Thailand Walked Into Its LNG Trap With Its Eyes Open – Long Before Hormuz
Thailand’s state power utility has spent roughly $2 billion on availability payments to gas‑fired plants that produced little or no electricity over the past three years. Those fixed fees now add about 0.63 baht per kilowatt‑hour to the 2026 tariff, representing almost a fifth of the base price for households and businesses. At the same time, new long‑term LNG contracts have been signed despite a demand slump and a surplus of under‑utilized capacity. Solar and battery storage costs have fallen below the operating cost of existing gas plants, calling the expansion into further gas capacity into question.
Braw in Foreign Policy on Trump’s Iran War and Strains on U.S. Allies’ Arms Exports
Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Transatlantic Security Initiative, warned in a Foreign Policy piece that the United States’ escalating war with Iran is forcing Washington to divert weapons earmarked for allies. This reallocation is creating shortages and delays in...
DP World Scales up Inland Transport to Support India-UAE Trade
DP World has increased its inland logistics capacity to 1,500 trucks per day, moving bonded cargo from UAE ports such as Khor Fakkan and Fujairah toward India. The company is prioritising food, pharmaceuticals and other critical goods, adding cold‑chain infrastructure to...
Scoop: Trump Huddles with Oil Execs as Iran Stalemate Drags On
President Donald Trump convened a meeting at the White House with top oil and gas executives, including Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, to address the energy fallout from the ongoing Iran conflict. Attendees also included senior White House staff and Treasury...
Tariff Uncertainty Isn’t Over: What the Real Estate Industry Needs to Know
Recent Supreme Court rulings have lifted some tariffs, but many duties on construction inputs like steel and aluminum persist under other trade statutes. The real‑estate sector continues to face volatile material costs, extended lead times, and shifting procurement terms that...
German Finance Minister Doesn’t Rule Out Emergency Borrowing as ‘Trump’s Irresponsible War’ Bites
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil warned that Germany will need unprecedented borrowing over the next four years, with a budget plan calling for €200 billion ($215 billion) next year and €600 billion ($645 billion) over the following three years. About €85 billion ($91 billion) will be...
Hope Beneath the Headlines
RiverFront Investment Group’s April 2026 Chart Pack notes that the Iran‑driven oil shock pushed Brent above $100 per barrel, prompting a modest S&P 500 pullback while the Fed left rates unchanged. Despite the geopolitical turbulence, the United States’ heightened energy independence has...
Bank of Canada Makes Interest Rate Decision
The Bank of Canada left its overnight policy rate unchanged at 2.25% as inflation rebounded to 2.4% in March, driven by a spike in energy prices linked to the US‑Israeli conflict and the Strait of Hormuz closure. Unemployment held steady...
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens as Imports Increase
U.S. goods trade deficit widened in March, reaching $87.9 billion, a 5.3% increase from February. Imports jumped $9.6 billion to $299.3 billion, led by an 11% surge in motor vehicles and gains in food, consumer and capital goods. Exports rose $5.2 billion to $211.5 billion,...
The Bangladesh-US Trade Deal Is a Litmus Test for Dhaka’s Strategic Autonomy
The U.S.–Bangladesh Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), signed days before Bangladesh’s February elections, expands market access to the United States but embeds clauses that restrict dealings with “non‑market economies” and bind Dhaka to U.S. export‑control, energy and defense rules. Those...
Senator to File Bill Ending Morocco Duties: Correction
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R‑Kansas) will introduce the Lowering of Input Costs for American Farmers Act, which would eliminate countervailing duties on phosphate imports from Morocco. The move aims to cut phosphate fertilizer prices by more than 20%, roughly $150...
Tanker Experts Digest Impact of UAE Exit From Opec
The United Arab Emirates announced its departure from OPEC, but experts say any impact on the global tanker market will be delayed. Even if the UAE ramps up oil exports immediately, the ongoing war in Iran limits short‑term market shifts....
