Goldman Sachs warns Southeast Asia could face a food supply shock due to rising oil and fertilizer prices from the Middle East conflict and a potential strong El Niño in late 2026. The bank estimates combined shocks could add 1-2.1 percentage points to food inflation.
Egg producers are facing a profit squeeze as prices fall due to oversupply, while input costs for feed, fuel, and labor remain high. Despite strong consumer demand for protein, lower wholesale prices mask the financial strain on farmers.
Hong Kong's construction sector is undergoing a digital transformation, driven by public investment and a "AI+" agenda. The Hong Kong Construction Industry (HKIC) is central to this shift, offering training in AI, robotics, and digital engineering to upskill the workforce and enhance efficiency and safety.
D2C brands in India face challenges due to rising input costs (up to 30% for some materials) and projected 5-6% drop in consumer spending, forcing price hikes (up to 10%) or cost absorption, impacting discretionary spending and average order values.
Direct-to-consumer brands are navigating significant input cost hikes caused by the West Asia conflict. Strategies include redesigning packaging, introducing larger SKUs, and accelerating supply chain localization to protect margins without aggressive price increases.
India's leather and footwear sector is grappling with a 40-60% surge in input costs due to the Middle East crisis. The industry is petitioning the government for import duty exemptions on critical raw materials, machinery, and components to mitigate these rising expenses.
India's textile manufacturing contracted 3.6% year-on-year in March while apparel production plunged 14.6%, hit by rising input costs and logistics disruptions from the Iran war. Cotton yarn prices rose 20%, polymers 50%, paper 10% and dyes/chemicals 40%. The conflict is impacting shipments through higher freight and war-risk insurance costs, increasing landed costs and tightening working capital. The sector contributes 2.3% to GDP and 13% to industrial production.
Indian consumer goods firms are grappling with soaring input costs, driven by the Middle East conflict. Companies are now tracking expenses daily and frequently adjusting prices, impacting long-term strategies. Executives fear higher prices could dampen consumer spending, which had recently shown signs of recovery. This volatility is forcing immediate, short-term decisions across various product categories.
