Good morning, everyone. How are we holding up without that first morning caffeine fix?

If the lack of coffee has you feeling a bit slow, today’s news is moving at quite the opposite pace. A major push for regional connectivity leads our issue this morning — AP Moller Capital has reached a final close on its MAD 2.2 bn Morocco-focused fund, and two of the world’s biggest port operators are teaming up in Jeddah. Let’s dive right in.

Watch this space

PORTS — Egypt’s Trans Misr for Transport and Trade will boost its handling capacity to 80k containers by the end of this year, TMT Business Development Manager Youssef Al Antably told Al Mal. The firm is plugging EGP 50 mn to expand its Trans Misr Terminal container yard at Alexandria Port and to attract regular shipping lines. The investment will also support the development of some 3k sqm of dedicated less-than-container load (LCL) and container storage warehouses.

Why it matters: The expansion of private bonded customs areas is a direct response to chronic congestion at Alexandria Port. By moving the consolidation and maintenance of empty containers to dedicated private zones, the port aims to increase berth productivity and reduce dwell time, which has driven up costs for importers and exporters.

For your eyes: EnterpriseAM sat down earlier this month with Ahmad Amawi, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, to discuss the latest reforms and the country’s overall trade movement.

TRADE — Is Trump friends with Japan again? Japan is earmarking USD 36 bn in investments in oil, gas, and mineral projects — the first tranche of a USD 550 bn commitment under the trade pact agreed with US President Donald Trump. The East Asian nation is rolling out a USD 33 bn 9.2 GW gas-fired power plant; a USD 2.1 bn deepwater crude export terminal; and a USD 600 mn synthetic industrial diamond plant.

Read between the lines — the package is likely a move to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled supply chains. Beijing accounts for 70% of rare earths mining and 90% of processing, while Tokyo receives tariff cover and a channel to deploy capital into US strategic sectors.

Background: Trump imposed a blanket 10% baseline tariff last April — then tightened the screws in July with a second-wave hike that put Japan on a 25% track.

Market watch

Oil prices climbed this morning as US-Iran nuclear talks eased tensions despite increased military activity in the region, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures increased USD 0.24 to trade at USD 70.59 / bbl as of 04:15 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) inched up USD 0.28 to USD 62.47 / bbl.

The Baltic Index continues to dip: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — was down 1.5% to 2,063 points on Wednesday. The capesize fell 2.5% to 3,115 points, while the panamax index rose 0.2% to 1,796. Meanwhile, the smaller supramax index dipped 12% to 1,180.

PSA

Egypt’s ports and customs outlets will operate all year round, including on official holidays, as part of efforts to reduce total customs clearance time to just two days, according to a statement from the Finance and Investment Ministries. The move aims to significantly lower storage costs and increase inventory turnover for manufacturers. Ports and customs outlets will only take breaks on a total of four days, coinciding with Eid El Fitr and Eid El Adha.

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