Southeast Asia

Warehousing & Transport

Hi-Tech Air Cargo Rises 22% Amid Data-Centre Boom

Hi-tech air cargo volumes hit 3m tonnes in the first seven months of 2026 — up 22% year on year and exceeding Chinese ecommerce air trade (2.8m tonnes). March imports surged 80% to 160,000 tonnes, equaling 52 widebody freighter flights daily. US imports from Taiwan rose 98%, Thailand 155%, while Chinese volumes fell 9%. Ecommerce air freight to Europe collapsed: down 70% in Hungary, 61% in France, 53% in Belgium. Imbalances are widening as new freighter capacity concentrates in the Middle East, misaligned with Asia-to-US hi-tech demand.

2026-10-01

Middle East Supply Chain

Indonesia Pushes 3,300-Ton Rice into Hajj Supply Chain

Indonesia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf launched the Haji and Umrah Store platform in Madiun on 25/9 to embed domestic products—including 3.300 ton of rice prepared for Hajj 2026—into Saudi Arabia’s Hajj supply chain. The effort aligns with the Tri Sukses Haji framework, prioritizing ritual, economic, and service success. Geopolitical disruptions hindered logistics for the 2026 deployment, underscoring systemic challenges in standards compliance, cost efficiency, and supply chain resilience. The expo also marked the Kick Off Manasik Haji Akbar Nasional 2026, supporting preparations for Hajj 1448 H/2027 M.

2026-09-27

Disruptions

Asia-Pacific Data Centres Face 40% Power Demand, $772B Investment

Asia-Pacific data centre growth is accelerating, with McKinsey forecasting the region will capture 34% of global demand by 2030 and JLL estimating US$772 billion in capital needs through 2030. Singapore’s strict sustainability standards have shifted investment to Johor, where data centres may consume 40% of local electricity by 2035. Australia’s live capacity is projected to grow from 1.4 GW in 2025 to 1.8 GW by 2028, though a supply gap looms. Environmental liability and contingent business interruption — driven by utility dependencies and infrastructure strain — are now central insurance concerns.

2026-09-22

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

Indonesia Targets $83.08B Food Export by 2029

Indonesia’s food and beverage industry targets USD 83.08 billion in exports by 2029, backed by USD 275.61 billion manufacturing value added in 2025 — the highest in ASEAN. First-half 2026 growth hit 6.77%, with exports totaling USD 24.61 billion and a surplus of USD 17.57 billion. The sector employed 6.94 million people and attracted IDR 26.82 trillion in investment. Regulatory alignment includes mandatory SNI for six key products amid EUDR, CBAM, and clean-label trends.

2026-09-21

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

Haiphong Targets 215.5M-Ton Port Throughput by 2030

Haiphong is pursuing an integrated logistics strategy linking supply sources, modern warehousing, and intelligent multimodal transport. Its deep-water port system targets 175.4–215.5 million tons of cargo and 12.15–14.92 million TEU by 2030, supported by 61–73 berths and 20,196–23,446 meters of pier length. Total logistics land is planned at 2,200–2,500 hectares under the 2040 master plan (vision to 2050). Cargo growth is projected at 5–5.3% annually through 2050; passenger traffic at 1.5–1.6%. Digital transformation—including AI warehousing, RFID tracking, and smart multimodal routing—is central to reducing dwell time and emissions.

2026-09-21

Strategy & Planning

Southeast Asia’s 6 Largest Economies to Grow 4.8% Annually Through 2035

A joint report by Bain & Company, DBS Bank, and Vriens & Partners forecasts that Southeast Asia’s six largest economies — Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — will grow at an average annual rate of 4.8% from 2026 through 2035. Vietnam is expected to lead in growth, while Thailand lags regional peers. Singapore is identified as the most resilient economy, supported by deep financial markets and strong fiscal resources. The projection hinges on foreign investment, infrastructure development, and technology-driven productivity gains.

