US finalizes tariffs against Southeast Asian solar imports
U.S. Trade officials finalized tariffs on solar panels and cells from Southeast Asia. This is a major step in settling a trade dispute that has been raging for a year, with American manufacturers accusing their rivals overseas of flooding the market unfairly with cheap goods. The Commerce Department imposed preliminary antidumping, antisubsidy, countervailing duty on solar equipment imported from Malaysia, Cambodia Thailand and Vietnam last year. Hanwha Qcells from Korea, Arizona's First Solar Inc., and a number of smaller producers filed the case to protect their billions in investment in U.S. Solar Manufacturing.
Asian countries are looking to purchase more US energy in order to balance trade imbalance
As they try to reduce their trade surpluses with Washington, Asian governments are buying more U.S. gas and oil in order to ease their tariff burdens due to President Donald Trump’s new import duties. Many Asian countries have large trade surpluses and also are major energy importers. Trump's tariffs have caused economic and market turmoil. Here are some measures Asian countries will take to increase their purchases of U.S. gas and oil. Energy Minister Bahlil lahadalia said to local media that Indonesia would propose an increase in its imports from the United States of crude oil and LPG (liquefied Petroleum Gas) of around $10 billion…
Asian countries are looking to purchase more US energy in order to balance trade imbalance
As they try to reduce their trade surpluses with Washington, Asian governments are buying more U.S. gas and oil in order to ease their tariff burdens due to President Donald Trump’s new import duties. Many Asian countries have large trade surpluses and also are major energy importers. Trump's tariffs have shook markets and economies. Here are some measures Asian countries will take to increase their purchases of U.S. gas and oil. Energy Minister Bahlil lahadalia said to local media that Indonesia would propose an increase in its imports from the United States of crude oil and LPG (liquefied Petroleum Gas) of around $10 billion…
Thailand will import more US LNG in the next five years.
Thailand will import more LNG from the United States in the next five-year period, said Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira on Wednesday. This was ahead of next week's meeting with U.S. officials to discuss tariffs. He said that there is an agreement for the import of 1 million metric tonnes of LNG valued at $500 million in 2020 as part of a plan to total 15 million tons over 15 years starting in 2026. Pichai stated that Thailand plans to sign an additional contract worth $600 million for the purchase of more than 1,000,000 tons of U.S. LNG over the next five-year period.
Malaysia's Petronas has secured extra gas supplies after being hit by the Putra Heights pipeline explosion
Petroliam Nasional, the Malaysian oil-and-gas giant, said it had secured additional supplies of gas to minimize the supply disruptions that were caused by the massive fire that broke out at the Putra Heights Pipeline earlier in the month. PETRONAS Energy & Gas Trading has acquired an additional 155 million cubic feet of gas per day, bringing the total volume of supply to 400 MMSCFD through the Trans Thailand-Malaysia gas pipeline system (TTM), the company announced. Petronas stated that the increased supply of fuel, which is directed to the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia including Bestari Jaya Meru and Kapar…
Indonesia makes trade concessions to the US before talks
Indonesia made a series of concessions to the U.S. on Tuesday. These included reducing taxes on steel and electronic goods, in advance of negotiations with Washington regarding President Donald Trump's tariffs. Next week, the largest economy in South East Asia will send a delegation of high-level officials to the United States to seek a deal that would ease the impact on Wednesday's 32% tariff. Airlangga Hartarto will lead Indonesia's delegation to the U.S. and said that Indonesia intends to purchase liquefied gas, liquefied gas natural, and soybeans as part of its negotiations.
Alaska Governor briefs Trump on Asia Gas Push as Tariffs Bite
Alaska's Governor said that he would brief U.S. president Donald Trump's Administration after returning from Japan in the next week about progress made to secure Asian support for a project to develop natural gas, which has been part of a larger discussion on tariffs and trade. Governor Mike Dunleavy and the leaders of the state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corporation and Glenfarne Group visited Taiwan, Thailand and Japan to seek investors and long-term purchasers for a Trump-inspired project. The visit of the Alaskan delegation coincided with a renewed pressure on trade from Washington.
Intouch shareholders in Thailand approve merger of energy and telecom with Gulf Energy
Shareholders of Thailand's Intouch Holdings approved a merger with Sarath Ratanavadi, a billionaire who owns the power company Gulf Energy on Tuesday. This merger is expected to be worth nearly $25 billion. Gulf Energy's market capitalisation is $7.72 billion while that of its telecom affiliate Intouch, according to LSEG data. Investors in Gulf approved the merger in October 2024. Intouch filed a filing on Tuesday showing that more than 99 percent of its stockholders voted to approve the registered capital for the newly formed entity.
Laos signs clean energy agreement worth $1.45 billion with Chinese industrial company
Laos signed a clean energy agreement worth $1.45 billion with a Chinese manufacturer of power plant equipment as it continues its drive to generate and transmit clean electricity. China Western Power Industrial and a Singaporean construction company signed an agreement with Xekong Thermal Power Plant, Laos. The project will design, supply and build a 1,800 megawatt clean energy power plant in southern Laos. This was revealed in a filing on the Sichuan stock exchange by the Sichuan based company. The project will be completed at the beginning of 2020, and the initial designs should be complete by the end this year.
Qilak LNG is Alaska's smaller natural gas project. It wants to play a part in Trump's Asia push.
Mead Treadwell, the Chief Executive of Qilak LNG who is hoping to develop an LNG project in Alaska wants to join President Donald Trump’s push to increase gas exports to Asian markets from the remote peninsula, she said. The Trump administration wants to ship liquefied gas from Alaska's remote northern region to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan via a 1,300 km (800 mile) pipeline worth $44 billion. This project is called Alaska LNG. Treadwell told me by phone that there is a lot excitement in the United States about natural gas coming from Alaska.
