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Alfredo Montufar-Helu

Alfredo Montufar-Helu
The latest news and top stories on Alfredo Montufar-Helu, an expert on China’s economy and business landscape. Known for his insights into economic conditions and consumer confidence challenges in China, he currently serves as Senior Adviser to The Conference Board’s China Center. Previously, he was Beijing Director for The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network and an Associate Director at KPMG’s Global China Practice, where he led thought leadership projects.
Staff members assemble inverters at an industrial park in Tongxin county in Wuzhong, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on February 20, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
China exports

Why US, EU curbs on Chinese power inverters risk upending green supply chains

As Western governments move to end dependence on world’s top producer, analysts warn rapid decoupling could drive up costs and derail projects.

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US-China trade war

China braces as new US global tariffs loom: fresh trade war or managed friction?

China exports

‘Made in China’ increasingly a symbol for hi-tech and high value

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US, Israel war on Iran

Tanker transit through Strait of Hormuz plunges as US-Iran ceasefire fractures

Renewed hostilities could undermine credibility of future ceasefires with long-term impact on global energy markets, inflation and risk premiums, analyst says.

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Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on July 8. Photo: Reuters
China consumption

Can China’s budget brands crack developed markets? Mixue shows it won’t be easy

Slow expansion in Japan and store closures in Hong Kong suggest low prices may not be enough to win over consumers in mature economies.

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US-China relations

China accused of trying to ‘infiltrate’ US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement

The Alliance for American Manufacturing says China is trying to circumvent the USMCA through its automotive investments in Mexico.

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China food security

Global farming, Chinese food imports at stake as El Nino threatens drought

Sharpest risks to occur in the Global South, with countries facing conflict and economic stress being the worst hit: United Nations’ FAO.

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An aerial view of barren farmland on the banks of the Cipamingkis River in Indonesia's West Java province. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images
2026 Xi-Trump summits

After nearly 9 years, Trump is landing in a totally changed China. Is he ready?

China has strengthened its position since the US president’s last visit, analysts said, predicting more equitable results from any potential agreement.

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China energy security

Why China may benefit from the UAE’s Opec withdrawal

Beijing may have access to increased supply – though Strait of Hormuz disruption remains a serious constraint, analysts say.

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China energy security

China’s trade with Iran, Gulf states plunges as Hormuz crisis hits energy flows

But increased shipments from Russia, Malaysia and Indonesia help to partially offset the shortfall, official data shows.

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The sun rises behind tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm, an island in Iran, on April 18. Photo: AP
China trade

Exclusive | Japanese executives absent from China’s key annual summit amid tensions: sources

Nearly 80 executives from foreign firms, with those from the US making up the largest group, will attend the two-day forum.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum, in Beijing, on March 23, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
China manufacturing

China to help Cuba with solar energy amid US oil blockade and total power outage

Beijing will ‘intensify its support’ to Havana after around 10.9 million people were left without power amid an ongoing energy crisis.

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China-EU relations

China-EU trade ties are at a crossroads. Could tech bridge the divide?

A hostile Washington is creating openings for a reset – but deep-seated issues remain, analyst says.

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China exports

How China is rethinking export-led growth as global trade walls rise

Protectionism is forcing a shift towards balancing exports with outbound investment, analysts say.

China’s trade surplus reached a record high in 2025, raising the risk of renewed trade frictions with partners and paving the way for a potential recalibration in Beijing. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China trade war

Why China may buy Nvidia’s AI chips as US eases curbs – and replace them later

As the US reverses Biden-era restrictions, Beijing likely to take advantage – without compromising own industry, analysts say.

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China’s domestic chip industry has made rapid advances in recent years, but it still lags the US in cutting-edge models. Photo: Shutterstock
Aerospace: Geopolitics

Why are rich Chinese moving private jets offshore, slumming it in budget seats?

Strict flight rules and economic headwinds are forcing scrutiny-wary tycoons to rebase aircraft in places such as Singapore or downgrade to commercial cabins.

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US-China trade war

‘Maximum pressure’: why China is taking Mexico’s tariff move ‘very seriously’

Beijing sees Mexico’s move as driven by a wider US pressure campaign – and could take retaliatory measures, analysts say.

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China consumption

China delivers record 180 billion parcels in 11 months as shoppers chase deals

Express deliveries have reached as high as 777 million per day in 2025 as China’s consumers turn to cut-price online platforms.

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Parcels are piled up near an apartment building in Beijing during the Singles’ Day shopping festival in November 2020. China’s consumers continue to turn to e-commerce platforms to find cut-price deals. Photo: AP
US-China trade war

China’s rare earth export controls have gone global. Can it enforce them?

As economies look to diversify rare earth supplies in wake of China’s broad export controls, analysts say measures will be hard to implement.

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US-China trade war

With US-China tensions back on the upswing, is the TikTok deal at risk?

Analyst opinion mixed on viability of deal for Chinese short video app’s US ownership, with ‘everything on the table’ after recent flare-ups.

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US-China relations

US government frozen after shutdown, but China talks still in motion: analysts

This week’s shutdown would be unlikely to stall China trade talks, observers said, but could speed up Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts.

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A US government shutdown this week, while immediately consequential for the domestic economy, will have limited impact on China, analysts said. Photo: Reuters
US-China trade war

‘Dare to fight’: how China’s art of the deal reflects years of Trump dealings

Beijing fired back at Washington ahead of Trump’s executive order on TikTok last week, and analysts say it stems from hard-learned lessons.

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A call between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump this month was their second since June, as tensions have persisted between China and the United States. Photo: AFP
Rare earths

Is a rumoured US rare earth fund coming too late to catch up with China?

A reported US$5 billion fund to secure Washington’s rare earth supply is probably not enough to shake China’s dominance, analysts said.

China consumption

How Apple’s grip on China slipped – and what it means for other multinationals

The trade war and Chinese-made smartphones hurt Apple’s business model, but analysts say it can’t walk away.

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China’s economic stimulus

China backs Three Gorges megaproject, hot on heels of giant Tibet dam

Investment in infrastructure is likely to continue but structural reforms needed to unleash consumer spending, analyst says.

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Ships sail in the Xiling Gorge of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River in Yichang city, Hubei province, China, on May 5, 2024. Photo: Future Publishing via Getty Images
US-China trade war

What the new US trade deal with Japan means for other Asian allies

Not even America’s long-time trade partners have been spared from tariffs, and deals with others could be coming soon, according to analysts who see China standing apart.

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US President Donald Trump waves as he greets Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House in February. The US and Japan have agreed on a new trade deal. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Double-edged sword: US probe into China’s drone dominance a risk, analysts say

Washington’s investigation could strengthen its hand in future talks with Beijing – but may have unintended consequences.

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China's economic recovery

Can China’s fastest-growing firms save themselves from themselves?

A race for market share in China’s new-found growth sectors has led to vicious price spirals, eliciting warnings from high-level officials.

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