Good morning, nice people. We’re kicking off the week with a relatively balanced read, with pacts and agreements from major UAE firms leading the charge. DP World is set to land a terminal in Uzbekistan and Adnoc L&S is bound for 50 years with Ta’ziz.

PLUS: Washington gave the nod for Nvidia chip exports to the UAE. But first, we have a mixed bag of news from Trump’s administration.

^^ We have these stories and more in this morning’s newswell, below.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD–

The Trump administration has rescinded penalties for US LNG firms — previously slated to take effect this week under a plan to curb China’s maritime dominance, according to a notice (pdf) from the US Trade Office Representative (USTR) released on Friday. The decision aims to “avoid potential short-term disruptions to the LNG sector while promoting investments in US shipbuilding capacity and production of LNG vessels,” the statement added.

A push for US shipbuilding: The USTR announced its intention to slap a 100% levy on ship-to-shore cranes and intermodal chassis and parts — effective 9 November. It also announced a proposal to levy additional tariffs up to 150% on specific Chinese-made cargo handling equipment, including gantry cranes, straddle carriers, and container-stacking tractors.

REMEMBER- Washington drew first blood: US President Donald Trump first floated port fees on China-built and China-flagged vessels earlier this year, which are intended to jumpstart shipbuilding ventures in the US. The fees are expected to cost additional charges for 35% of vessels in the combined bulk, crude tanker, product tanker, and container fleet when calling on US ports.

What’s been scrapped? The penalty would have enabled the US to suspend LNG export licenses for firms that failed to meet standards for shipping fuel on US-built LNG tankers by 2030. The move comes as US companies raised concerns that existing domestic shipbuilding capacity is not yet equipped to boost development of these specialized LNG tankers — with South Korea and Japan holding the largest share of production at present.

Market reax: Several China-bound oil tankers have canceled their bookings after Beijing imposed retaliatory tariffs on US ships, Bloomberg reported last week, citing unnamed sources. Freight rates for bulk carriers transporting coal and iron ore rose following China’s announcement. “As the numbers are significant, [retaliatory tariffs] should create inefficiencies and likely lead to higher rates,” Fearnley Securities analysts reportedly said in a note to Bloomberg.

This story is making the rounds in the international press: Reuters | Bloomberg | Politico | Financial Times | The Washington Post | Associated Press | BBC | CNN | CBS | CNBC

HAPPENING TODAY-

The Marine Environment Protection Committee Extraordinary Session is opening its doors tomorrow until Friday, 17 October at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) HQ in London. The session is set to see the intergovernmental body formally adopt its Net-Zero Framework — rolling out new fuel standards for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.

Why this matters: The Net-Zero Framework will roll out mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas pricing across the entire shipping sector, including large ocean-going ships over 5k gross tonnage that account for 85% of international shipping’s emissions. The framework was adopted last April and would oblige the global shipping industry — which is responsible for 3% of the world’s GHG emissions — to reduce and pay for a portion of its emissions. It is expected to come into effect in 2027.

A rift among IMO members: The draft was passed with support from 63 countries including China and Brazil. Sixteen countries voted against — nine of which were from our region, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. The US threatened IMO members with retaliation last August, and renewed its warnings last week, threatening visa restrictions and sanctions to retaliate against nations that vote in favor, Reuters reported on Saturday.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- The Energos Winter floating storage and regasification unit is now operational and will act as an emergency backup in case Israel — once again — cuts off gas supplies, Asharq Business reports, citing an unnamed government source. The newly operational 450 mcf/d Energos Winter is currently only running at a fraction of its capacity, processing only 70 mcf/d from its birth in Damietta, while the four other docked units receive the bulk of incoming shipments.

The unit came online just as the number of LNG incoming shipments dropped sharply — from a planned 19 this month to just six, a government source told EnterpriseAM last week. The previous month also saw fewer shipments received than initially planned amid falling domestic consumption. Egypt is now expected to import between 20 and 24 shipments during the final quarter of the year, compared to a previous target of 40 shipments, the source said.

#2- Exxon to develop storage for Iraqi oil: Iraq’s latest agreement with ExxonMobil will see the global energy giant develop storage capacity, the Iraq News Agency (INA) reported on Saturday, citing comments by Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani. The agreement focuses on developing Iraq’s large Majnoon oilfield in a bid to boost oil exports, Reuters reported last week. The capacity and timeline of the storage facilities were not disclosed.