2026-09-21

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

Hai Phong Logistics Forum Targets Bottlenecks Amid 11.74% Port Growth

The seventh Regional Logistics Forum for Vietnam’s Red River Delta convened in Hai Phong on 21 September 2026, drawing over 600 delegates to tackle infrastructure bottlenecks. Cargo throughput at Hai Phong Port reached 134.34 million tons in the first eight months of 2026 — up 11.74% year-on-year — while exports totaled $42.2 billion (+14.6%) and import-export revenue hit 65,023 billion VND (+16.8%). The forum advanced proposals to strengthen multimodal transport, update maritime regulations, and integrate Lach Huyen Port with industrial zones and digital systems, supporting Hai Phong’s strategic role as Vietnam’s marine growth pole.

2026-09-21

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

Indonesia Extends B50 Biodiesel Mandate to 2027

Indonesia’s mandatory B50 biodiesel program, launching in July 2026, is confirmed to continue through 2027. The government is strengthening supply chain readiness — from feedstock to distribution — to ensure stable implementation. Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of EBTKE at Indonesia’s ESDM Ministry, stressed that success depends on coordinated investment, logistics, and volume certainty. While B60 is under discussion, its advancement faces technical constraints, with a proposed 10% HVO blend component contingent on economics and scalability. Concurrently, Indonesia is developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to broaden renewable fuel use beyond road transport.

2026-09-20

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

Vietnam Exporters Adapt to Japan’s 80% Chlorothalonil MRL Cut

Vietnamese exporters are adapting to tightening global food safety rules, including Japan’s proposed 80% cut in chlorothalonil MRL on ginger (to 0.01 mg/kg) and a 97.5% boscalid reduction. New EU import regulations take effect August 12, 2026, demanding granular traceability. Companies like An Hai Seafood (42% U.S., 20–25% EU sales) and Minh Phu Seafood (targeting 70–80% automation) are scaling farm-level oversight, cross-border certifications, and robotics to retain orders. Industry leaders urge policy shifts toward pre-market capacity support for SMEs.

2026-09-20

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

Ha Tinh Targets $600M FDI in 2027, Prioritizes Semiconductors and AI

Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, aims to attract $600 million in FDI in 2027, prioritizing semiconductors, AI, data centers, and other high-tech sectors. The strategy emphasizes proactive investor targeting, infrastructure readiness—including land clearance in zones like Bac Thach Ha and Vinhomes in Vung Ang—and regional specialization. It seeks firms that anchor supply chains and integrate with domestic enterprises, while setting parallel goals of launching 2,000 new local businesses and achieving over 11% private-sector growth. Digital tools and multilingual resources enhance transparency and accessibility.

2026-09-20

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

WWF Indonesia, CPOPC Ink MoU to Boost Palm Oil Supply Chain Transparency

WWF-Indonesia and the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 Sep 2026 to strengthen supply chain transparency, certification, and smallholder inclusion in palm oil production. The 'Green Partnership' targets enhanced credibility for Indonesia's ISPO standard and supports national climate goals—including a 31.89% emissions cut by 2030. A follow-up webinar addressed EUDR compliance challenges for smallholders, featuring voices from Indonesia and Malaysia.

2026-09-19

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

Huế City Chairman Tours Quảng Trị Deepwater Port for Northern Industrial Logistics

Huế City Chairman Lê Trí Thanh led a field visit to Quảng Trị’s Mỹ Thủy Deepwater Port on September 15 to align logistics infrastructure with industrial growth north of Huế. He identified the port as a key node for Phong Điền and other northern zones, directed land-use reviews prioritizing flood resilience and transport access, and mandated integrated road planning with a 36m right-of-way. Phong Điền Industrial Zone (700ha, expanding to 2,038ha) hosts 16 projects and employs 10,600; Tứ Hạ (126.7ha) reports 81% occupancy and supports 4,000 jobs.

2026-09-19