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B2B Asia News
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This is a B2B Asia News Daily Update for 23 March 2026, reviewing regional and global markets, and covering the daily business news you shouldn’t miss.
Watch the video in English above.
- We start with a quick look at regional markets. Asian stocks plunged on Monday, as geopolitical tensions escalated following a U.S. ultimatum to Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Major indices fell sharply: Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 3.5%, South Korea's KOSPI tumbled 6.5%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 4.1%
- Zooming in on Cambodia’s market—the Cambodia Securities Exchange Index was down 3.19 points or 0.74%, to 427.8.
- Total trade volume was up with 85,104 shares changing hands at a total value of 500.7 million riel, or over $125,000 US dollars.
- On the main board, only one stock, Pestech Cambodia, was up, while four stocks were down, with CAMGSM as the biggest loser of the day.
- Over on the growth board, DBD Engineering and JS Land were down, while Picasso City Garden stayed flat.
- Shifting to the exchange rate, the KHR strengthened to 4,010 riel per US Dollar, while the US Dollar index hovered around 99.69.
- Turning to global commodities, oil prices rose in volatile trading on Monday as investors weighed the prospect of further escalation after U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum demanding Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its energy infrastructure.
- Brent crude futures with May delivery rose 1% to $113.32 US dollars per barrel, reversing initial losses.
- U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up around 2.8% at $101.01 US dollars a barrel during early European hours. (0740 GMT)
- Gold slid more than 8% to hit its lowest level in four months, after logging its biggest weekly loss in about 43 years last week.
- Spot gold declined 6.3% to $4,203.21 US dollars per ounce, extending losses into a ninth straight session. It had shed more than 8% to $4,097.99 US dollars earlier in the session to its lowest level since November 24.
- U.S. gold futures for April delivery dropped 8.1% to $4,205.10 US dollars. (0757 GMT)
- Looking at the crypto market, Bitcoin (BTC) fluctuated around a two-week low, hovering near $68,000 US dollars in early trading following a weekend dip driven by intensified Middle East tensions. Despite the downward pressure, it found support near its 200-week moving average after falling to roughly $67,371 US dollars.
- Moving on now to other business-related news:
- Cambodia’s Secretary of State for Commerce met with the Malaysian Business Chamber (MBCC) to discuss boosting agri-industrial cooperation on March 18. Malaysian company, QL Resources Berhad, aims to establish a Cambodian trading arm to export dried corn to Malaysia and plans to invest in high-tech, integrated poultry farming to boost regional production. The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce pledged full support for the company’s projects and encouraged expanding trade into other Cambodian goods, specifically cashew nuts, for the Malaysian market.
- The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) approved a new automotive investment project on March 20, marking a further expansion of the Kingdom’s domestic vehicle manufacturing sector. The Secretary General of the CDC’s Cambodian Investment Board, along with inter-ministerial officials, reviewed and approved a proposal by ZDG Assembly Co., Ltd. to establish a vehicle assembly plant in Kandal province. The facility will specialise in assembling LYNK & CO vehicles, a global automotive brand known for its focus on high-tech and sustainable mobility.
- Sokimex, a leading petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas importing company in Cambodia, announced on March 23 that it would be temporarily suspending LPG supply starting from April 1, citing an inability to import LPG since March due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Minister of Mines and Energy, H.E. Keo Rottanak, also issued a video message on the same day to reassure the public that Cambodia’s LPG and fuel supply remains stable. Despite Sokimex Company’s announcement to suspend supply in early April, seven other importers will continue to supply the market throughout March and April.
Watch the 23 March 2026 Daily Update in Khmer below: