Egypt’s Suez Canal recorded its strongest monthly revenue since early 2024 as oil tankers turned increasingly to the Red Sea route after the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted Gulf energy flows. Revenue from the waterway reached about $419 million in April, up 27 per cent from a year earlier, supported by a sharp rise in tanker crossings and higher net tonnage. The canal handled […]
Chinese investors shut out of SpaceX’s planned blockbuster share sale are turning to indirect routes, fuelling speculative demand for offshore vehicles, supplier stocks and domestic space-sector names as Elon Musk’s rocket company prepares for one of the largest market debuts on record. Underwriters handling the offering have been told not to accept orders from investors in mainland China and Hong Kong, with the restriction linked to US […]
Visitor arrivals from the six GCC countries reached 55,924 in 2025, up 25.2 per cent from the previous year, outpacing Japan’s wider inbound tourism growth. The increase came as total international arrivals hit 42.683 million, a record annual figure and a 15.8 per cent rise from 2024, when Japan had already surpassed its pre-pandemic high.
The Gulf performance remains small in absolute numbers compared with Japan’s biggest source markets in East Asia, North America and Europe, but the pace of growth has drawn attention from travel operators because GCC visitors tend to favour premium hotels, private tours, family travel, shopping, wellness experiences and multi-city itineraries. Demand has been supported by stronger aviation links through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, easier visa processes for several categories of travellers, and sustained interest in Japan’s seasonal attractions.
The rise also reflects a broader shift in Gulf outbound travel. Travellers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman are looking beyond traditional European summer destinations, especially as Japan promotes cooler regions, countryside routes and immersive cultural experiences. Hokkaido has gained visibility among Gulf families seeking milder summer weather, scenic drives and nature resorts, while Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka continue to dominate first-time travel plans.
Japan’s appeal has been reinforced by the weak yen, which has made shopping, dining and accommodation more attractive for visitors with dollar-linked Gulf currencies. Luxury retail, department stores, theme parks, Michelin-listed restaurants, ryokan stays and private guides have benefited from the spending power of long-haul visitors. Travel agencies across the Gulf have also reported growing demand for tailor-made trips covering cherry blossom viewing, autumn foliage, ski resorts and Japanese pop culture.
Tourism spending has become a major pillar of Japan’s post-pandemic services economy. International visitor expenditure rose to about ¥9.5 trillion in 2025, up 16.4 per cent from the previous year, while average spending per visitor was roughly ¥229,000. The figures underline why Japan is targeting higher-value tourism rather than only volume growth, especially as pressure mounts on crowded destinations such as Kyoto, Mount Fuji viewing spots and central Tokyo districts.
Japan’s national tourism strategy aims to draw 60 million visitors annually by 2030, but policymakers and local authorities are increasingly balancing that target with concerns over overtourism. Measures have included crowd controls, higher accommodation taxes in some areas, visitor-management rules at popular sites and campaigns encouraging travellers to explore regional destinations. For GCC visitors, that strategy fits with demand for quieter, curated experiences outside the standard Golden Route of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
JNTO’s Dubai office has intensified destination marketing across the Gulf, with campaigns highlighting Hokkaido, Setouchi and other regions suited to repeat visitors. Promotional activity has focused on travel trade partners, digital media, luxury travel networks and family-oriented itineraries, reflecting the region’s preference for planned holidays with strong service standards. Japan’s participation in major Gulf travel events has also helped place the country more firmly in tour operators’ premium Asia portfolios.
Air connectivity remains a decisive factor. Gulf hubs provide one-stop access to several Japanese gateways for travellers from across the region, while Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have helped keep Japan visible in high-yield leisure and business travel channels. Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi also act as connecting points for travellers from wider Middle East markets, strengthening Japan’s ability to attract visitors beyond its traditional Asian feeder markets.
