Daniel Sim
Desk byline for industry and supply chain at Asianomist: the China+1 tracker, energy and commodities, and Asia's trade with the world.

Phu My Hung unveils Triton Crown luxury apartments in Ho Chi Minh CBD
The 297-unit Triton Crown project, launched in late September, occupies a rare four-frontage site in Ho Chi Minh City's central Phu My Hung district, targeting affluent buyers.

Foxconn, Shiangbao begin smart care trials at Taiwan sites
Foxconn Technology Group and Shiangbao Longterm Care Group have launched proof-of-concept trials for smart care solutions at three facilities in Taiwan, following a collaboration started in November 2025.

Singapore commits S$118m to bio-based chemicals research
The public funding, part of the S$37 billion Research, Innovation, Enterprise (RIE) 2030 plan, aims to transform the nation's energy and chemicals sector, which accounts for one-fifth of its manufacturing output.

Singapore Digital Economy Hits S$144.1 Billion, Tech Workforce Grows
Singapore's digital economy expanded to 19.3% of GDP in 2025, with tech employment rising 3.8% to 222,200, an IMDA report shows.

Adrian Cheng's K11 Xiamen project draws 2 million visits, sales up 32%
Hong Kong developer Adrian Cheng's K11 Select complex in Xiamen, opened on September 22, reported over 2 million visitors and a 32 per cent week-on-week sales increase.

ICTSI faces Durban port delays; anchorage times double
Philippine port operator ICTSI reports doubled vessel waiting times at South Africa's Durban Gateway Terminal, affecting its 25-year concession.

Prasarana, SMRT Delay JB-Singapore Rail Link to Feb 2027
The cross-border rail system, a joint venture between Malaysia's Prasarana Malaysia and Singapore's SMRT Corp, now targets a February 2027 launch due to safety certification and regulatory approval needs.

Far East Organization Unveils Novena Condo, Sales Start Oct 16
Far East Organization launches The Serra Residences, a 133-unit freehold condominium in Singapore's Novena, with sales bookings starting 16 October 2026.

Frasers Property, Mitsubishi Estate Plan Singapore River Luxury Project
The joint venture, 51% controlled by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's Frasers Property, will feature 407 high-end residential units and 184 serviced residences.

FAA Clears 737 Max Software, Max 10 Path Opens
The US Federal Aviation Administration's decision on 3 October smooths the path for the long-delayed 737 Max 10, a crucial model for Boeing's finances with over 1,500 orders.

Thakral Corporation divests Osaka office building for JPY4.12 billion
The Singapore-listed firm sold Utsubo East Building at a 16% premium over its carrying value, expecting to free up $21 million in cash from the transaction.

Singapore's Bee Cheng Hiang hit by AI data breach, 95,000 emails exposed
Singapore's Personal Data Protection Commission found an employee used an AI tool to generate marketing code, exposing over 95,000 customer email addresses.

China AI microdrama producers pivot to quality amid saturation
Chinese AI microdrama creators are shifting focus from low-cost production to unique content, as over 90% of 430,000 new microdramas launched this year were AI-generated.

Wuhan becomes 4th city to sell only finished homes
The central Chinese hub is the fourth major city to transition towards selling only finished properties, focusing on housing supply rather than boosting buyer demand.

AI Capital Inflows Surge as Productivity Gains Remain Elusive
Global spending on AI infrastructure could reach $30 trillion by 2050, but economists and analysts question if this will yield sufficient returns for investors.

New World Development books HK$28.1B loss, exits HK airport mall
The developer logged a HK$18.3 billion (US$2.33 billion) net loss from terminating its 11 SKIES project operating rights, pushing its full-year loss to HK$28.1 billion.

Synopsys shifts EDA, IP revenue to consumption-based models
The US chip design software firm announced new partnerships with OpenAI and Amazon at its 2026 Investor Day, moving from engineer seat licences towards payments tied to design outcomes and chip shipments.

McDonald's sells Hong Kong New Territories outlet for HK$120 million
The property, housing its first restaurant in the New Territories, was acquired by Keen Charm Holdings (HK) Limited, linked to the May Cheong toymaker family.

Suzuki Motor Directs Indian Suppliers to Cut Production Days
The move, a first for the Japanese automaker in India, aims to boost quality and prevent stoppages as Maruti Suzuki targets 4 million annual car output by 2030.

HD Hyundai Heavy wins Taean offshore wind substation deal
The contract with Taean Wind Power, a joint venture including Singapore's Vena Energy, covers engineering, procurement, and installation for the 500-megawatt project.

Accenture Shares Jump 20% on Strong Q4, $1 Billion AI Safety Investment
The global consultancy reported strong fourth-quarter results and an optimistic financial year 2027 outlook, alongside a significant commitment to artificial intelligence safety testing.

Century Properties Group finalises PHirst Park Homes merger
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission approved the consolidation, integrating PHirst Park Homes, which contributed 73% of H1 2026 revenue, directly into the parent company.

Nvidia AI Security Platform: Higher Costs, Deeper Vendor Ties
Nvidia's new AI agent security platform centralises control via dedicated hardware, prompting businesses to weigh stronger protection against increased infrastructure costs and deeper dependence.

Lotte expands financial, export support for Korean SMEs
The South Korean conglomerate disbursed 949.5 billion won ($698 million) in early payments to 12,000 suppliers and maintains a 1 trillion won fund for working capital.

Philippines promotes Kinampay ube to Japanese consumers
The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo is spearheading efforts to introduce the premium purple yam, Kinampay ube, as a new agricultural export, building on successful fruit exports.

Audi Singapore launches RS 5 plug-in hybrid models from S$713,999
Audi Singapore debuted its first high-performance plug-in hybrid RS 5 sedan and Avant models yesterday, starting at S$713,999 with COE, during the Singapore Grand Prix period.

Asia's Top Tech Startups Pivot to Physical AI; Singapore's Role as Hub Expands
More than half of the firms on Granite Asia's NextGen Tech 30 list now apply artificial intelligence in physical settings, with Singapore-based companies making up 42 per cent of honourees.

Hyundai E&C launches Hillstate Godeok Ellist near Samsung campus
The 1,779-unit development in Godeok International New Town offers 84 square metre homes, subject to Korea’s price ceiling system.

Mercedes-Benz, ProLogium Boost Solid-State Battery Development
Taiwan's ProLogium Technology grants Mercedes-Benz priority access to Gen4 solid-state cells, deepening their partnership for electric vehicle power units.

Philippine Fuel Prices to Fall for a Week from September 29
The Philippine Department of Energy announced a week-long reduction in Metro Manila pump prices, effective September 29, attributing the shift to easing global oil prices.