Taiwan to Resume Pork Exports to Philippines After Regaining ASF-Free Status: Premier
Taiwan will restart pork shipments to the Philippines on May 14, 2026 after the World Organisation for Animal Health confirmed the island’s African swine fever‑free status. The Philippines halted imports in December 2025 following Taiwan’s first ASF outbreak in October...
EU, ASEAN Need to Be 'Doubling Down' On Multilateralism as Free Trade Fractures: Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan warned that globalisation and free‑trade are under siege, urging the EU and ASEAN to double down on multilateral cooperation. He called for an accelerated EU‑ASEAN free‑trade agreement and a broader dialogue that could link the bloc...
UAE Exit From OPEC Signals New Era for Aviation and Tourism
The United Arab Emirates announced its departure from OPEC, signaling a strategic pivot from oil to aviation and tourism as primary growth engines. By exiting the cartel, the UAE hopes to gain flexibility in energy policy that could lower jet‑fuel...
UK Interest Rates: Will the Bank of England Increase the Base Rate?
The UK’s July energy price cap is set to rise to £1,836 a year (≈ $2,300), a 12% jump linked to the Strait of Hormuz blockage. Inflation remains above the Bank of England’s 2% target and is forecast to hit 4%...
European Trade Bodies Urge Coordinated Action to Avoid “Inflation Crisis”
European agri‑food trade bodies are urging the EU to act swiftly as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, driving up fertilizer, energy, and freight costs. The disruption has already made input prices volatile, threatening food production and affordability across Europe....
Why China May Benefit From the UAE’s Opec Withdrawal Amid Iran War Oil Crisis
The United Arab Emirates will leave Opec on May 1, ending its role as the bloc’s third‑largest producer, which accounts for roughly 12% of total output. Analysts expect the move to give China greater flexibility to source more Emirati crude, potentially...
America’s Bond-Market Privilege Is Disappearing as US Debt Soars
U.S. Treasury bonds are losing their historic convenience‑yield premium as the federal debt swells past $31 trillion, now over 100% of GDP and projected to hit 120% within a decade. Research from Harvard’s Wenxin Du shows the premium has shrunk by...
China’s Sanctions Hit Europe’s Emerging Drone Doctrine
On April 24, China’s Ministry of Commerce placed seven European defence firms on an export‑control list, banning dual‑use items over alleged arms links to Taiwan. The sanctions target Germany’s Hensoldt, Belgium’s FN Herstal and FN Browning, and four Czech companies, cutting off...
Policy Divide Widens Over Cotton Import Duty Amid Cost Pressures and MSP Concerns
India’s cotton value chain is split over the 11% import duty reinstated in January 2026. Textile manufacturers argue the duty inflates raw material costs and hurts export competitiveness, while farmer groups warn that lowering the duty could flood the market with...
Fuel Surcharges and Slow-Steaming Making Waves for Shippers
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced carriers to adjust fuel surcharge practices, with Hapag‑Lloyd moving to monthly emergency fuel surcharges and reporting an extra $50 million in weekly fuel costs. Japanese carrier ONE lifted its EFS to $160...
US Fed Meeting 2026 LIVE: US Fed Meet Outcome at 11.30 Pm Today — All Eyes on Powell's Last Speech...
The Federal Reserve concluded its two‑day April meeting on 29 April, with Chair Jerome Powell expected to announce that the federal‑funds rate will remain in the 3.5‑3.75% target range for a third consecutive session. Powell’s remarks are likely to be his...
Enhanced Monetary Policy Committee Transparency Changes Announced
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is amending its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Charter to attribute individual members' votes and publicly record material differences of view, effective with the May 2026 policy statement. The changes encourage members to express their economic...
Andalucía Exports Grow as Fruit and Vegetable Shipments Increase
Andalucía’s exports rose 11.4% in February to €3.83 billion (US$4.13 billion), outpacing a 0.8% decline across the rest of Spain. Over the first two months of 2026 the region posted €7.03 billion in exports, a 2.8% year‑on‑year gain, while imports fell 13%, creating...