Visa facilitation has added momentum. UAE nationals continue to benefit from visa-free short stays, while Qatari citizens have access to similar arrangements after completing required registration. Travellers from Saudi Arabia and other GCC states have increasingly been able to use electronic visa channels for tourism, reducing friction for families and first-time visitors. Expatriate residents in Gulf countries remain subject to nationality-based rules, but online processing has improved access for many applicants.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The OPEC Fund for International Development has mandated a no-grow €500 million five-year fixed-rate benchmark bond, returning to Europe’s public debt market as highly rated supranational borrowers continue to draw demand from investors seeking secure income. Initial price thoughts for the Regulation S senior unsecured issue have been set at mid-swaps plus 29 basis points. The expected issue rating is aligned with the […]
Companies are losing visibility over how workers use artificial intelligence, as staff turn to ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude and other tools faster than governance teams can approve, monitor or secure them. The spread of so-called shadow AI has exposed a familiar weakness in corporate cybersecurity: organisations that struggled to control unapproved apps, unmanaged cloud storage and personal messaging channels are now facing the same problem with tools […]
Hackers are turning TikTok and Instagram Reels into malware delivery channels, using polished tutorial-style clips that promise free premium software and then steer users towards malicious downloads or command-line instructions that compromise their devices. The campaign marks a shift in social engineering from email inboxes and fake websites to short-form video feeds, where attackers mimic creator culture, use casual language and rely on platform algorithms to amplify […]
Japan’s three largest banking groups are moving to jointly issue stablecoins by the end of the fiscal year to March 2027, setting up a coordinated push that could place regulated bank-backed digital money at the centre of corporate payments and cross-border settlement. MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mizuho Bank will establish a council to examine operating rules, governance, issuance procedures and systems needed for the […]
Trad. Fi and W3 are preparing a $650 million private-credit programme aimed at moving equipment-financing loans for businesses onto public blockchain infrastructure, marking a fresh push to connect real-economy lending with automated capital workflows and tokenised settlement. The initiative targets a 48-month pipeline of lending assets tied to equipment purchases, with Trad. Fi originating credit and W3 providing artificial-intelligence agents to support risk assessment, due diligence and […]
The currency strengthened sharply in Colombo trading, touching 328 to the dollar from weaker levels around 336.50 before settling in a wider 332-334 range. The previous close was near 337.00-337.75, underscoring the immediate impact of the central bank’s intervention on market sentiment. The move marks one of the rupee’s strongest single-session gains this year after months of pressure linked to higher fuel bills, vehicle imports and heavy demand for dollars from importers.
The new rule, issued through an extraordinary gazette under the authority of Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, requires exporters of goods receiving proceeds during a calendar month to convert the residual foreign exchange into Sri Lankan rupees on or before the tenth day of the following month. The change effectively reduces the conversion window to about 30 days from the earlier period of about 90 days, after permitted payments are made.
The directive came into immediate effect and applies to exporters after they use proceeds for authorised payments such as imports, debt servicing and other approved foreign currency obligations. It reverses part of the relaxation introduced in 2024, when the central bank gave exporters more time to convert proceeds as foreign exchange conditions improved after the country’s debt crisis.
The latest measure is designed to bring export dollars more quickly into the domestic market at a time when the rupee has come under renewed strain. The currency had fallen by about 8 per cent this year before the intervention, reflecting a combination of stronger import demand, elevated global energy prices and cautious dollar conversions by exporters waiting for more favourable rates.
Market participants said the shortened conversion period could provide near-term support by increasing the supply of dollars through the banking system. The effect, however, may be temporary if importers absorb the additional liquidity quickly, particularly with fuel, medicines, vehicles and intermediate goods continuing to drive demand for foreign exchange.
The rupee’s rebound follows a series of policy moves by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to contain pressure on the currency and inflation. On May 26, the central bank raised the overnight policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75 per cent, its largest increase since 2023, signalling a shift away from growth support towards price and currency stability. The rate move followed a faster-than-expected rise in inflation and a renewed deterioration in external conditions.
Headline inflation in Colombo stood at 5.5 per cent in May, marginally above the central bank’s target and slightly higher than April’s 5.4 per cent. Price pressures have been fuelled by energy adjustments and the spillover from tensions in the Middle East, which have pushed up import costs for fuel-dependent economies. Construction firms have also reported higher input costs and shortages of petrochemical-based materials.
The central bank has already spent foreign exchange to defend the currency. Around $211 million was used in May as the rupee tested its weakest level in four years on May 21. Foreign reserves fell 3.8 per cent in April to about $6.7 billion, reflecting the cost of higher imports and intervention, although reserves remain well above the crisis levels seen during the 2022 balance-of-payments collapse.
Sri Lanka’s external position has become more fragile after a stronger start to the year. The current account moved into deficit in April after surpluses during the first quarter, mainly because of a wider trade gap, a softer services surplus and higher primary income outflows. Workers’ remittances continued to improve, offering some relief, but the recovery in imports has changed the balance in the foreign exchange market.
