Chief Economist & Political Strategist, CrossASEAN Research

Prasenjit K. Basu

PK Basu has 35 years experience covering Asia's economies and markets (equities, fixed income and currencies), including 20 years covering the global economy. He was Chief Economist (SE Asia & India) at Credit Suisse First Boston for 5 years, and Chief Asia (x-Jpn) Economist at Daiwa Securities for a similar period. Among other roles, he was global head of research at Maybank Kim Eng, Malaysia equity research head and chief ASEAN economist at Macquarie, Chief Economist at ICICI Securities, ASEAN economist and Asia sector strategist at UBS and the first chief economist at Khazanah Nasional (where he was co-head of research, and led all agri-business initiatives). PK Basu started his career in the Asia Service of WEFA (Wharton Econometrics) in Philadelphia in 1990, rising to be Director of their Asia Service in June 1994. 
PK's book, "Asia Reborn: A continent rises from the ravages of Colonialism and War to a New Dynamism" won the Tata Literature First Book Award (non-fiction) for 2018. It is the first single chronicle of the modern economic and political history of the whole of Asia (from Iraq and Turkey to Korea and Japan, and everything in between), told from an Asian perspective.

Chief Economist & Political Strategist

China: Slumping Domestic Economy Is Propped up by Exports Dumped Abroad

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

China Materials / Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>For the sixth consecutive year, China's steel output is declining (-3.9%YoY in Jan-May'26). World steel output is declining for the 5th consecutive year, but India/US/Germany steel output is rising.  </li>
<li>Like 1990-95 (post-USSR's fall), world steel output declined 33mn tonnes in 2020-25 led by China's 104mn decline -- caused by its overcapacity. Other countries' output grows, while China reins-in overcapacity. </li>
<li>Having accounted for 90% of increased world steel output in 2000-2020, China is focused on 'new industries'. FAI in steel will decline. Non-China steel producing countries/companies will continue to benefit. </li>
</ul>


For the sixth consecutive year, China's steel output is declining (-3.9%YoY in Jan-May'26). World steel output is declining for the 5th consecutive year, but India/US/Germany steel output is rising.  
Like 1990-95 (post-USSR's fall), world steel output declined 33mn tonnes in 2020-25 led by China's 104mn decline -- caused by its overcapacity. Other countries' output grows, while China reins-in overcapacity. 
Having accounted for 90% of increased world steel output in 2000-2020, China is focused on 'new industries'. FAI in steel will decline. Non-China steel producing countries/companies will continue to benefit. 


Steel as a Bellwether of Global Industrial Cycles: Climbing Out of China's Shadow