(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Economy: News & Insights - Nikkei Asia

Economy

7 June 2025
Children at a holiday celebration in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Vietnamese government is trying to ease child-rearing burdens by lowering education costs.
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong speaks during a future of Asia in Tokyo on May 29. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
The Future of Asia 2025

Singapore deputy PM Gan calls for 'new alliances' amid U.S. tariffs

City-state's tariff negotiator warns rules-based trade order being 'undermined'

29 May 2025
Container ships at Jakarta International Container Terminal. Southeast Asian countries are offering to buy more U.S. products in tariff negotiations with Washington. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Trump tariffs

ASEAN countries struggle to resolve Trump's 'divide and conquer' tariffs

Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia on U.S. priority talks list but no firm deals yet

28 May 2025
People walk through Singapore's business district in April: The city-state maintained its GDP projections for the year, but noted Trump's uncertain tariff policies clouded overall regional outlook. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
Economy

Singapore keeps 2025 GDP growth target despite Trump tariff pain

City-state maintains upper end of projections at 2%, logging 3.9% growth in Q1

22 May 2025
A container terminal in Singapore. The trade-oriented economy expects headwinds from U.S. tariffs for the rest of the year. 
Economy

Trade worries cloud ASEAN's outlook after slow Q1 GDP growth

Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand predict weaker-than-expected full-year growth

19 May 2025
Singapore Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Changi Airport in Singapore.
Transportation

Singapore Airlines warns of trade headwinds despite record annual profit

Carrier flags demand risks as operating profit fell 37% on rising costs, lower yields

16 May 2025
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong waves during his speech at the Yio Chu Kang Stadium assembly center on May 4. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
9 May 2025
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaks at a campaign rally on April 24. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Opinion

Lawrence Wong won't get a honeymoon after Singapore election win

Victory offers stability, but the challenge now lies in weathering Trump's trade war

7 May 2025
UOB's ratio of non-performing loans crept up to 1.6% in the first quarter of 2025.
Finance

Singapore's UOB braces for slowdown after flat Q1 profit growth

Lender raises loss allowances as it eyes ASEAN opportunities to trump US tariffs

7 May 2025
Containers at the Yantian port in Shenzhen on April 17. China releases its trade data for April on Friday.
Your Week in Asia

Tariff impact data, Singapore bank earnings, major Indian IPO

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

4 May 2025
Politicians running in elections across Asia, including Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, left, and Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party, right, are having to address U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariff policy. (Source photos by Suzu Takahashi, AFP/Jiji, and Reuters)
Trump tariffs

Trump's tariffs cast shadow over upcoming Asian elections

From Singapore to South Korea and beyond, US trade policy cannot be ignored

28 April 2025
Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia's trade minister, speaks at the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone Joint Business and Investment Forum, in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on April 21. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia Investment Development Authority)
Economy

Malaysia, Singapore play up joint economic zone amid US tariff worries

Johor's chief minister proposes industrial park to draw investment from RCEP peers

24 April 2025
Singapore's ruling People's Action Party and opposition parties are actively courting younger voters ahead of the May 3 general election.(Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Getty Images)
Singapore election

Singapore's young voters weigh priorities as campaign kicks off

Housing policy, inequality among issues for new electorate in May 3 polls

23 April 2025
The European Union has been exploring ways to expand its trade partnerships since early this year.
Trump tariffs

As Trump tariffs loom, EU and CPTPP eye closer ties

Brussels moves to promote free trade, though entry into Pacific trade bloc unlikely

17 April 2025
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong leads Singapore's ruling Peoples' Action Party in the upcoming election.
Singapore election

Singapore heads into election as tariff worries build: 5 things to know

Prime Minister Wong faces first test on May 3 as rising cost of living becomes key issue

15 April 2025
As a net importer from China and net exporter to the U.S., ASEAN finds itself hemmed in by the trade war between the world's two largest economies. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)
ASEAN Money