The policy shift also comes as Sri Lanka remains under a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund programme designed to restore macroeconomic stability after the country’s sovereign default. A further $695 million disbursement was approved in late May, helping support reserves and fiscal reforms, but the economy remains exposed to external shocks, especially oil price volatility and shifts in investor confidence.
TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2026 – Tenchijin Inc., a space-tech innovator transforming sustainable water infrastructure management, is pleased to announce its participation in Singapore International Water Week 2026 (SIWW), one of the world’s premier platforms to share and co-create innovative water, coastal, and flood solutions to meet urban water and associated climate challenges.
Organized by Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, SIWW is Asia’s premier global platform for co-creating innovative water solutions. Held biennially, the event is expected to gather over 2,500 global leaders, experts, and practitioners from governments, utilities, academia, and industry to share best practices, showcase the latest technologies, and harness business opportunities.
As a cornerstone of the event, the SIWW2026 Water Expo serves as the pre-eminent marketplace for urban water technologies, innovations, and solutions tailored for municipal and industrial water users across Southeast Asia. Organized by Messe München in cooperation with IFAT, the Expo connects the full water value chain—from advanced treatment, reuse, and desalination to digital solutions and climate-resilient coastal protection. Taking place from 16–18 June 2026 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, the Expo is expected to welcome over 24,000 trade visits, making it Asia’s leading business platform for sustainable water management.
Tenchijin will showcase “KnoWaterleak,” our water leakage assessment and management platform, at the exhibition booth. Additionally, Yohei Nishiyama, VP of Business Development, will speak as a guest panelist in the Technology Forum, sharing insights on sustainable water management solutions driven by AI and space technology.
Event Overview
■ Organizer: SIWW: Singapore International Water Week Pte Ltd／Water Expo: Messe München
■ Date: SIWW: 15–18 June 2026 / Water Expo: 16–18 June 2026
■ Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
■ Event URL: https://www.siww.com.sg/
Tenchijin-SIWW Water Expo
■ Date: Water Expo: 16–18 June 2026
[Exhibition Booth]
■ Booth Number: B2-N08PIC
[Panel Discussion]
■ Tenchijin’s Panelist: Yohei Nishiyama, VP of Business Development
■ Date: 16 June, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (Technology Forum)
■ Venue: Hall E, Level B2
■ Discussion Theme: “Reactive to Predictive: AI Applications in Managing Aging Water Infrastructure”
With much of the world’s water infrastructure aging rapidly, the cost of reactive management is no longer sustainable. This panel examines real-world AI applications—from predictive leak detection to asset performance modeling—that help utilities anticipate failures, prioritize investments, and transition toward proactive, data-driven operations that improve efficiency and long-term infrastructure resilience.
Moderated by: Kim Demeyer, Science & Technology Counsellor, Flanders Investment & Trade
Panelists:
・Shanmugavel Subramaniam, Water and Wastewater Segment Leader, Schneider Electric
・Yohei Nishiyama, VP of Business Development, Tenchijin Inc.
https://siww2026-app.siww.com.sg/agenda/?agid=fe6fc21d07c8452c8e29
Hashtag: #Tenchijin #SIWW #KnoWaterleak #SatelliteTechnology #WaterLeakage #Sustainability #LeakageDetection #SpaceTech #Startup
https://tenchijin.co.jp/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tenchijin/
https://x.com/tenchijin_pr
https://www.facebook.com/tenchijin.pr
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Tenchijin KnoWaterleak
KnoWaterleak is an innovative platform that harnesses satellite data and AI to predict and prevent water infrastructure risks. The system analyzes space-derived data to identify potential leaks within 100-meter square zones, providing unprecedented insights through a 5-level risk evaluation system.
Through continuous AI learning and data collection, the platform demonstrates efficiency in sustainable water management. This technology has earned recognition from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare at the 7th Infrastructure Maintenance Grand Prize.
About Tenchijin Inc.
Tenchijin Inc. is a space-tech innovator leveraging satellite data and AI to detect hidden water infrastructure risks, predict potential leaks, and drive more sustainable, efficient water management through space-derived insights. Our flagship product, KnoWaterleak, combines satellite technology with advanced AI algorithms to proactively identify and prevent costly infrastructure failures, enabling organizations to manage their water systems more sustainably.
