Good morning, folks. We’re starting the week with a packed issue, dominated by M&A updates and the latest moves from UAE energy players in the US. We also have the rail and shipping sector news from Egypt, Morocco, and Iran. But first, another update on the US tariff policy…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- The US to give electronics a temporary tariff exemption: The US announced it would suspend tariffs temporarily on smartphones, chips, and other consumer electronics, with the US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick saying the new tariffs on electronics could come in a month or two.

Part of an ongoing on-again-off-again tariff policy: The suspension was first announced earlier on Thursday, sending stock futures and Asian stocks up and signaling a potential tech stock rally, Financial Times reported. However, the US said two days later that the suspension would be temporary, pending a national security probe into the sector that could introduce a separate tariff regime for electronics.

The story grabbed a lot of ink in int’l press: Reuters | Bloomberg | Financial Times | WSJ | CNN | BBC | The Guardian |

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

The IATA World Cargo Symposium will kick off on Tuesday, 15 April and will run through Thursday, 17 April in Dubai. The event will host sessions, specialized streams, workshops, and summits related to technology, security, customs, cargo operations, and sustainability for over 1.4k industry leaders.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Iran to complete Chabahar-Zahedan railway by 2026: Construction on Iran’s 634 km Chabahar-Zahedan Railway project is set to be completed by late March 2026, Mehr News reported on Thursday, citing ISNA News. The railway stretches from the port of Chabahar in southeast Iran to the city of Zahedan near Iran’s border with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

REFRESHER- The railway — initially planned to be completed in 2024-25 — is located in eastern Iran along the International North-South Transport Corridor — a railway connection project that aims to connect Russia, India, Iran, and Azerbaijan. It starts in Chabahar and passes through Iranshahr, Khash, Zahedan, Nehbandan, Birjand, Qaen, and Gonabad, and connects to the Bafaq-Mashhad Railway through Kaleshur Station in Torbat Heydarieh. The project aims to connect Central Asian countries with the Indian Ocean.

#2- US cracks down on Iran’s oil trade: The US administration has imposed another round of sanctions on Iran’s oil network, the US State Department said in a statement published on Thursday. The new sanctions targeted Iran’s crude flows to China and India.

The details: The new round targeted Guangsha Zhoushan Energy Group Co Ltd, whose oil storage terminal on Huangzeshan Island is believed by the US to be responsible for moving Iranian crude to Chinese refineries. The US also targeted a UAE-based Indian national, claiming that his 30-vessel fleet was responsible for shipping Iranian oil to India, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Four other entities linked to the India-bound operation were also sanctioned, including the UAE-based Prime Tankers LLC and Glory International.

In context: The new sanctions came ahead of the anticipated US-Iran nuclear “direct” talks that took place in Oman over the weekend and saw the pair agree to hold a second round of discussions, BBC reports.

#3- The UAE and the EU have agreed to launch negotiations for a trade and economic partnership agreement, state news agency Wam reported on Thursday. The agreement will aim to reduce trade barriers and tariffs, and boost cooperation in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, and AI. Renewable energy, green hydrogen, and critical raw materials will also be areas of focus, according to an EU statement.

In context: The UAE has been chasing trade agreements with the EU and the UK separate from wider GCC agreements, with Reuters reporting last year that bilateral talks are a priority. The UAE’s expanding bilateral trade partnerships are also set to help the nation minimize the impacts of the US tariffs, Emirates NBD Research said in a research note last week.

By the numbers: The EU is the UAE's second-largest trade partner, with non-oil trade between the two reaching USD 67.6 bn in 2024, according to Wam. The UAE is also the EU’s largest export destination and investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa. The UAE has big foreign trade ambitions, aiming for AED AED 4 tn in annual foreign trade by 2031, with 75% of that target already achieved in 2024. Non-oil foreign trade exceeded AED 2.8 tn last year, with trade agreements contributing AED 135 bn to non-oil exports.

AND- UAE’s trade pact with New Zealand is on its way for ratification after an implementation bill for the agreement passed its first reading in parliament, according to a government statement, citing New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay. The agreement cuts tariffs on 98.5% of New Zealand exports heading to the Emirates, rising to 99% within three years, McClay added. The two sides signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) to promote bilateral investment ties last year, and a New Zealand-GCC trade agreement, finalized in October, is set to be implemented soon.

#4- Fujairah’s Dibba Port is slated to open in 2H 2025, managing director Moussa Murad told Alkhaleej last week on the sidelines of the Fujairah International Forum for Refueling and Fuel Oil (Fujcon 2025). The port will primarily handle raw materials produced in commercial quantities for export, including limestone used in the cement and iron industries.

ALSO- Fujairah is getting new berths: A tender for constructing two new berths at Fujairah port — with a depth of 18 meters — was awarded by the Fujairah government to an undisclosed bidder. Construction is set to begin next September — with completion of the port expansion slated for September 2027. The expansion looks to reduce tanker waiting time and accommodate larger vessels at the port.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices fell this morning amid continued concerns that the US-China trade war would stifle the global economy’s growth and energy demand, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures dipped by USD 0.29 to USD 64.47 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) decreased by USD 0.27 to reach USD 61.23 a barrel by 01.26 GMT.

Meanwhile, Saudi oil shipments to China are set to increase to some 48 mn barrels in May, as buyers in Asia lock in extra barrels following a sharp drop in prices, Reuters reported in the weekend, citing unnamed sources. The tally — representing a 35.5% m-o-m increase per our calculations — is the highest since 2024, marking the first allocation increase to China since the beginning of this year.

BACKGROUND- Aramco made its steepest oil price cut in over two years after slashing May prices for Arab light crude and other grades to Asia by USD 2.30, citing “healthy market fundamentals and the positive market outlook.” The move came on the back of Kazakhstan continuing to report record production figures and Iraq failing to comply with production cuts.

#2- Baltic index snaps losing streak: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — grew 0.4% to 1,274 points on Friday. The capesize inched up 1.2% to 1,803points, while the panamax index eased by 0.3% to reach 1,186 points. The smaller supramax index slipped two points to 939.

#3- The Drewry World Container Index rose by 3% to USD 2,265 per 40-ft container on Thursday, according to the latest index readings. Spot rates for 40-ft containers are at their lowest since January 2024 and 78% below the previous pandemic peak, but remain 59% above the pre-pandemic rate of USD 1.4k. The average composite index YTD is USD 2,944 per 40ft container, which is USD 105 higher than the 10-year average rate of USD 2,889.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Iranian ports saw a 22.5% y-o-y increase in foreign goods during Iran’s calendar year ending on 20 March, head of Iran’s Customs Administration Foroud Asgari told Tehran Times on Thursday. The ports handled about 22 mn tons, with some 19.6 mn tons of cargo passed through customs during this period.

#2- Egypt’s wheat imports dropped some 3% y-o-y to 3.2 mn tons in 1Q 2025, AsharqBusiness reported on Thursday. The drop came amid a spike in international wheat prices and a slight devaluation in the local currency against the greenback. Egypt’s Agriculture Ministry is looking to produce some 10 mn tons of wheat locally in 2025, with the harvest season beginning this week.

On track to achieve 2025 goals? Egypt is targeting a 3.3% y-o-y reduction in wheat imports this year as part of a plan to source more wheat locally and cut imports. The plan aims to increase Egypt's locally produced wheat by 11% to reach 4 mn tons, and to import some 6 mn tons from abroad.

***YOU’RE READING EnterpriseAM Logistics, the essential MENA publication for senior execs who care about the industry that connects producers and retailers to global markets. We’re out Monday through Thursday by 9:15am in Cairo and Riyadh and 11:15am in the UAE.

EnterpriseAM Logistics is available without charge thanks to the generous support of our friends at Hassan Allam Utilities, Transmar, and AK-Ships.

Were you forwarded this email? Tap or click here to get your own copy of Enterprise Logistics.

Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? Reach out to us on logistics@enterprisemea.com.

DID YOU KNOW that we also cover Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the MENAclimate industry ?
***

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The UAE will host the Airport Show on Tuesday, 6 May to Thursday, 8 May in Dubai. The event will show products and technology for the airport industry from over 160 international suppliers and manufacturers across 20 countries. It will also provide a platform for networking with key players across seven airport sectors.

Saudi Arabia will host the Saudi Smart Logistics trade fair on Monday, 12 May to Thursday, 15 May in Riyadh. The event will provide insights into the latest international and local technology, solutions, equipment providers, and sustainable workflow practices within the logistics industry in the country.

The UAE will host the Global Ports Forum on Tuesday, 13 May to Wednesday, 14 May in Dubai. The forum will cover topics such as port strategy and development, port automation, finance and efficiency.

Check out our full calendar at the bottom of this email for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.

Tags: