News

Vietnam may overtake Thailand in nominal GDP in 2026. But does the ranking tell the full story?

Vietnam is stepping up its bioenergy push. Starting in June, all qualifying unleaded gasoline sold nationwide will be required to contain a 10% bio-ethanol blend, known as E10.

Backed by a presidential directive and support from the sovereign wealth fund Danatara, Indonesia is accelerating the development of waste-to-energy power plants at an unprecedented pace.

At the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, Electric vehicles, once framed as the inevitable future of the industry, were no longer the centerpiece. Instead, automakers emphasized hybrids, updated gasoline models and incremental efficiency improvements.

This week’s ASEAN sustainability highlights cover clean energy investment, ESG transformation in electronics, and the accelerating EV supply chain.

Malaysia’s push to build a full rare earths value chain faces significant technology, trade, investment, and governance hurdles across the mining, processing, and manufacturing stages.

Vietnam’s electronics industry has emerged as one of Asia’s fastest-growing manufacturing hubs. Tech giant Google is reportedly planning to expand research and production of high-end smartphones in the country this year.

The gas is seen in some countries as a “bridging” fuel to move away from coal use, rapid electrification, uncompetitiveness and supply concerns have suppressed its share in China’s energy mix.

This week’s ASEAN sustainability highlights span electric mobility, energy governance, and carbon market regulation. On the policy front, Thailand’s election-driven pledges for cheaper power have raised concerns over the energy transition.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is set to launch an official national reference price for used cooking oil (UCO) in the first quarter of this year, as demand for UCO surges amid expanding biofuel markets.