Company Overview:
For inquiries regarding the expansion of Tenchijin COMPASS KnoWaterleak globally: Asia Business Development Representative: [email protected]
For media inquiries: Satomi, Kiki [email protected]
ADNOC is exploring investment opportunities in Canada’s upstream oil and liquefied natural gas sectors through XRG, its international energy investment arm, as Abu Dhabi intensifies its search for overseas assets aligned with long-term energy security and gas demand. Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC’s chief executive for upstream, said at the Global Energy Show in Calgary on Tuesday that the company was encouraged by Canada’s renewed emphasis on energy […]
Crescent Petroleum Chief Executive Officer Majid Jafar has warned that the Gulf conflict has moved beyond an energy-market disruption into a whole-economy shock, exposing the vulnerability of global trade, industry and food systems to a narrow set of strategic maritime chokepoints. Speaking in Washington, DC, at the Arab Gulf States Institute’s Petro Diplomacy 2026 conference, Jafar said disruption to flows through the Strait of Hormuz had shown […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oman is moving to convert fiscal repair and regulatory reform into a stronger claim on international capital, positioning the International Financial Centre of Oman as the centrepiece of a drive to attract financial institutions, fund managers and professional services firms. The push comes as Muscat benefits from a restored investment-grade profile after several years of debt reduction, spending restraint and higher policy credibility […]
Matein Khalid Only after I tried to read the 277-page SpaceX IPO filing did I grasp the truth of Winston Churchill’s observation that his sceptred isle and America were two countries separated by a common language. For my Brit friends and editors, SpaceX is a rocket launch, satellite and AI business. In the legal gobbledygook of SEC/Wall Street, American lingo, SpaceX is history’s first “orbital infrastructure conglomerate”. […]
The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration to facilitate consented cross-border credit report applications for individuals with financial footprints in either country. The initiative aims to enhance financial inclusion, strengthen credit risk assessment, and support the growing economic integration between the two neighbouring markets.
Singapore and Malaysia share one of ASEAN’s most dynamic economic relationships, with bilateral trade regularly exceeding SGD 100 billion annually. Both countries maintain deep labour, education and business linkages, supported by strong digital infrastructure and rapidly growing digital financial services ecosystems.
The collaboration is strategically aligned with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which places strong emphasis on digital industries, data-driven enterprises and technology-enabled services. As the digital economy accelerates cross-border business models, including fintech, e-commerce, digital banking and platform-based SMEs, trusted cross-border credit infrastructure will be critical to enabling secure digital onboarding, responsible lending and seamless access to capital across both markets.
Under the MOU, CBS and Experian Malaysia intend to collaborate on a cross-border initiative that enables the structured and secure exchange of individual credit information between the two markets.
The proposed framework will define:
For consumers, the initiative is expected to improve access to financial products by enabling lenders to consider verified credit histories of individuals from across the border. This may particularly benefit digital-native workers, entrepreneurs and professionals whose financial footprints span both jurisdictions. As more individuals build financial footprints on both sides of the Causeway, the ability to securely and responsibly reflect their credit history across borders becomes increasingly important. A structured cross-border credit reporting framework can help ensure that consumers are assessed more fairly and comprehensively, rather than being treated as “new-to-credit” applicants when they move between Singapore and Malaysia.
For financial institutions, access to cross-border credit data can provide a more holistic view of an applicant’s financial obligations, supporting stronger digital underwriting, reduced cross-border fraud risk and more confident expansion into adjacent markets. Improved cross-border data transparency may also enhance operational efficiency and portfolio resilience in increasingly digital lending environments.
CBS and Experian Malaysia emphasised that data protection, regulatory compliance, and consumer consent are foundational to the initiative. Both parties are committed to working within their respective legal and regulatory frameworks and engaging relevant authorities to facilitate responsible implementation. The MOU also contains confidentiality provisions governing information exchanged in the course of collaboration.
Mr. William Lim, Executive Director of Credit Bureau Singapore, said:
“As individuals and businesses operate more seamlessly across Singapore and Malaysia, credit information systems must evolve to reflect cross-border realities. This collaboration represents an important step towards enabling more seamless and responsible access to credit for consumers.”
Ms. Dawn Lai, Chief Executive Officer of Experian Information Services Malaysia, added: “Trusted data collaboration is key to strengthening digital financial ecosystems. By working together, we aim to enhance financial inclusion, improve risk transparency and support sustainable growth across both markets.”