ASEAN struggles to boost regional trade amid Trump tariff threat

U.S. policy renews urgency to deepen economic ties within Southeast Asian bloc

15 April 2025
Prime Minister Ishiba is keen to maintain close relations with Singapore during challenging times. 
Trump tariffs

Ishiba calls Singapore PM Wong to convey U.S. tariff concerns

Tokyo affirms importance of maintaining close contact with Southeast Asia

14 April 2025
Nine out of 10 analysts polled by Reuters had anticipated the Monetary Authority of Singapore would loosen its policy settings.
Markets

Singapore eases monetary policy further as tariff threat persists

Loosening comes as city-state downgrades 2025 growth forecast to 0% to 2%.

14 April 2025
A view of the central business district in Singapore, on April 8: The city-state's open economy is highly dependent on international trade. 
Economy

Singapore likely to cut GDP forecast as Trump tariffs bite: PM Wong

City-state's leader warns U.S. duties threaten to upend international trade

8 April 2025
Shares in Asian banks have been severely hit by growing fears of a global recession. (Source photos by Nanami Sato, Takaki Kashiwabara, Nozomu Ogawa, Reuters)
Trade war

Mounting fears of global recession hit banks in Asia

Japanese lenders fall sharply on declining hopes of BOJ policy normalization

7 April 2025
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, hosts Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Kuala Lumpur on April 6 to discuss regional issues. (Government of Malaysia)
Trade war

Malaysia to seek united ASEAN response to U.S. reciprocal tariffs

Bloc's economic ministers to meet Thursday to discuss collective approach

7 April 2025
The ASEAN flag and those of its member states are displayed at a ministerial meeting in Malaysia in January. Southeast Asian nations are among the hardest hit by new U.S. tariffs
Trade war

ASEAN advised to deepen regional trade after Trump tariffs

Southeast Asia should also strengthen ties with Europe, India and the Gulf, analysts say

3 April 2025
Singaporean real estate builder CapitaLand Development owns a majority stake in Johor's Nusajaya Tech Park, and is looking to do another similar project in the area. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Economy

Singapore companies seek early deals in new Johor special zone

CapitaLand, UOB stake projects amid worries over exits from city-state

24 March 2025
Oil tankers off Singapore, where vessel calls for bunkering in February this year fell 14.1% from the prior month to 3,075, hitting two-year lows.
Commodities

Singapore marine fuel sales slip to lowest in 20 months

Weak demand has dragged on market so far this year, pulling premiums down

14 March 2025
The CDC vouchers were initially intended as financial relief for low-income households during the pandemic. (Photo by Mayuko Tani)
Economy

Singaporeans awash in vouchers, cash payouts as election nears

Impact on public sentiment tends to wane as benefits become routine

10 March 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders attend the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2024.
Your Week in Asia

China political meetings, top telecom expo, South Korea's new bourse

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

2 March 2025
Tokyo commuters: Most professionals in Japan no longer work five days a week in the office, according to a survey by international recruiter Hays. (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)
Business trends

Singapore and Japan lead Asia's shift toward flexible working

Professionals in China most likely to work full time in offices, survey finds

27 February 2025
Yellow automated guided vehicles carry cargo throughout Tuas Port 24 hours a day. (Photo by Fumika Sato)
Transportation

Singapore aims to build world's largest automated port at Tuas

Trade hub could surpass Shanghai in capacity after consolidation in 2040s

23 February 2025
Singapore's Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong delivers his budget speech in parliament on Feb. 18. (Ministry of Digital Development and Information)
Economy

Singapore budget increases handouts in critical election year

PM Wong pledges investments in chips, green energy and aviation

18 February 2025
Tourists swim on the rooftop pool of Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, pictured in November. The tourism growth contributed to a robust GDP expansion in the city-state in 2024.
Economy

Singapore's GDP expands 4.4% in 2024 on trade, tourism rebound

City-state keeps forecast of 1% to 3% expansion in 2025 amid uncertainty

14 February 2025