As we predicted would happen, shortages created by the Iran conflict are starting to spill over into other industrial areas. A shortage of aluminium is now affected the Japanese auto industry, with carmakers turning to Russia’s Rusal to obtain supplies as their usual Middle East manufacturing supply chains are inoperable.
Russia’s exports of agricultural products to Turkiye rose 9% during 2025 to reach US$3.8 billion in value and 12 million tonnes in weight. Primary exports in this category include wheat, sunflower oil, bran, legumes, oilseed cake, rice, flaxseed, molasses and barley, all of which showed significant increases
South Korea’s Sinokor Shipping has added a new China route using Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. The company is the largest Korean shipper operating in Russia, with the new route taking in Busan, Vladivostok, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Shekou and Haiphong.
Russian overseas tourists now spend more on their foreign holidays than European visitors do. A combination of higher purchasing power, disposable income and other factors mean the wealth spending factor is now with the Russians. We explain the reasons why this is so.
Russia has made the decision to redirect most of its EU-bound LNG supplies to Asia ahead of the EU’s planned 2027 termination as it wishes to develop new markets instead of concentrate on declining markets. It is unfortunate for the EU that this also coincides with EU energy supply chain problems with the Middle East.
Subscribe to receive exclusive insights and analysis on Asia.
Sri Lanka has stated it is interested in joining the BRICS group as views it ‘as a platform to spur its economic growth.’
Neighbouring India is the 2026 BRICS chair and will host annual BRICS summit in late summer. It is possible Sri Lanka could be invited to become a partner nation.
Russia’s Port Favor, near St.Petersburg, is aiming to double fertilizer exports as it gears up with expanded facilities, including recent increases of Ammonia exports. It remains a key supplier to come European markets.
Landlocked Belarus, rubbing up against political and security barriers to the West and South, is looking North and East as it wishes to continue to develop its own Pivot to Asia. This includes a specific Belorussian container terminal dedicated to Belarus imports and exports at Murmansk port in the Russian Arctic.
Russia’s FESCO transportation group has achieved a new weekly record volume of railway container transport from the Vladivostok Commercial Sea Port. From 9 to 15 February, 6,767 TEU were sent from VMTP as part of 45 container trains. This is 62 TEU more than the previous weekly maximum achieved in August 2024. FESCO stated that […]
The Russian State Duma has ratified amendments to four Russian-Bangladesh intergovernmental loan agreements related to the construction of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. Russian Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolychev stated that “The amendments were agreed and signed to overcome difficulties with settlements in unfriendly currencies for government loans previously provided to Bangladesh. The protocols […]
Monday (February 16) is Lunar New Year’s Eve and is the traditional day for families throughout Asia to come together, have a huge dinner, and wait for midnight to welcome in the beginning of a New Year. Because a year of twelve lunar months is 11 days shorter than a solar year (which determines the […]
Русский
