Good morning, folks. It’s a packed issue today, with investment, LNG trade, and data centers updates from Iran and the UAE. We also have the latest on debt and M&A plans from UAE players. But first, an update on the US plans for China-built vessels’ fees…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- US advances China ship fees: The Trump administration is moving forward with fees on Chinese-built vessels for stopping at US ports based on net tonnage or containers loaded, according to a US Trade Representative (USTR) notice (pdf) published on Thursday. The fees — to take effect on 14 October — will be rolled out in a phased manner, with possibility of further hikes in the future.

The details: China-owned and operated ships to get a fee of USD 50 per net ton, which will then be hiked by USD 30 annually over the next three years to settle at USD 140 by 2028. Non-Chinese firms, however, will get a breathing room, with a smaller fee set at USD 18 per ton. The fee will then rise by just USD 5 every year over three years.

Any exceptions? Owners and operators could avoid the fees if they provide proof of a US shipbuilding order. The USTR also exempted ships that carry goods between domestic ports, and from those ports to the Caribbean Islands, as well as US and Canadian vessels that call at Great Lakes ports.

Chinese state-owned shipping giant Cosco shipping has opposed the plans, claiming that the move is “not conducive to fair competition and normal business operation order in the global shipping industry.”

The story made headlines in the int’l press: Reuters | CNN | CNBC | The New York Times | The Guardian | BBC

HAPPENING TODAY-

The Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit is on its second day and will run until tomorrow, Wednesday, 23 April in Abu Dhabi. The event is bringing together industry experts, innovators, leaders and key stakeholders in the electric mobility sector.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- AD Ports Group is reportedly planning a USD 2 bn debt issuance within the next few weeks, Reuters reports, citing two unnamed sourced. The issuance is set to be the one of the latest signs that Gulf players are marshalling ahead with debt issuances despite the global market turmoil. “In the Middle East, the main concern is oil prices, but both corporates and governments have very strong fundamentals, reserve increase, everything’s doing well,” co-head of fixed income at Amwal Capital Partners Zeina Rizk told Reuters.

#2- GCC to lead opposition against IMO shipping levy: A GCC-led coalition is reportedly laying the groundwork for efforts to torpedo the UN’s International Maritime Organization’s (IMOs) two-tier levy on shipping emissions ahead of the final vote next October, Mees reported on Friday. The news comes after the IMO passed the proposal earlier this month despite GCC countries’ vote against the plans.

The proposed tax is expected to hit GCC countries from two angles, undermining demand for marine fuels derived from oil and increasing the overall cost of shipping crude oil globally. As it stands, a standard 2 mn barrel of VLCC travelling from the Gulf to China could face charges of USD 1.6 mn in the first year of the tax’s implementation, according to MEES calculations based on Kpler data.

The IMO plans: The proposal sets two escalating emissions targets, requiring gradual cuts to ships’ GHG fuel intensity. A stricter standard mandates a 17% cut by 2028 from 2008 levels, increasing to 21% by 2030 and 43% by 2035. Ships that fail to meet this strict target would pay USD 100 per excess tonne of CO2 equivalent. The softer target would see cuts by 4% by 2028 and 8% by 2030, increasing to 30% by 2035, but failure to meet this level would result in steeper fees of up to USD 380 per excess tonne. The system also allows for credit trading, with compliant vessels able to sell credits to those that fall short.

#3- Emirates Skycargo is planning to launch its new parcel delivery services in several new markets this year, Emirates’ cargo arm Emirates Skycargo’s product and innovation senior VP Dennis Lister told The National on Thursday. The expansion — targeting Australia and India this year — comes amid a push by the airline to maximize returns from its extensive destination lists and its massive fleet of widebody jets.

On the horizon: The carrier is scheduled to launch package delivery for Australia by the end of April, and it is now working on dipping its toe into India’s USD 8.6 bn market within the “next few months,” Lister added. China and the US are also next on the list.

Ambitious goals to meet: “We want to be everywhere on the planet and to be the largest integrated door-to-door parcel delivery entity on a passenger fleet, cross-border, in the next three to five years,” Lister stressed. The company said earlier this month it is planning to expand its cargo fleet from 11 carriers to some 32 jets by 2030. The airline is close to uptaking five newbuild aircraft for its cargo fleet.

ICYMI: The airline launched its end-to-end delivery solution — dubbed Emirates Courier Express — offering next-day urgent delivery and two-day premium services across seven markets earlier this month.

#4- Adnoc has been shortlisted as a potential buyer of Shell’s downstream assets in South Africa, valued at around USD 1 bn, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg last week. The sale would cover Shell’s operations in aviation, marine, construction and road, trading and supply, commercial fuels, and lubricants. The company also operates a network of around 600 fuel stations across the country.

Who’s in the mix? Swiss commodities trading firm Gunvor is also in the running, while previous contenders — including Puma Energy, Sasol, and PetroSA — are no longer pursuing the acquisition. The status of Saudi Aramco’s interest remains uncertain.

What now? Discussions are still ongoing, and while the buyer could be named in the coming weeks, there is no guarantee that a final agreement will be reached, the sources told Bloomberg. Shell is working with Rothschild & Co to oversee the sale.

REMEMBER- Adnoc has had its eye on Shell’s South African assets since last year, with reports that non-binding offers would come in by Decemberof last year.

#5- US sanctions Chinese refinery for buying USD 1 bn of Iranian crude: The Trump administration has sanctioned Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co, an independent Chinese refinery, for allegedly acquiring upwards of USD 1 bn worth of Iranian crude, according to a statement released last week.

Second time this year: The Treasury Department sanctioned another independent refinery in China — Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co — late last month. Washington alleged at the time that the facility purchased and refined hundreds of mns of USD worth of Iranian crude. This was the first time the US targeted a so-called “teapot” refinery, which denotes private Chinese refineries that are supposedly the primary buyers of Iranian oil.

Crackdown after crackdown: The US administration recently imposed another round ofsanctions on Iran’s oil network, targeting 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.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices edged up this morning amid a spike in orders driven by investors’ push to take advantage of yesterday’s lower prices,Reuters reports. Brent crude futures rose by USD 0.42 to USD 66.68 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) went up by USD 0.45 to reach USD 63.53 a barrel by 06.20 GMT.

#2- The Drewry World Container Index rose by 3% to USD 2,192 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 79% below the previous pandemic peak, but remain 54% above the pre-pandemic rate of USD 1.4k. The average composite index YTD is USD 2,897 per 40ft container, which is USD 7 higher than the 10-year average rate of USD 2,890.

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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.

The UAE will host the Seamless Middle East from Tuesday, 20 May to Thursday, 22 May in Dubai. The event will cover topics including digital marketing, e-commerce, and retail and merchant payments.

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

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