Mission Grey Daily Brief - January 01, 2025
Summary of the Global Situation for Businesses and Investors
As we enter 2025, the world is facing a tumultuous year ahead, with political uncertainty in Europe, Donald Trump's second term as US President, and rising tensions in the Middle East. The Ukraine-Russia conflict remains a key issue, with Putin's grip on power seemingly secure and Trump's promise to end the war dismissed by Russia. Hundreds of soldiers have been freed in the latest prisoner exchange, but sanctions and rising prices are taking a toll on Russia's economy. Meanwhile, China's reunification efforts with Taiwan are intensifying, with military presence and sanctions increasing tensions. In Iran, economic strains and potential unrest are looming, as sanctions and geopolitical complexities converge. Lastly, fears of an all-out war between Afghanistan and Pakistan are rising, with deadly strikes and border tensions escalating.
Ukraine-Russia Conflict
The Ukraine-Russia conflict remains a key issue as we enter 2025. Putin's grip on power appears more secure than ever, with Russian forces making progress in the Donbas region and political opposition swept clear following the death of Alexey Navalny. Trump's promise to end the war has been dismissed by Russia, with little progress made towards a negotiated end. However, hundreds of soldiers have been freed in the latest prisoner exchange, with 189 Ukrainian prisoners and 150 Russian soldiers released.
The sanctions brought on by the war are taking a toll on Russia's economy, with soaring inflation and a weaker ruble driving up the cost of imports. Rising food prices and shortages are impacting ordinary Russians, with prices becoming the most pressing concern for many.
China's Reunification Efforts with Taiwan
China's reunification efforts with Taiwan are intensifying, with military presence and sanctions increasing tensions. President Xi Jinping has reiterated that no one can stop China's reunification with Taiwan, sending warships and planes into the waters and airspace around the island. Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949, rejects Beijing's claim, saying that only its people can decide their future.
Tensions have remained high throughout the year, with China sanctioning seven companies in response to American weapons sales and aid to Taipei. The Taiwanese president has called for healthy and orderly exchanges with China, but restrictions on Chinese tourists and students are hindering normal interactions.
Iran's Economic Strains and Potential Unrest
In Iran, economic strains and potential unrest are looming, as sanctions and geopolitical complexities converge. Tehran politicians have warned of unrest as the economic crisis deepens, with soaring inflation and a falling value of the rial plaguing the economy. IRGC commanders and Iran's judiciary chief have stated they are prepared to handle potential unrest.
President Pezeshkian faces pressure from reformists and hardliners, with reformists advocating negotiations with the West and hardliners cautioning against trusting the US and its allies. As economic pressures mount and political divisions deepen, Pezeshkian's administration must navigate mounting challenges while addressing growing calls for accountability and decisive action.
Fears of an All-Out War Between Afghanistan and Pakistan
Fears of an all-out war between Afghanistan and Pakistan are rising, with the Afghan Taliban unleashing devastating artillery strikes on Pakistani military checkpoints along the tense border. The Taliban has vowed to stand firm against any retaliatory strike from Pakistan, with Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence on high alert and additional forces poised to reinforce the border.
The Taliban foreign minister has warned Pakistan over the weekend, urging Pakistani authorities not to underestimate their capabilities. The Taliban has vowed to stand firm against any retaliatory strike from Pakistan, with Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence on high alert and additional forces poised to reinforce the border.
The Taliban has vowed to stand firm against any retaliatory strike from Pakistan, with Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence on high alert and additional forces poised to reinforce the border. The Taliban foreign minister has warned Pakistan over the weekend, urging Pakistani authorities not to underestimate their capabilities.
Further Reading:
After a quarter-century in power, Putin faces a new test: The return of Trump - CNN
Russia Dismisses Trump Team’s Bid to End Ukraine War ‘in 24 Hours’ - The Daily Beast
Russia Laughs Off Trump’s Bid to End Ukraine War ‘in 24 Hours’ - The Daily Beast
Tehran politicians warn of unrest as governance crisis deepens - ایران اینترنشنال
Themes around the World:
Infraestructura fronteriza y seguridad
El comercio bilateral México‑EE. UU. superó US$870 mil millones en 2025, elevando congestión y sensibilidad a inspecciones, seguridad de carga y robos. Las empresas deben reforzar gestión de rutas, seguros, inventarios de buffer y visibilidad logística transfronteriza.
Critical minerals export leverage
China is strengthening rare-earth competitiveness and export-control systems in its 2026–2030 plan. With global dependence for magnets and inputs, licensing or targeted blacklists can disrupt downstream manufacturing and defense-linked supply chains, raising inventory, sourcing, and geopolitical compliance risks.
Political gridlock and policy volatility
Budget compromises, contested reforms, and an approaching 2027 presidential cycle increase regulatory uncertainty. International firms should plan for abrupt changes in labor, pensions, industrial subsidies, and sectoral taxes, and build flexibility into contracts and investment phasing.
