Good morning, folks. We have a meaty issue this morning with updates cutting across the regional logistics sector, with a bit of everything from roads to ports to the skies. But first…

OUR NEXT CONFERENCE IN CAIRO-

Foreign investors are falling in love with Egypt again… Foreign investors we speak with (debt, equity, and strategic alike) have growing appetite for Egypt. They’re buying into local debt, eyeing promising shares, and committing bns of USD to both new ventures here and the growth of their existing businesses. They like the Egypt story that’s taking shape after the float of the EGP, and its competitive advantages are clear to many of them: It’s a massive consumer opportunity and a regional export hub of tomorrow.

The Enterprise Optimism Forum 2024 will do exactly what it says on the tin: Spark conversations about a future that sees Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the the UAE at the heart of a more vital Middle East economy — and provide an early, actionable roadmap for those who are “long Egypt.”

We’ll be talking with you about the agenda over the coming couple of weeks. It features speakers from Egypt and abroad who are future-proofing their businesses and angling to capture tomorrow’s opportunities — and who aren’t afraid to answer some tough questions.

*** Interested in attending? Tap or click here to let us know. Seating is limited.

PSA-

French shipping giant CMA CGM has boosted Freight All Kinds (FAK) rates for shipments from Asian ports to North Africa and the Mediterranean, effective 1 May to 15 May, and subject to further notices, according to a Friday update.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Dubai is recovering from its monster storm: Dubai International Airport (DXB) has returned to full operational capacity after adverseweather last week caused a suspension in some operations, Reuters reported on Thursday. The hub has faced difficulties clearing a backlog of flights disrupted by the partial closure, the newswire added, with the hub resuming inbound flights at terminal 1 last Thursday. A full assessment of damages at the airport will be available after all operations resume, airport COO Majed Al Joker told Al Arabiya TV. Emirates and Flydubai are back to normal operations after Emirates canceled some 400 flights, Emirates President Tim Clarke said in an open letter of apology.

These roads are safe for travel again: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has reopened the tunnel at the Beirut Street and Al Nahda Street intersection, Al Meydan Street at Al Asayel Street, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, after temporarily closing the roads due to flooding. The Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road (E11) linking Abu Dhabi to Dubai is also accepting traffic again near Ghantoot Bridge, Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Center (ITC) said on X.

Still closed for traffic: Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road (E311) after the intersecting Al Faqa is still closed in the direction of Dubai, according to the ITC.

And DP World confirmed continued operations at Jebel Ali port despite recent weather conditions, Wam reported last week.

A mammoth clean up task ahead: Dubai struggled to clear waterlogged roads and flooding in the wake of last week’s record torrential rains, Reuters reported on Thursday. Dubai International Airport concentrated efforts on working down a backlog of flights as operations resumed, while detours and closures due to flooded roads caused heavy traffic congestion in the city. Delivery services began to return gradually, while some supermarkets in neighboring Abu Dhabi faced shortages due to interrupted deliveries from Dubai, the newswire said.

#2- Egypt to halt LNG exports starting May: The Oil Ministry is reportedly stopping all LNG exports to European markets starting from next month, two unnamed government sources told Al Arabiya.

Déjà vu? Oil Minister Tarek El Molla said in February that the ministry could opt to suspend exports of liquefied natural gas during the coming summer on the back of increased domestic demand as rising temperatures strain supplies. LNG imports are also back, with the state gas firm EGAS looking to import no less than one LNG shipment a month until July or August.

The Tahya Misr 1 container terminal to come online in 2025: Egypt’s Tahya Misr 1 container terminal — one of three terminals planned in the Damietta port development project — will kick off operations in April 2025, according to a statement released on Saturday. The terminal will add 3.5 mn container capacity to the port, Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir said in a separate statement. The Damietta Port development project, including the other two container terminals, will be completed in 2027, Madbouly added.

Int’l consultant for airport management tender to be chosen by June: Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry will select an international consultant to oversee the tender for the management of Egyptian airports by June, unnamed sources told Al Borsa. The international consultant will be responsible for selecting the airports that will be handed over to be managed by the private sector and set a timetable for the program by the end of next year.

Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels wants to borrow EGP 16.3 bn for the Sokhna-Matrouh line: The authority is reportedly seeking a syndicated loan from local banks, led by the National Bank of Egypt, to complete the civil works on line 1 of the Sokhna-Matrouh high-speed rail link project, Asharq Business reports, citing three sources it says have knowledge of the matter.

Remember: The 2k km high-speed rail line links Cairo, Aswan, the North Coast and the Red Sea. The Sokhna-Matrouh connection will feature a passenger line able to carry more than 30 mn people a year as well as a freight line.

The details: The Finance Ministry has already secured the loan guarantee, according to one of the sources. The agreement will be final before the end of 2Q of this year, the two other sources confirmed to the news outlet.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices fell this morning as Iran downplayed Israel’s retaliatory attack, Reuters reports. Brent crude fell by 0.77% to settle at USD 86.62 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract for May fell 0.76% to USD 82.51 a barrel. Both grades had rallied USD 3 on news of Israel striking back at Iran city but tempered after Tehran played down the incident.

#2- Baltic index logs solid weekly gains: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — was up 1% to 1,919 points on Friday, surging 11% w-o-w and closing out its best week in over seven weeks, as better rates across all segments buoyed the index, Reuters reported on Saturday. Capesize, notched down 6 points on Friday to 2,839 points, but was up 11% for the week. Panamax gained 2.1% to 1,916 points on Friday, and marked its second weekly gain. Meanwhile, the smaller supramax segment gained 2.1% to 1,394 points, rallying 9.6% for the week.

#3- Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) fell 3% to USD 2,719 per 40-foot container for the week ending Thursday, but was up 53% when compared to the same period last year, maritime research and consultancy firm Drewry reported on Thursday. The latest WCI figure is also 91% greater than the average 2019 pre-pandemic rates of USD 1,420. YTD, the index has averaged at USD 3,295 per 40 foot container, USD 586 greater than the 10-year USD 2,709 average, Drewry said.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade saw 8% y-o-y growth to AED 281.9 bn, Wam reported on Friday. Imports saw a 19% boost during the period to AED 136.45 bn, while re-exports rose 11% to AED 52.39 bn, WAM said.

#2- Iran produced some 3.25 mn barrels of oil per day (bpd) in March 2024, up from 3.23 mn bpd the previous month, Tasnim reported last week, citing a US Energy Information Administration (EIA) report. The figures place Iran as OPEC’s third largest producer for the month. Iran has averaged 3.23 mn bpd in this year’s first quarter, up 600k bpd from the same period last year, EIA also said.

#3- Etihad Cargo saw a 37% y-o-y boost in pharma and healthcare shipments in 2023, setting a new record, Wam reported last week. Etihad Cargo also used cold chain pharma transport company Envirotainer ’s active containers on 134% more trips compared to the previous year.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Egypt will host the Egypt Facility Management Forum on Tuesday, 23 April and Wednesday, 24 April in Cairo. Business-owners, developers, service providers, technology leaders and suppliers will attend seminars and exhibitions on the facility management supply chain.

The UAE will host Abu Dhabi Mobility Week from Wednesday, 24 April to Wednesday, 1 May in Abu Dhabi. The event, organized by The Department of Municipalities and Transport – Abu Dhabi (DMT), will feature announcements, forums, and introduce a mobility strategy for the emirate.

Iran will host the Iran-Africa International Summitfrom Wednesday, 24 April through to Friday, 26 April in Tehran. The event will see Iran receive trade ministers from more than 40 African countries.

Saudi Arabia will host a special World Economic Forum event from Sunday, 28 April through to Monday, 29 April in Riyadh. The event will focus on global collaboration and energy.

Qatar will host the Autonomous E-mobility Forum from Tuesday, 30 April to Thursday, 2 May in Doha. The event will gather industry experts, senior officials, policy and technology experts, as well as government, academic, and media representatives, providing a platform for stakeholders to exchange know-how and recommendations for the implementation of autonomous e-mobility in the real-world.

Saudi Arabia will host the Saudi Smart Logistics exhibition and summit from Monday, 6 May to Thursday, 9 May in Riyadh. The trade fair brings together local and international suppliers, public officials, professionals, and logistics players, and provides a platform for networking, exchanging know-how, and showcasing new technologies, products, and services.

The UAE will host the Airport Show from Tuesday, 14 May through to Thursday, 16 May in Dubai. The 23rd Airport Show will see representation from airport suppliers, airport service providers, aviation executives, and regional decision makers. The event will highlight current innovations and new technologies, while emphasizing this year’s “Sustainability and Innovation,” theme.

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