All posts tagged: surplus

How war on Iran turned Pakistan’s LNG surplus into a looming shortage | US-Israel war on Iran News

How war on Iran turned Pakistan’s LNG surplus into a looming shortage | US-Israel war on Iran News

Published by Sam Flores

Islamabad, Pakistan – At the start of this year, Pakistan had more imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) than it could use. Demand had been falling for three straight years, from a peak of 8.2 million tonnes in 2021 to 6.1 million tonnes by late 2025, as cheap solar panels flooded the market and factories cut back. The government quietly sold excess gas shipments to other countries and shut down domestic gas wells to prevent pipelines from bursting under the pressure of oversupply. Gas that could not be diverted would be pushed into household networks at a financial loss, adding billions to an already crippling debt pile in the energy sector. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Then the war came. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched hundreds of strikes against Iran in an operation named Epic Fury. The strikes targeted Iranian missiles, air defences, military infrastructure and leadership. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening assault. Iran retaliated by firing hundreds of missiles and drones across the region, and …

Record-breaking budget surplus as government’s tax income rises | Money News

Record-breaking budget surplus as government’s tax income rises | Money News

Published by Sam Flores

More money than ever has been left over in the public finances due to more tax being paid, official figures show. January had the biggest budget surplus since records began in 1993, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It meant the government received more money than it spent last month, leaving £30.4bn left over. Money blog: Every Michelin-starred restaurant with a less than £50 meal It’s £15.9bn more than the surplus in January 2025, although the figures are not adjusted for inflation. The surplus is even higher than anticipated by independent forecasters the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) – about £6.3bn bigger. Why? While there was little change in government spending, the highest-ever recorded surplus resulted from revenue being “strongly up” and lower interest rates, the ONS said. Self-assessed tax revenues were nearly £6bn more than planned for and capital gains tax receipts surged. Lower interest rates have meant borrowing money cost less. The cost of borrowing was £1.5bn in the month, £5bn lower than the time last year. A relief …

China’s trade surplus surges 20% to a record .2 trillion, even with Trump’s tariffs : NPR

China’s trade surplus surges 20% to a record $1.2 trillion, even with Trump’s tariffs : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Aerial view of a container terminal in Nanjing in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. CHINATOPIX/AP hide caption toggle caption CHINATOPIX/AP HONG KONG — China’s trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, the government said Wednesday, as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the U.S. under President Donald Trump’s onslaught of higher tariffs. China’s exports rose 5.5% for the whole of last year to $3.77 trillion, customs data showed, as Chinese automakers and other manufacturers expanded into markets across the globe. Imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion. The 2024 trade surplus was over $992 billion. In December, China’s exports climbed 6.6% from the year before in dollar terms, better than economists’ estimates and higher than November’s 5.9% year-on-year increase. Imports in December were up 5.7% year-on-year, compared to November’s 1.9%. China’s trade surplus surpassed the $1 trillion mark for the first time in November, when the trade surplus reached $1.08 trillion in the first 11 months of last year. Economists expect exports will continue to …

Vietnam’s annual growth reaches 8% as trade surplus with US hits record despite tariffs

Vietnam’s annual growth reaches 8% as trade surplus with US hits record despite tariffs

Published by Sam Flores

HANOI: Vietnam‘s economy grew by 8 per cent in 2025, accelerating from the previous year’s pace due to robust exports despite US tariffs, preliminary government data showed on Monday, as the country posted its highest annual trade surplus with Washington. The Southeast Asian nation, which is one of the top exporters to the United States, is still in talks with Washington over a possible trade deal but has largely shrugged off US duties of 20 per cent imposed on its goods by the Trump administration to cut Vietnam‘s huge trade advantage. Vietnam‘s total exports rose by 17 per cent to about US$475 billion last year, the data showed, with shipments to the United States worth US$153 billion, far outstripping 2024’s record figure of US$119.5 billion. That has led to an unprecedented trade surplus with Washington of nearly US$134 billion last year, far higher than the previous peak reached in 2024, according to the Vietnamese figures, which are usually more conservative than US data. The latest trade figures available from the US statistics agency show that Vietnam‘s surplus with Washington had already hit …