Energy import shock and logistics
Middle East conflict and Hormuz disruptions are lifting fuel, freight and insurance costs. Pakistan raised petrol/diesel by Rs55 per litre and officials warn the oil bill may rise $600m monthly; LNG supply risks add outage and transport-cost uncertainty.
Electronics export-led incentive reset
With the smartphone PLI expiring March 31, India is preparing a successor scheme likely linking subsidies more tightly to exports and domestic components. India produced nearly $60bn phones in FY2024–25 and exported $21.7bn, raising opportunities—and compliance conditions—for OEMs and suppliers.
Regional LNG Swap And Emergency Planning
Taiwan is building a three-stage contingency model: advance non‑Middle East cargoes, regional swaps with Japan/Korea, then higher-priced spot buying. For businesses, this reduces blackout risk but increases volatility in fuel surcharges, shipping schedules, and supplier continuity planning.
Biosecurity compliance tightening for imports
Recent DAFF updates add clarified triggers for electronic biosecurity notices and stricter handling of returned meat consignments requiring permits. Importers face higher documentation precision, potential border delays, and elevated spoilage risk in agri-food supply chains.
EU unity crisis weakens predictability
EU member states struggled to agree on a joint response, with national divergences on legality and support for Washington. For investors, this raises uncertainty over EU regulatory reactions, emergency trade measures, and coordinated maritime-security posture affecting operations.
Reconstruction pipeline and guarantees
Reconstruction needs are estimated near $588bn over a decade, creating large opportunities in construction, energy, transport, and services. Deal flow depends on donor financing, PPP frameworks, and scaling war-risk insurance/guarantees (EBRD and others) to crowd in private capital.
Federal budget shutdown operational risk
Recurring shutdowns and funding lapses disrupt agency processing and oversight, from trade administration to security functions, and can impair critical infrastructure support. Companies should plan for delays in permits, inspections, contracting payments, and heightened operational friction during lapses.
Inheritance and capital gains reforms
Capped 100% relief for business and agricultural property at £2.5m per person (£5m per couple) from April, plus higher capital gains tax on business assets (14% to 18%). Family firms warn of liquidity strain, curtailed capex, and higher likelihood of sales to institutional/foreign buyers.
Critical minerals and strategic industrial policy
Korea’s government is deepening ‘economic security’ policies, pairing supply-chain diplomacy with targeted strategic-sector investments abroad. For multinationals, this means tighter screening, incentives tied to domestic capacity, and greater expectations on provenance, ESG, and resilience reporting.
EV battery materials scaling setbacks
The liquidation of Viridian Lithium’s ~€295m Alsace refinery project highlights Europe’s difficulty competing with China on battery materials amid slower EV demand. Investors should expect policy churn, consolidation, and greater supply-chain reliance on non‑EU refining in the near term.
Renewables scale-up facing cost constraints
India is reassessing offshore wind tenders (1 GW) amid high steel costs and weak bidder appetite; floating solar remains ~700 MW commissioned despite large potential. Policy support, VGF and domestic manufacturing (ingots/wafers) will shape project bankability and clean-energy supply chains.
Russia sanctions divergence compliance
UK insists it will not ease Russia oil sanctions even as US grants temporary relief for cargoes at sea, creating misalignment across regimes. Banks, shippers and traders face higher compliance risk, due‑diligence burden and potential payment/insurance disruptions.
Hydrogen acceleration and industrial transition
Germany is moving to treat hydrogen projects as ‘overriding public interest,’ expanding fast-track permitting to include low-carbon hydrogen (including blue with CCS). Coupled with regional subsidies (e.g., €50 million Baden‑Württemberg round), this reshapes industrial siting, offtake, and energy costs.
Energy security and price shocks
Israel–Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption risk elevate oil/LNG costs. Thailand is capping diesel, adding spot LNG cargoes, and diversifying crude/LNG (US, Africa, Malaysia). Expect volatile input costs, freight/insurance rises, and power-tariff upside risk.
Regime continuity and internal security
Leadership succession planning and expanded internal security readiness aim to keep decision-making functional under decapitation risk and suppress unrest. This supports a prolonged-war posture, reducing near-term deal prospects and elevating expropriation, payment, and contract-enforcement risks for firms with Iran links.
Palm biodiesel mandate volatility
Pemerintah meninjau kembali penerapan B50 pada paruh kedua 2026 atau lebih cepat seiring minyak mentah >US$100/barel. Kenaikan serapan domestik CPO dapat mengurangi ekspor, menaikkan harga global, dan mengubah strategi pasokan bagi food, oleochemical, dan energi.
Choc énergétique Moyen-Orient et gaz
La guerre au Moyen-Orient a propulsé l’indice gaz européen de +65%, pesant sur industrie énergivore; Bercy anticipe une hausse dès mai pour contrats indexés (≈60% des abonnés), souvent <10€/mois. Risques: coûts, contrats, inflation et approvisionnement.