Mr. Vincent Yap, CBS Board Chairman & Group Chief Credit Officer, Consumer Credit Risk Management of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, said “The access to cross-border credit data can provide a more comprehensive view of an individual applicant’s financial obligations, supporting more accurate risk assessment outcomes, reduced cross-border fraud risk and promote seamless access to capital across both markets.”
Hashtag: #Experian
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Credit Bureau (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CBS), a subsidiary of Credit Bureau Asia Limited (CBA), is Singapore’s most comprehensive consumer credit bureau that has full-industry uploads from financial institutions such as retail banks, merchant banks, finance companies and credit card issuers licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). CBS is a joint venture between The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) and Infocredit Holdings Pte Ltd.
The setting up of a consumer credit bureau in Singapore is a significant addition to enhance the Republic’s risk management capability. Since 2002, the Banking Act, administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has allowed CBS members to disclose and obtain credit-related information to mitigate consumer credit risk through information pooling from CBS. From 2021, credit bureaus that conduct consumer credit reporting businesses in Singapore, such as CBS, are regulated under the Credit Bureau Act 2016.
As part of consumer credit reporting business, CBS aggregates credit-related information amongst participating members and presents a more complete risk profile of a customer to credit providers. This helps credit providers to determine the likelihood of the customer repaying, thus enhancing their risk assessment capabilities. Our goal is to also educate and reach out to the wider community on the importance of credit reputation.
CBS has also been designated by the Ministry of Law as the operator of the Moneylenders Credit Bureau (MLCB) under Section 56 of the Moneylenders Act.
MLCB is a central repository of data on borrowers’ loans and repayment records with all licensed moneylenders (LMLs) in Singapore. It will allow LMLs to assess the creditworthiness of borrowers and make informed decisions when granting loan applications. MLCB will also help borrowers to understand their loan information report so as to work towards achieving better financial health.
About Credit Bureau Asia Limited
(www.creditbureauasia.com)
Credit Bureau Asia Limited (CBA) is a leading player in the credit and risk information solutions market in Southeast Asia. CBA provides credit and risk information solutions to an extensive client base of financial institutions (“FI”), multinational corporations, telecommunication companies, government bodies and public agencies, local enterprises and individuals across Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Myanmar. CBA’s business has two core segments, the FI Data Business and the Non-FI Data Business, covering both consumer and commercial credit risk information.
As at 31 December 2024, the Group has more than 255 financial institution members across Singapore, Cambodia and Myanmar, including banks, microfinance institutions, leasing companies and rural credit operators.
For its Non-FI Data Business, the Group has more than 6,000 enterprise customers, ranging from multinational corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises. CBA’s Non-FI Data Business operates in Singapore and Malaysia, where enterprise customers can access a wide range of business information and risk management services, sales and marketing solutions, and commercial insights. CBA combines data sourced from a variety of publicly accessible registries, Dun & Bradstreet’s extensive international network, as well as information contributed by businesses which subscribe to CBA’s payment bureau services. The Group has access to a database of more than 580 million business records globally.
CBA was named in Forbes Asia’s 2025 “Best Under A Billion” list, marking the second consecutive year that CBA has been named among the top 200 top-performing publicly listed small and mid-sized companies across the Asia-Pacific region.
About Experian (www.experianplc.com)
Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and platforms. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money.
We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments.
We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and to innovate. A FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 25,200 people across 33 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.
Humanity Protocol suffered a sharp market collapse after a private-key compromise hit wallets linked to the Web3 identity project, draining more than $30 million and sending its H token down by nearly 90 per cent during Tuesday trading. The breach exposed a critical weakness in one of the fastest-rising digital identity ventures in the crypto market, where projects promise privacy-preserving proof of personhood but still depend on […]
United States lawmakers have set out a package of digital asset tax measures aimed at reducing compliance burdens for crypto users while giving tax authorities clearer rules for staking, mining, stablecoins, trading losses and charitable donations. The House Ways and Means Committee has placed six numbered bills and a related discussion draft before a full committee hearing on digital asset taxation scheduled for June 9 at 2pm […]
Sahara AI’s SAHARA token suffered a steep sell-off on Tuesday after large on-chain transfers from wallets linked to the project triggered concern among traders, cutting the token’s value by as much as 60 per cent before a partial recovery. SAHARA fell from about $0.038 to an intraday low near $0.0129, then recovered to around $0.016 as heavy trading continued across major venues, including Binance. Turnover exceeded $250 […]
The amended rules, issued through Notification No. 19/2026-27 dated 2 June 2026, apply with immediate effect to silver powder, silver grains, silver of 99.9% purity or more, and other unwrought silver. The change adds a fresh approval layer to a trade channel that was already limited to nominated agencies, banks and qualified jewellers using authorised routes.