The move dovetails with Baghdad’s latest efforts to boost exports, as the Iraqi government started work on its third offshore pipeline, implemented by Italy’s oil and gas contractor Micoperi and Turkey’s ESTA, INA reports. Boasting a maximum capacity of 2.4 mn bbl/d, the pipeline is scheduled to launch by the end of 2027 and will include three offshore platforms: Basra Oil Port, Khor Al-Amaya Port, and a floating offshore buoy for export.

#3- Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ could be vying for Sicily’s Catania Airport, with two sources familiar with the matter quoted as telling Reuters on Thursday that it has shown interest in the airport ahead of the launch of the sale. Something between a 51% and a 66% stake in the airport, which is operated by SAC, a company owned by local authorities and chambers of commerce, under a concession agreement, could be sold. The airport could be valued between EUR 500-600 mn, the sources added.

#4- US-Saudi semiconductor pact could be finalized soon: Saudi Arabia and the US are reportedly close to finalizing an agreement that would allow US chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD to export semiconductors to the Kingdom, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. The chips would be used in Saudi data centers to train AI models.

Security fears remain in the way: The transaction still faces hurdles due to long-voiced US security concerns that China could potentially gain access to the tech via Saudi Arabia, the sources said. A similar agreement with the UAE had been held up by the same concerns, with the US recently agreeing to send some Nvidia chips their way.

#5- Etihad Airways plans USD 15 bn investment, with no firm IPO timeline: Etihad Airways plans to invest USD 15 bn over the next seven years, CEO Antonoaldo Neves told CNBC Arabia last week. The funds for the investment will come from the firm’s own coffers, with the CEO noting robust cashflow and reduced leverage levels.

As for its IPO plans? Neves said the firm has no specific timeline for an initial public offering, describing the IPO as a liquidity tool for shareholders, rather than a corporate necessity. The airline is already distributing dividends and making fleet purchases using its own equity, he said.

ICYMI- Earlier this year, the airline was reported to be delaying its USD 1 bn IPO to the ADX until early next year. It is also aiming to expand its current fleet of 100 to 200 by 2030, up from an earlier target of 170. Etihad will see 28 new aircraft this year thanks to a USD 14.5 bn agreement with the US, and around 20 aircraft will join its fleet each year until 2030, he added.

#6- US could restrict China’s access to Boeing parts: The Trump administration is considering imposing export controls on Boeing plane parts headed to China, as a countermeasure against Beijing’s export restrictions on rare earth metals, Reuters reported last week, citing comments by US President Donald Trump.

How big will the impact be? For Boeing, the airplane maker is not expected to suffer a significant financial hit in the event the export ban takes place, according to aerospace analyst at Leeham Company, Scott Hamilton. As for Beijing, the ban could disrupt its in-the-works contract to buy as many as 500 Boeing jets — not to mention Chinese airlines are reportedly seeking to place as many as 1k Boeing and Airbus orders.

That’s not all: US President Donald Trump is threatening to slap a 100% tariff on all Chinese imports starting 1 November or earlier, after accusing Beijing of “very hostile” moves to curb exports of rare earths essential to tech manufacturing. The remarks reignited fears of a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Beijing’s decision to expand export controls on rare earths — key inputs for electric vehicles, electronics, and defense equipment — appears to have triggered the latest escalation. The new rules require foreign firms to obtain approval before exporting products containing the materials, effectively tightening China’s grip on the supply chain. (Financial Times | Guardian | Reuters)

China has accused the US of escalating the trade war after Trump announced the tariff plans, the Financial Times reports. China’s Commerce Ministry criticized the US for blacklisting Chinese firms and abusing national security measures, warning it would take “corresponding measures” if the tariffs proceed.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices rose this morning as US-Sino talks spring hope of eased tensions between oil buyers, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures increased by USD 0.87 to USD 63.60 / bbl as of 00.45 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained USD 0.87 to trade at USD 59.77 / bbl.

