran offering fewer crude cargoes to Chinese traders as it prepares for lifting of sanctions: sources
Traders expect Iran to do away with discounts Iranian crude around $8/b cheaper than other similar grades Iran could supply 1.75 mil b/d by August: S&P Global Iran’s state-owned National Continue Reading
India sticks with Russia after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
An increasingly isolated Vladimir Putin left Russia for only the second time during the pandemic last December. His destination was New Delhi and his focus was on preparing for future Continue Reading
Ukraine: Why India is not criticising Russia over invasion
India has had to walk a diplomatic tightrope over Ukraine in the past few days as it tried to balance its ties with Moscow and the West. Delhi’s first statement Continue Reading
Indian Oil removes Russian, Kazakh crudes from tenders on sanctions, insurance risks
Indian Oil Corp. has asked its crude suppliers to stop offering Russian and Kazakh crudes to avoid any payment and insurance risks caused by international sanctions on Russia after its Continue Reading
China buys more Iranian oil now than it did before sanctions, data shows
China’s purchases of Iranian oil have risen to record levels in recent months, exceeding a 2017 peak when the trade was not subject to U.S. sanctions, tanker tracking data showed. Continue Reading
China Shunning Russian Coal With Banks Nervous Over Sanctions
Chinese power plants and steelmakers are looking for alternatives to Russian coal after some domestic banks suggested they avoid purchases due to the mounting sanctions being imposed on Moscow. Some state-own firms Continue Reading
Giant Floating Solar Flowers Offer Hope for Coal-Addicted Korea
Floating solar panels on the surface of the Hapcheon Dam in South Korea. The project can generate enough to power 20,000 homes, according to Hanwha Solutions. With little usable land Continue Reading
A look at key Russia-China crude oil ties as Ukraine crisis rages
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen some of the harshest sanctions ever imposed on a nation and disrupted trade flows of energy and other commodities, even though such goods have Continue Reading
Hong Kong residents empty supermarkets ahead of city-wide lockdown
Hong Kong residents braced for a city-wide lockdown, emptying supermarkets and pharmacies, even as leader Carrie Lam called for calm on Tuesday and appealed for the public not to worry Continue Reading
Economists say higher oil prices pose further risk to India’s growth momentum
Rising crude oil prices and supply disruptions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could further sap an Indian economy already slowed by COVID-19, posing risks to household spending and private investments, Continue Reading
India to Ship Record Wheat as Ukraine Crisis Upends Trade Flows
Farmhands harvest a wheat field in the Panipat district of Haryana, India. India is set to benefit from the shifts in global wheat trade as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leaves Continue Reading
China sees biggest growth in energy and coal use since 2011
China recorded its biggest increase in total energy consumption and coal use in a decade in 2021, as the economy recovered from COVID-19 slowdown a year earlier, data from the Continue Reading
Asian buyers shun Russian commodities as payment concerns mount
Banks cautious on payment channels for Russian commodities Traders, charterers avoid Russian tankers, oil cargoes from Far East Lack of foreign reserve access larger impediment to Russian commodity exports Many Continue Reading
U.S. Looks to Make China Pay for Close Ties to Russia in Ukraine Crisis
The U.S. wants to pry China away from its tight partnership with Russia. One step, U.S. officials said, is making Beijing feel pain over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Washington is looking to Continue Reading
TSMC and other chipmakers begin halting semiconductor deliveries to Russia
The global computer chip industry, including the giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, has begun halting sales to Russia in the wake of U.S. sanctions aimed at punishing Moscow’s invasion of Continue Reading
India stays silent on Russian invasion of Ukraine, to apparent frustration of Biden administration
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed a large-scale attack against Ukraine on Thursday, the Biden administration has sought to rally allies and partners to condemn Russian aggression and join in trade Continue Reading
China Stocks Up On Oil Despite Surging Prices And U.S. Call For Crude Release
Despite rallying oil prices this year, China has been stocking up on crude oil, ignoring U.S. calls for a global coordinated release from strategic reserves, Reuters reported on Friday, citing Continue Reading
Surging Energy Prices Could Derail China’s Coal Policies
The rally in energy commodities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could derail Chinese plans for using the guiding of the price of coal, which is still a major source of Continue Reading
Russia-Ukraine conflict puts China’s incremental crude appetite in spotlight