Charai for The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: The Crown’s Moral Voice: King Charles in Washington and the Test of Western Clarity
King Charles III’s recent visit to Washington was framed as a moral appeal for Western unity, especially amid rising authoritarian pressure and NATO’s strategic recalibration. In speeches to U.S. leaders and think‑tank audiences, the monarch highlighted climate action, democratic values,...
US Commits $774m to Upgrade Port Infrastructure Nationwide
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced a $774 million investment to modernize port infrastructure across the nation. Funding will support 37 projects spanning coastal, Great Lakes, and inland river ports, focusing on rail tunnel expansions, advanced screening technology, two‑tier...
US Natural Gas Glut Shields Economy From Iran War Energy Crisis
The Iran war has driven natural‑gas prices sky‑high in Europe and Asia, but a massive supply glut in the U.S. Permian Basin has pushed domestic gas futures below $3 per MMBtu and even into negative territory, with prices hitting –$9.60...
South Korea Offers Shippers a Helping Hand with Freight Rate Discounts
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) have launched a three‑pronged support scheme that offers 10‑20% discounts on full‑container‑load sea freight, LCL discounts on more than 20 routes via Samsung SDS, and...
Charter Market Benefits From Tonnage Shortage in ‘Fully Employed’ Box Ship Fleet
Container shipping remains effectively at full employment despite the Gulf conflict, with commercially idle capacity dropping to 0.7% of global tonnage. Alphaliner reports that at least 58 containerships, representing roughly 310,000 TEU, have been diverted or sheltered, tightening supply further....
Jamie Dimon Gets Candid About National Debt: ‘There Will Be a Bond Crisis, and Then We’ll Have to Deal with...
J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned that the United States faces a looming bond market crisis if policymakers fail to address the near‑$39 trillion national debt. He said the Treasury’s $1 trillion‑plus annual interest bill signals mounting risk, and that geopolitical...
India Exports Rise in Early April Despite West Asia Crisis: Piyush Goyal
India's exports rose in the first three weeks of April compared with the same period last year, despite the West Asia conflict. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said exporters remain enthusiastic and are using alternative routes around the Strait of Hormuz....
Asian Development Bank Cuts Regional Growth Forecasts on Impact of War in West Asia
The Asian Development Bank slashed its growth outlook for Asia and the Pacific to 4.7% in 2026 and 4.8% in 2027, down from 5.1% for both years, citing the war in West Asia. It lifted its inflation projection to 5.2%...
UAE’s OPEC Exit Signals New Global Oil Order
The United Arab Emirates announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+, citing a need for greater production flexibility that aligns with its broader diversification into logistics, finance, aviation, and technology. The move highlights growing strategic divergence among Gulf states, as...
In a Fragmenting Global Order, Former Japanese Leader Urges Pivot to China
Former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama called on Beijing and Tokyo to cooperate against what he described as US “arrogance” and to prevent a collapse of the world order. He argued that joint coalitions with like‑minded nations would boost bargaining...
Libya Suspends Fish Exports as It Reassesses Domestic Fisheries Sector
Effective 21 April, Libya imposed a 90‑day suspension on all seafood exports and re‑exports to give the government time to reassess its domestic fisheries sector. The ban aims to regulate exports, protect the local market and achieve self‑sufficiency. Libya’s fish production...
How Does a Country’s Political System Affect Its Incentives to Attract Foreign Investment?
Researchers Dario Maimone Ansaldo Patti, Ram Mudambi and Pietro Navarra extend the Acemoglu‑Robinson institutional framework to foreign direct investment (FDI). An analysis of 144 countries from 1990‑2018 uncovers a U‑shaped relationship between political competition and FDI inflows: both highly competitive democracies and...