Rare earths and China controls
China’s shift toward targeted export controls against Japanese firms, including dual-use items and rare earths, raises input and compliance risk for electronics, defense, and automotive supply chains. Japan is pursuing US cooperation and alternative sourcing to reduce coercion exposure.
Durcissement e-commerce transfrontalier
La taxe française de 2€ sur les petits colis <150€ venant de pays hors UE vise les plateformes chinoises (97% des envois en 2025). Elle peut relever coûts d’import, modifier flux logistiques et accélérer l’entreposage et la distribution intra-UE.
US–Turkey sanctions reset prospects
Ankara says talks continue to lift US CAATSA sanctions tied to S‑400s, aiming before US midterms; this affects defense, aviation, dual‑use tech and financing channels. Any easing could unlock major procurement and co‑production, while failure sustains compliance and reputational risk.
Tax administration and compliance risk
FBR revenue gaps (~Rs428bn in eight months) are pushing negotiations to lower the annual target to ~Rs13.45tr. Expect intensified audits, new levies (including on fuels) and ad‑hoc enforcement that can change landed costs and compliance burdens quickly.
E-commerce import tax tightening
Thailand ended the 1,500-baht de minimis exemption, applying import duties (often 10–30%) plus 7% VAT to all cross-border online purchases. This lifts landed costs, reshapes marketplace pricing, and increases customs, product-standard and last-mile compliance burdens for international sellers.
Energy costs and grid restructuring
Eskom’s improved availability masks falling coal output and sharply rising tariffs: 8.76% from 1 April 2026 plus new fixed/time-of-use charges. Municipal arrears exceed R110bn, risking local interruptions. Private generation accelerates (IPPs ~20% supply), reshaping procurement and capex.
DHS shutdown disrupts logistics security
A prolonged DHS funding lapse is straining TSA staffing and CISA cyber readiness, causing airport delays and heightened disruption risk. International travelers, just-in-time air cargo, and critical-infrastructure operators face schedule volatility, weaker incident response, and higher security compliance costs.
Workforce shocks and productivity constraints
Large reserve call-ups and security restrictions create acute labor gaps, especially for SMEs and operations requiring on-site work. Businesses report cancellations, reduced foot traffic, and mobility constraints; continuity planning must address remote-work capacity, redundancy in critical roles, and supplier payment stress.
Rare-earth supply diversification drive
Japan is negotiating with India to explore hard‑rock rare earth deposits (India cites 1.29m tons REO identified) to reduce China dependence for magnet materials. This may create new offtake, technology-transfer, and processing investments—plus transition frictions.
Trade preference and U.S. market exposure
Exporters remain sensitive to uncertainty around U.S. preferential access (AGOA) and broader geopolitical frictions, with outsized exposure in automotive, agriculture and manufactured goods. Firms should diversify markets, scenario-plan tariff shocks, and harden compliance screening.
Escalating strikes on infrastructure
Russia’s large-scale missile and drone attacks increasingly hit energy assets, rail substations, bridges, and port facilities, triggering outages and rerouted trains. This raises operational downtime, insurance costs, and force-majeure risk for manufacturing, logistics, and services nationwide.
Energy security and price shock
Iran-related disruption risks and Strait of Hormuz uncertainty are lifting oil/LNG costs, freight surcharges and war-risk insurance. Thailand has moved to diversify crude/LNG (including US cargoes) and cap diesel, but input-cost volatility threatens margins, inflation and FX stability.
Climate regulatory rollback uncertainty
EPA plans to terminate the 2009 greenhouse-gas “endangerment finding,” potentially weakening federal emissions rules for vehicles and other sources. Expected litigation could prolong uncertainty for automakers, energy and logistics firms, and ESG-linked investment decisions, alongside state-level regulation divergence.
Pungutan ekspor CPO naik 12,5%
Mulai 1 Maret 2026, pungutan ekspor CPO dan beberapa turunan naik dari 10% menjadi 12,5% berdasarkan harga referensi. Industri memperkirakan tekanan harga CPO sekitar 3% dan TBS 7–8%. Kebijakan ini mengubah struktur biaya, strategi hedging, dan daya saing ekspor sawit.
Ciclo de juros e câmbio
O mercado projeta Selic de 12% no fim de 2026, após manutenção em 15% e sinalização de cortes. IPCA 2026 é estimado em 3,91% e câmbio em R$5,42. Isso afeta custo de capital, hedge, crédito comercial e investimentos produtivos.
China-Derisking und Technologiekontrollen
EU und Berlin verschärfen Sicherheits- und Technologiepolitik gegenüber China, u.a. bei 5G/6G, Cloud und kritischer Infrastruktur; Huawei bleibt dennoch in EU-Forschungsprojekten bis 2027–2030 eingebunden. Unternehmen müssen Compliance, Exportkontrollen, IP-Schutz und Retorsionsrisiken neu bewerten.