The affected ITC codes include 71061000 for silver powder, 71069110 for silver grains, 71069120 for silver containing 99.9% or more by weight of silver, and 71069190 for other unwrought silver. These categories fall within the broader heading for silver, including silver plated with gold or platinum, in unwrought, semi-manufactured or powder form.
Until the amendment, eligible imports could be routed through banks notified by the Reserve Bank of India, agencies notified by the DGFT, and qualified jewellers notified by the International Financial Services Centres Authority for imports through the India International Bullion Exchange. The new framework keeps those channels in place but requires a valid DGFT Import Authorisation before shipments can proceed.
The order marks a sharper shift in bullion management after curbs were placed in May on silver bars of 99.9% purity and other semi-manufactured forms. Together, the steps move a large portion of silver inflows away from a relatively open framework towards a case-by-case approval regime. The policy direction points to closer official monitoring of volumes, end-use and trade routing at a time when precious-metal purchases have added pressure to the external account.
Silver imports have climbed sharply, with the country’s import bill for the metal touching a record $12 billion in the financial year ended March 2026, compared with $4.8 billion a year earlier. April shipments rose 157% year on year to $411 million, underlining the scale of demand before the latest controls took effect.
The bullion market is likely to feel the immediate impact through slower approvals, tighter availability and wider domestic premiums if import authorisations do not keep pace with demand. Dealers have already been adjusting to a compliance-heavy environment, including the April publication of the list of banks authorised to import gold and silver until March 2029 after delays had held up consignments at customs.
The policy also comes after duties on gold and silver were raised to 15% from 6%, a move aimed at discouraging discretionary imports of precious metals. Higher tariffs and tighter licensing conditions together indicate a broader attempt to contain import demand, protect foreign exchange reserves and reduce pressure on the rupee at a time when oil and other commodity bills remain sensitive to global price swings.
Industrial users will be watching the authorisation process closely because silver is not only a bullion and jewellery metal. It is used in electronics, solar cells, conductive pastes, precision engineering, industrial chemicals and electrical components. Silver powder and grains are important inputs for manufacturers as well as refiners and jewellers, making clarity on approval timelines essential for supply planning.
Investment demand has become a larger part of the market’s momentum. Silver bars, coins and exchange-traded products have attracted interest from investors looking for exposure to precious metals, particularly when global uncertainty and currency volatility lift demand for hard assets. That trend has complicated policy choices because the same metal feeds both household savings and industrial supply chains.
The India International Bullion Exchange remains central to the formalisation of bullion trade through GIFT City, especially for qualified jewellers using the exchange route. By requiring DGFT authorisation even for eligible jewellers importing through IIBX, the amendment signals that institutional routing alone will no longer be treated as sufficient compliance for specified silver categories.
Silver dore imports by refineries continue under the existing licence framework with actual-user conditions where applicable, leaving the refining route distinct from the broader authorisation requirement for covered products. This distinction matters for refiners that process raw material into marketable silver, though they too are operating in a tighter policy environment.
Major supply sources for the country include the UAE, Britain and China, making the rule change relevant for global bullion flows as well as domestic trade. Suppliers may face slower shipment planning, while banks and nominated agencies will need to factor DGFT approvals into import schedules.
The immediate test for the new system will be administrative efficiency. A transparent and predictable authorisation process could help the government track sensitive inflows without disrupting legitimate industrial consumption. Delays, however, could push up local premiums, affect manufacturers dependent on imported feedstock and encourage buyers to shift procurement strategies.
Michael Saylor’s attempt to frame bitcoin’s sharp fall as a rotation of capital into artificial intelligence has drawn a blunt challenge from Arca, which argues that the more immediate trigger was Strategy’s sale of 32 bitcoin to meet preferred stock dividend obligations. The dispute has turned a small transaction into a larger test of confidence in one of the market’s most influential bitcoin treasury companies. Strategy sold […]
Coinbase and Cardless have moved to widen access to crypto-linked consumer credit by adding a stablecoin-secured version of the Coinbase One Card for applicants who cannot be approved on an unsecured basis. The product allows eligible Coinbase One members in the United States to pledge USDC held in, or purchased through, their Coinbase wallet as security for a credit card issued by First Electronic Bank and offered […]
Customs figures showed a sharp rise in outbound shipments of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products, extending the strong performance seen in April, when exports reached 598,000 metric tonnes. The increase underlined China’s role as the main buffer for a global market unsettled by production cuts, shipping delays and higher insurance costs linked to the conflict around the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
The aluminium surge came as China’s wider trade machine gathered pace. Total exports rose 19.4 per cent from a year earlier in May, beating forecasts and widening the trade surplus to more than $105 billion. Imports also grew 27.4 per cent, but the headline gain masked a sharp fall in crude purchases, with volumes down about 29 per cent as refiners leaned more heavily on inventories and cut some buying amid elevated freight and geopolitical risks.
Aluminium has become one of the clearest channels through which the Middle East war is reshaping industrial supply chains. Producers in Gulf states account for a meaningful share of non-Chinese primary aluminium supply, and disruption to power-intensive smelting, port activity and shipping routes has tightened availability for consumers in Europe, Asia and North America. Prices in London climbed to a four-year high this month as traders priced in the risk of prolonged supply constraints.
Chinese exporters have benefited from the opening. Producers and traders have increased shipments of semi-finished products and other aluminium categories where overseas premiums have risen faster than domestic prices. The price gap has improved margins for exporters, even as Beijing continues to manage capacity growth in a sector long associated with heavy energy use and emissions.
The market shift is particularly important for manufacturers in transport, construction, packaging, power infrastructure and renewable energy. Aluminium is widely used in electric vehicles, aircraft parts, solar frames, building systems and high-voltage transmission equipment. A sustained shortage outside China could raise input costs for industries already dealing with expensive financing, disrupted shipping schedules and volatile energy markets.
China’s advantage rests on scale. The country dominates global aluminium production and has built deep processing capacity across provinces such as Shandong, Henan, Guangxi and Yunnan. Its producers can move quickly when export margins improve, though output remains constrained by power costs, environmental controls and the national ceiling on smelting capacity.
The export rise also carries political sensitivity. Western governments have long argued that China’s industrial policies create excess capacity and depress global prices. A fresh wave of metal exports, even if driven by war-related shortages, could sharpen trade friction at a time when the United States, Europe and other economies are expanding scrutiny of Chinese goods in sectors ranging from steel and batteries to solar components and electric vehicles.
Crude oil tells a different story. China remains the world’s largest crude importer, but May’s decline showed how refiners are adjusting to uncertainty in Gulf shipping. The Middle East supplied a large share of China’s crude last year, with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar among key reported suppliers, while Iranian barrels have continued to reach Chinese buyers through opaque trading channels.
Refiners have drawn on commercial and strategic inventories built during earlier periods of lower prices and heavy discounted buying. Weak domestic fuel margins have also reduced the incentive to import aggressively. Independent refiners in Shandong and state-run plants have faced pressure from high crude costs, capped fuel prices and softer demand growth as electric vehicles erode petrol consumption.
The fall in crude imports may help ease immediate pressure on global oil markets, but it also reflects the vulnerability of China’s energy security to maritime disruption. The Strait of Hormuz remains central to crude and liquefied natural gas flows, and any prolonged interruption would force Beijing to rely more on stockpiles, pipeline supplies from Russia and Central Asia, and alternative seaborne routes.
For commodity markets, May’s trade data showed a split picture. Metals exports are expanding where China can monetise overseas shortages, while energy imports are being managed more cautiously to reduce exposure to war-driven price spikes. Copper imports slipped from April, suggesting that parts of the manufacturing supply chain remain uneven despite the strong headline export performance.
Iran and Israel moved back from direct confrontation on Monday after a sharp exchange of missile and air attacks threatened to rupture fragile diplomacy across the Middle East, with both sides saying they had halted strikes for now after a public appeal by U. S. President Donald Trump. Tehran said its offensive operations against Israel had stopped, but warned that attacks would resume if Israel continued to […]
OpenAI has widened access to ChatGPT Lockdown Mode, extending an advanced security setting beyond enterprise deployments to eligible personal accounts and self-serve Business users as concern grows over prompt injection attacks and data leakage risks in web-connected artificial intelligence tools. Eligible users on Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans, along with self-serve ChatGPT Business accounts, are being given access to the feature through the Security section of […]