EU Must Have More of Its Own Taxes From 2028, Says Von Der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU must secure additional own‑resource revenues to fund its 2028‑2034 long‑term budget and repay the €390 bn ($425 bn) Covid‑19 debt. The Commission’s July proposal would generate about €66 bn ($72 bn) a year through...
Eurozone Economic Sentiment Tumbles in April
The European Commission’s economic‑sentiment indicator slipped to 93 in April, marking a third consecutive decline after a brief early‑year rebound. Confidence fell across services and retail as households cut back on major purchases and expect higher savings. At the same...
Japanese VLCC Exits Mideast Gulf After Talks with Iran
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi announced that a Japanese VLCC, likely the Idemitsu Maru, has cleared the Strait of Hormuz after nearly two months of delay. The tanker is carrying roughly 2 million barrels of Arab Light crude—about $160 million at current prices—and is...
Hong Kong Surplus Hits HK$11 Billion as Finance Chief ‘Monitors’ Mideast War
Hong Kong’s financial secretary Paul Chan announced a revised fiscal surplus of HK$11 billion (about US$1.9 billion) for the 2025‑26 year, roughly four times the original forecast. He stressed that the ongoing Middle‑East conflict has only a limited effect on the city’s...
Russian Iron Ore and Grain Exports by Rail Skyrocket Amid War in the Middle East
Russian rail freight for iron ore surged 30% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, reaching 57,100 tonnes, while grain shipments via rail approached a record 19.26 million tonnes between July 2025 and March 2026, representing 52‑56% of the modal mix. China stayed the top iron‑ore...
Stock Market Today: Powell to Stay on Fed Board, Central Bank Holds Rates Steady
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at what is likely Chair Jerome Powell's final meeting, while Powell announced he will remain on the Fed board beyond his May 15 term end. His decision follows a Justice Department criminal probe into...
Gold Loses Lustre on Middle East War
Gold prices surged to a record‑near $5,600 per ounce in January but fell back to an average of $4,873 per ounce in the first quarter, as the World Gold Council reported a 5% drop in investment volumes. Heavy outflows in...
Japan’s Ferrous Scrap Exports Dip in March
Japan’s ferrous scrap exports slipped in March, falling 5.1% month‑on‑month to 597,000 tonnes and 7.5% year‑on‑year. The decline was driven by a sharp ¥7,000/t ($44/t) rise in domestic scrap prices, prompting suppliers to favor local mills. Exports to Vietnam rose...
The ‘Hormuz Challenge’: UK Must Keep Calm and Carry On
The article argues that potential disruptions to fertilizer and CO₂ shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will affect UK food costs more than availability. It points out that the UK food sector has already demonstrated resilience during the pandemic and...
Inflation Risks Rebuild in Australia, Supporting RBA Tightening
Australia’s consumer price index jumped to 4.6% year‑on‑year in March, up from 3.7% in February, as transport costs surged 9% and housing inflation accelerated to 6.8%. The underlying trim‑mean CPI rose to 3.5% YoY, indicating persistent price pressure. The data...
Everyone’s Getting Mugged by Inflation – and You’ve Got One Man to Blame
Inflation in Australia jumped to 4.6% in March, the highest in three years, largely driven by a spike in oil prices after the U.S.-Iran conflict closed the Strait of Hormuz. Oil now trades around US$110 a barrel, pushing transport and...
Jerome Powell: Fed Chair Who Stood up to Trump Set to Finish Tenure on Top
Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair who weathered intense criticism from former President Donald Trump, is set to deliver what is likely his final press conference as chair. The Justice Department has dropped its investigation into Powell’s alleged renovation‑cost overruns,...
Panama Reaffirms ‘Neutrality’ of Canal Amid Middle East War
Panama reaffirmed the canal’s neutrality on April 28 as the Middle East war forces a surge in alternative shipping routes. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil and gas carriers to the Panama Canal, lifting daily transits...