Updates on cargo, trade, shipping, and storage from across the region

CARGO-

Syria to upgrade its borders’ cargo yards: Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports has launched a tender for the USD 316k cargo yard rehabilitation project at Al Salama border crossing, according to a statement released on Thursday. The deadline for the tender is on 22 September — with a 60-day implementation period once a contract is awarded.

TRADE-

Saudi Arabia granted Syria 1.65 mn barrels of crude oil to back the operational and financial stability of Syrian refineries, state news agency SPA reported on Thursday. The crude oil supply is granted upon an MoU signed between the Saudi Fund for Development and the Syrian Energy Ministry. The move comes shortly after Saudi companies inked six MoUs and an agreement with Syria’s Energy Ministry last month covering electricity, oil and gas, and renewables.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

#1- AD Ports-backed JV launches Comoros’ first passenger + auto ferry service: Serdal International, a joint venture between AD Ports Group and Abu Dhabi-based Resources Investment, has rolled out a new ferry service linking Grande Comore and Anjouan in the Comoros, according to a press release. The service is the first in the archipelago to carry both passengers and vehicles.

The vessels: Operated by AD Ports’ Noatum Maritime, the Yameela has capacity for 190 passengers and 45 vehicles. The route connects Moroni — the capital and main maritime gateway on Grande Comore — with Mutsamudu on Anjouan.

#2- Turkish ships to power energy-deficient Iraq: BKPS, a subsidiary of Turkish floating power plants operator Karpowership, connected its 300 MW powership — docked at Khor Al Zubair Port — to the Iraqi grid last week, AlArabiya reported last week, citing comments by Iraqi Energy Minister Ahmed Moussa to AFP. A second ship — with a 290 MW capacity — is expected to dock at Umm Qasr Port by next week, Moussa is quoted as saying.

REMEMBER- BKPS signed a contract with the Iraqi government last month to supply up to 590 MW of electricity for 71 days through two power vessels.

Iraq’s power woes: Iraq — which runs power supply shortages of up to 13 GW at peak times — is facing difficulties sourcing enough power, especially since the US terminated a waiver allowing the country to import Iranian electricity last May. Baghdad subsequently pivoted to Oman and Qatar for natural gas supplies, while targeting power self-sufficiency and a complete halt to natural gas imports by 2028, according to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani.

STORAGE + WAREHOUSES-

GFH’s Manrre REIT starts work on Jafza logistics facility: GFH Partners Manrre REIT and Dubai-based developer Palmon Group have broken ground on a high-bay, temperature-controlled logistics facility in Jebel Ali Freezone (Jafza), Trade Arabia reports. Construction of the facility — which will have a built-up area of 144k sq ft in Jafza North — is slated for completion in 1Q 2027, with leasing talks underway with a regional logistics provider.

The players involved: GFH Partners, the Dubai-based global asset management arm of Bahrain’s GFH Financial Group, acquired logistics and industrial asset fund Manrre REIT at the start of the year for USD 75.5 mn. Manrre REIT was established in 2018 by Palmon, who is also the fund’s development manager.