Alaska LNG project to start by 2030, says state governor
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced on Friday that exports of liquefied gas from Alaska may begin as early as 2030. In his speech to Congress, Donald Trump praised the $44 billion Alaska LNG Project. The project will deliver approximately 3.5 billion cubic foot of gas each day, a large portion of which is destined for international markets. No final investment decisions have been made yet. The project requires an 800-mile gas pipeline from Alaska's North to Asia. Dunleavy, who spoke at a Houston energy conference, said that Alaska has been in contact with potential buyers from Taiwan, South Korea Japan and Thailand.
Alaska LNG project could begin as early as 2030, says state governor
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced on Friday that exports of liquefied gas from Alaska may begin as early as 2030 or 2031. In his speech to Congress, Donald Trump praised the $44 billion Alaska LNG Project. The project will deliver approximately 3.5 billion cubic foot of gas per day from Alaska's North Slope, a large portion of which is destined for international markets. No final investment decisions have been made yet. The project requires an 800-mile gas pipeline from Alaska's North to Asia. Dunleavy, who spoke at a Houston energy conference…
State media report that US and Vietnamese firms have signed a deal on energy and minerals.
State media and one of these firms reported on Friday that Vietnamese and American firms had signed a number of deals on minerals and energy during the visit to the United States of Vietnam's Trade Minister. State-owned PetroVietnam Power said that Vietnamese firms are in discussions with U.S. companies to buy American crude and LNG. The company is a party to one of these deals, and executives from the firm will accompany the minister to the United States. Vietnamese Trade Minister Nguyenhong Dien is currently in the United States for trade talks.
A letter from the industry says that over $13 billion worth of solar and wind investments are at risk in Vietnam.
Adani Green Energy, as well as more than two dozen other foreign and Vietnamese investors have warned that Vietnam's plans for retroactively changing rules on subsidised wind and solar prices could impact over $13 billion in investments. Investors expressed "deep concern" in a letter dated 5 March and reviewed by that the end of the favourable energy tariffs could threaten financial stability. They also noted the policy change would undermine confidence and undermine the country's plans to expand its renewables. The 28 signatories include the private equity fund Dragon Capital and the Vietnamese subsidiary ACEN energy group of the Philippines…
Ambassador to Washington: Philippines-US defense arrangements will remain intact
Manila's ambassador in the United States, who spoke on Monday, said that existing defence agreements between the Philippines and United States would remain intact under Donald Trump. Jose Manuel Romualdez, a reporter at a forum for foreign media in Manila, said that Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippine president, is willing to travel if Trump can meet him. This could happen in the northern spring. Romualdez responded that "all of this will remain" when asked about U.S. support for security in the Philippines. This includes military financing, patrols on the South China Sea, and Philippine defence installations currently used by U.S.
Thailand will import more U.S. Ethane in order to reduce its trade surplus
A Thai official announced on Tuesday that Thailand would increase its U.S. imports of ethane by at least one million tons, starting in the second quarter this year, to reduce the trade surplus it has with the United States. Pongsarun, deputy secretary-general of the prime minister, stated that one million tons of ethane is worth $200 million. The government is working with petrochemical firms to increase U.S. imports of ethane, which will help in trade negotiations with the United States," said he. He added that Commerce Minister Pichai Nairapthaphan would be visiting the country between February 4-8.
Six US LNG cargoes diverted to Europe by LNG traders
Analysts and shipping data indicate that traders diverted six cargoes of LNG bound for Asia into Europe in the first half of this month due to higher European prices, and weaker Asian demand. Weather forecasts indicate lower temperatures for northwest Europe. Data from analytics firm Kpler revealed that the vessels were loaded in America and initially headed for China, South Korea Thailand and Singapore. Between Jan. 8-14, the vessels changed course in the Atlantic Ocean and were destined for Europe. The diversions occur because Asian prices don't keep a sufficient premium over European prices to attract the cargoes…
Pharos Energy announces that licences for 2 Vietnam oil and gas fields have been extended until 2031/32
Pharos Energy, a UK-based oil & gas exploration company, announced on Friday that its two joint ventures operating in Vietnam had received approval from the local government to extend their licenses for five years until early 2030. Pharos announced in a press release that the Te Giac Trang field operated by Hoang Long Joint Operating Company will be permitted to operate until December 7, 2031. TGT is situated in Block 16-1 in the Cuu Long Basin offshore Vietnam, and the licence was set to expire December 2026. Pharos announced that the Ca Ngu Vang field (CNV)…
Solar tariffs in the US will increase prices and reduce profit margins for Southeast Asia
Analysts said that a new round of U.S. import tariffs against Southeast Asian solar panel producers will likely increase consumer prices while reducing producer profits. However, the industry had anticipated this move. The Commerce Department announced new duties on Friday that extend the United States anti-dumping regime to solar cells in Southeast Asia, instead of just finished modules. Citi analyst Pierre Lau wrote in a report that the tariff increase was in line with what had been expected. He added that, in the long run, the duties will encourage the production of goods in the United States and replace imports.
Chinese solar firms are ever-nimble and go to places where US tariffs do not reach
The U.S. tariffs on Vietnam and three other Southeast Asian nations have prompted some of the largest Chinese-owned factories to cut production and lay off workers. In the meantime, a number of Chinese-owned solar power plants are being built in Indonesia and Laos. These are outside of Washington's protections on trade. Reports show that their planned capacity would be enough to provide about half of the solar panels installed in the U.S. Chinese solar firms have shrunk their output in existing hubs, while building new factories elsewhere. This has allowed them to avoid tariffs and to dominate the U.S.
