Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Asia’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply is set to exceed regional demand in 2024 and 2025, with new production capacity driving exports and potentially lowering prices, according to industry experts. While this benefits airlines struggling with high SAF costs, weak regional demand could impact production if prices fall below profitability.
At least five SAF projects outside China are launching this year, targeting exports, mainly to Europe, where a 2% SAF mandate is in place. In contrast, Asia’s SAF adoption remains slow, with Singapore and Thailand set to enforce a 1% mandate in 2026, followed by South Korea in 2027 and Japan with a 10% goal by 2030. The lack of uniform policies across Asia has led to project delays, especially in China.
Despite airlines like Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand voluntarily using SAF to boost sustainability credentials, overall adoption lags. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines targets just 5% SAF usage by 2030.
Asia’s SAF production capacity is projected to reach 3.5 million metric tons annually by 2025, up from 1.24 million in 2024. However, demand remains weak, keeping Asia a net SAF exporter through 2026. In 2024, over 370,000 tons were exported, primarily from Neste’s Singapore plant. Producers like Cosmo Energy, PTT Global Chemical, and Bangchak Petroleum are ramping up supply, with Malaysia’s EcoCeres adding 420,000 tpy by late 2025.
SAF prices, previously three times higher than jet fuel, have narrowed to 2.4 times in 2024. While production costs range from $500 to $600 per ton, market prices remain around $1,700 per ton. With slow adoption, Asia’s SAF oversupply is expected to continue, maintaining downward pressure on prices while boosting exports to regions with stronger mandates.