Russian energy flows not yet under US sanctions despite invasion China’s 2022 crude import growth seen at 536,000 b/d: Platts Analytics China may look for spot market bargains if other Continue Reading
Huge Chinese Desert Projects Will Power Next Wave of Wind, Solar
Solar panels in the Gobi desert, in Dunhuang, Gansu province, China. Bloomberg News China aims to greatly expand its wind and solar power capacity over the next several years through Continue Reading
China State Banks Restrict Financing for Russian Commodities
Why Russia’s Invasion Is Causing Anxiety in Beijing Bloomberg News At least two of China’s largest state-owned banks are restricting financing for purchases of Russian commodities, underscoring the limits of Continue Reading
India aims to reopen discontinued coal mines; seeks private participation
India is looking to partner with private companies to restart mines that have previously been shut or had their production discontinued by state-run Coal India Ltd., or CIL, on a Continue Reading
Japan says it will deal with oil release from reserves in cooperation with IEA, other nations
Japan said on Friday it will appropriately deal with oil release from national reserves in cooperation with the International Energy Agency and relevant countries, after Russia’s attack on Ukraine fueled Continue Reading
Japan Sees Nuclear Energy As A Vital Piece Of Its Net-Zero Plan
Prior to the Fukushima disaster, nuclear power accounted for almost 30% of Japan’s energy mix, though it has since dropped to just 6.2% Japan is looking to reboot its nuclear Continue Reading
Asian Buyers Fear That Sanctions On Russia Could Complicate Oil Trade
Oil traders in Asia—except in China—are alarmed that they could soon struggle to procure enough crude if the West imposes sanctions on Russian oil trade or cuts Russia from the Continue Reading
Hong Kong rolls out vaccine passport and tighter COVID measures
Hong Kong rolls out a vaccine passport on Thursday that requires people aged 12 and above to have at least one COVID-19 vaccination and also tightened restrictions in a city Continue Reading
China calls on all countries to protect energy security
China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that all countries should work together to jointly protect global energy security. Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was responding to a question at a regular Continue Reading
China ready to soften economic blow to Russia from Ukraine sanctions
China is ready to throw Russia an economic lifeline as Vladimir Putin’s ties with the west deteriorate and Moscow is hit by snowballing sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine. Putin Continue Reading
Chinese buyers hesitate to procure Russian coal amid Ukraine conflict: sources
Highlights Railway issues delay coal delivery from Russia Banks warn against coal trade with Russia: traders Ships warned against going to Suek port: traders Some buyers in China have been Continue Reading
Japan does not see sanctions on Russia causing major disruption to energy supply
In talks with oil, gas producers, IEA on supply contingency Has 240 days worth oil reserves, 2-3 weeks of LNG stocks Biden to meet G7 counterparts Feb. 24 Japan does Continue Reading
Asian refiners see uninterrupted Black Sea crude import flows for now
Urals, CPC Blend for March, April deliveries to Asia unaffected SK Innovation keeps close watch on Black Sea ports, logistics US, Southeast Asian crudes could replace CPC Blend, ESPO, Sokol Continue Reading
China’s Solar Power Growth to Soar in 2022 on Project Pipeline
China is forecast to add record solar power in 2022 despite continued high material costs as the country pushes forward with a massive renewable build-out to reach its ambitious climate Continue Reading
China’s trucked LNG price hits record high, Central Asian gas supply shrinks
Prices hit $25/MMBtu in some regions Central Asian gas supply to China cut over 10%: sources Post-Lunar New Year demand yet to fully recover China’s trucked LNG prices hit a Continue Reading
Got a Covid Booster? You Probably Won’t Need Another for a Long Time
As people across the world grapple with the prospect of living with the coronavirus for the foreseeable future, one question looms large: How soon before they need yet another shot? Continue Reading
China Plans to Feed 80 Million People With ‘Seawater Rice’
Jinghai district in northern China is hardly a rice-growing paradise. Located along the coast of the Bohai Sea, over half of the region’s land is made of salty, alkaline soil Continue Reading
First Hydrogen Train in Japan to Hit the Rails for Test Run
Japan’s first hydrogen fuel cell train “Hybari.” Japan’s largest railway company will begin testing the country’s first hydrogen-fueled train next month in a step toward the nation’s goal of becoming Continue Reading
China Says the Winter Olympics Are Carbon Neutral. They Aren’t
The Big Air Shougang, venue for the freestyle skiing and snowboard events for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Beijing Winter Olympics’ claim to “carbon neutrality” is Continue Reading