ALSO– Saudi Arabia ramped up crude oil shipments to Europe via Egypt’s Ain Sokhna terminal — the Red Sea export point of the Sumed pipeline — to 1.3 mn bbl / d in September, the highest level since April 2020, Mees reported on Friday, citing Kpler data. The Kingdom’s total crude exports climbed to 6.42 mn bbl / d last month — the highest in a year and a half.

IN CONTEXT- Back in April 2020, Saudi output hit a record 11.87 mn bbl / d as Aramco opened the taps to pressure other producers into agreeing to deep cuts. That wave saw exports to Europe spike to 1.64 mn bbl / d. While production last month reached 9.93 mn bbl / d — still a 27-month high — it was nearly 2 mn bbl / d below the pandemic peak.

September’s surge partly reflects a recovery from August’s slump in exports to Western markets. It may also indicate higher crude stocks at Aramco’s storage hub in Egypt’s Sidi Kerir, though shipping data points to a clear increase in actual exports, Mees said. Crude outflows from Sidi Kerir, where Aramco is the main supplier, climbed to 1 mn bbl / d in September — their first return to such levels since February last year, according to Kpler’s figures.

Poland and Italy were the largest European destinations for Saudi crude from Sidi Kerir. Poland’s Gdansk refinery took in roughly 300k bbl / d, supported by Aramco’s 30% stake in the local refinery acquired in 2022. Shipments to Algerian Sonatrach’s Augusta refinery in Italy averaged about 110k bbl / d.

#2- An incoming wave of liquified natural gas (LNG) supply by the end of the decade could unlock long-term demand, Adnoc Gas CEO Fatema Al Nuaimi tells Bloomberg. “When price-sensitive markets tap into LNG, they don’t go back because they invest in terminals and infrastructure, [creating demand],” Al Nuaimi said. The remarks echo the International Energy Agency’s outlook, which sees record gas demand next year driven by economies in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, Bloomberg added. However, it remains uncertain whether price-conscious countries will anchor future consumption as their uptake would depend on multiple factors, Bloomberg added.

Global LNG prices are widely expected to ease as several major projects come online in the coming years, including Adnoc’s planned Ruwais LNG plant, which will more than double the company’s export capacity, set to kick off operations in 2028.

REMEMBER- Adnoc Gas has been converting heads of agreement into sales agreements for its Ruwais LNG plant over the past year with Indian Oil Corporation, Germany’s SEFE, German energy infrastructure firm EnBW, Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas firm Petronas, as well as Japan’s Jera and Osaka Gas. The firm has already secured offtake agreements for over 8 mn tons per year of LNG from the facility, out of its 9.5 mtpa capacity.

#3- Baltic index maintains rising momentum: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — increased 13 points to 1,936 on Friday. The capesize gained 13 points to 2,799, while the panamax index climbed up 34 points to 1,764. The smaller supramax index eased 1 point to 1,402.

#4- The Drewry World Container Index fell by 1% to USD 1,651 per 40-ft container on Thursday, according to the latest index readings. The drop comes on the back of market turbulence driven by the ongoing flurry of US tariffs since April. The container forecaster projects the supply-demand balance to fall in 2H 2025, causing spot rates to fall further.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Belgium will host the AntwerpXL tomorrow until Thursday, 16 October in Antwerp. The expo will host 3.8k project cargo, break bulk, RoRo, heavy lift, and industry experts to expand collaborations. It will co-locate with the Transport and Logistics conference and exhibition.

Iraq will host the Iraq International Transportation & Airports & Logistics Expo & Conference on Wednesday, 15 October until Friday, 17 October in Baghdad. The expo — Iraq’s first platform focused exclusively on transport and logistics services — is expected to feature over 100 exhibitors, including ports, aviation, road, and rail players as well as logistics tech firms.

Morocco will host the International Forum and Expo on Mobility, Transport, and Logistics (Logiterre) on Thursday, 16 October until Saturday, 18 October in Casablanca. Logiterre will host main operators within the industry from West and Central Africa.

The UAE will host the Adipec Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference on Monday, 3 November until Thursday, 6 November in Abu Dhabi. The conference will host over 250k attendees working in government entities, finance, and tech.

The UAE will host the Air Cargo Forum on Tuesday, 4 November until Thursday, 6 November in Abu Dhabi. The forum — hosted by Etihad Cargo — will bring together air freight industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss industry solutions, tech, strategies, and collaborative initiatives for global air logistics.

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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