TODAY: Bapco + TotalEnergies form a trading JV

Good morning, friends. The news cycle has slowed significantly, but we have some updates on trade updates and a full rundown of Qatar Airways stellar earnings this past year. Shall we?

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- G42’s partnership with Microsoft is reportedly at risk of falling through over doubts on the Emirati conglomerate’s commitment to fully divest from China, Bloomberg reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Pentagon officials are reportedly concerned if G42 doesn’t follow through, the investment would lead to “imperiling national security,” sources say. Shipments of advanced AI chips like Nvidia’s H100 have been paused as the US mulls the potential impacts of their export, which officials now see as tantamount to nuclear proliferation. Officials are hoping to come to an agreement on this in the coming months, the sources added.

REMEMBER- Microsoft is investing some USD 1.5 bn in G42 to position the UAE as a “global AI hub.” G42 has already cut ties with Chinese businesses in a bid to reportedly appease US partners, and there were suggestions it could also give up its use of Huawei telecom equipment. The second phase of the agreement entails Microsoft exporting large-scale AI components to the UAE, which will require licenses from the American government.

The US wants to make this work: The potential partnership gives a boost to Washington’s push to position US companies at the forefront of AI development and gives it reach in emerging markets where China has historically been dominant, such as Kenya, where Microsoft and G42 agreed to build a USD 1 bn geothermal data center.

But it will likely require a lot of diplomatic work: Several bipartisan staff delegations have already been to the UAE in recent weeks in an effort to ensure the UAE is aware of Washington’s concerns and is taking the necessary measures, with more expected to come, Bloomberg cites a House Foreign Affairs Committee Republican staffer briefed on the trips as saying.

IN OTHER UAE NEWS- The US added six companies to its trade restriction list, including two UAE firms, Mega Fast Cargo and Mega Technique General Trading, for “evasive conduct” and Mega Fast Cargo's shipment of US goods to Russia, Reuters writes.

#2- Adia-backed consortium is among top bidders for DB Schenker: Global investment manager CVC, which is leading a consortium that includes Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) and Singapore’s GIC, and Denmark-based logistics firm DSV, have become the front-runners to acquire German Deutsche Bahn’s logistics subsidiary DB Schenker after Maersk withdrew its bid, Bloomberg reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

Final bids are due to be submitted in August, the sources added, adding that Saudi shipping firm Bahri submitted one of the highest non-binding offers in the previous round, but it remains uncertain if it will make a final bid by the deadline. Meanwhile, the CVC-led consortium’s bid has reportedly valued DB Schenker at EUR 14 bn, but offered to allow the German government or a related fund to retain a 20% stake in the company.

REMEMBER- CVC tapped Adia and GIC in May to form the consortium. Deutsche Bahn is expected to make a decision by the end of the year, with the transaction expected to close sometime next year.

#3- Kuwait lends Yemen an aviation boost: Kuwait is providing Yemen’s national air carrier Yemenia with three aircraft and two engines to supplement its fleet on the back of a Houthi seizure of planes at Sanaa airport, according to a statement. The Yemeni government condemned the seizure of three planes meant to transport 1.3k pilgrims back from hajj, a move which comes after another plane was captured a month earlier, Saba reported this week.

#4- India is launching an anti-dumping investigation into glass fiber imports from Bahrain after receiving complaints from a domestic player, Times of India reports. The investigation aims to protect India’s domestic glass fiber industry from cheap imports, the news outlet writes. No details on the timeline of the investigation were disclosed. The committee is also looking into the alleged dumping of glass fiber imports from China and Thailand.

MARKET WATCH-

Baltic index reaches near two-month peak boosted by growth in capsize rates: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments – rose 5.3% on Monday to 2,156, an almost two-month high, Reuters reports. The capesize indices rose by 10.1% to 3,791, while the panamax dipped 0.3% to 1,662 points. The supramax index segment fell 16 points to 1,369.

DATA POINT-

#1- The Qatari port authority (Mwani) handled over 144k TEUs in June, a 51% y-o-y increase, making this its second-highest monthly container handling rate, according to a statement. The port operator processed 56.9k tons of cargo, 15.7k roro units, and 59.1k heads of livestock, representing increases of 163%, 108%, and 149% respectively according to a separate statement. The number of vessels calling at the port was 242.

Mwani handled over 707k TEUs in 1H 2024, a 12% increase y-o-y, according to another statement. The port operator processed 931.5k tons of cargo, 55.9k RoRo units, 358.2k heads of livestock, and serviced 1.3k vessels.

#2- Iran’s agricultural food exports rose 29.8% y-o-y in the March-June period, Moj reports. Between March and May, 1.56 mn tons of agricultural products worth USD 684 mn were exported, representing a 28% y-o-y increase.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Saudi Arabia will host the Global EV and Mobility Technology Forum on Wednesday, 10 July and Thursday, 11 July in Riyadh. The event will bring together international policymakers, NGOs, corporations, and start-ups to discuss industry topics including fleet electrification, autonomous and connected vehicles, and sustainable transport solutions.

Check out our full calendar for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.