Good morning, folks. The news cycle has slowed massively as we inch closer to the weekend, but we have a brisk issue with updates on storage projects in the UAE and Algeria along with a small pile of news on Egypt’s ports and airports plans. Let’s dive right in
WATCH THIS SPACE-
#1- Egypt reportedly getting another floating storage regasification unit next summer: Egypt will lease a Turkish floating storage regasification unit starting in June and for the duration of the summer, Asharq Business reports, citing an unnamed government official. This will potentially be Egypt’s fourth regasification unit on active lease this summer.
The Details: The unit — leased for some USD 45 mn — will liquify some 500 mn cubic feet of gas a day for electricity generation in efforts to meet heightened domestic demand during the summer months.
Preparing for the worst case scenario: Another regasification unit leased from US-based New Fortress Energy is planned to dock in Egypt starting 2H 2025, which will be shared with Jordan under a prior agreement. Egypt also reportedly chartered a third floating storage regasification unit to process LNG imports to dock at Ain Sokhna by June 2025.
REMEMBER- Egypt had its first regasification unit undocked in Ain Sokhna back in June under a lease agreement with Norway’s Höegh LNG extending into February 2026.
ICYMI- Egypt has a lot of LNG shipments coming its way: Egypt has reportedly signedagreements to purchase a total of 60 LNG shipments in 2025 for around USD 3 bn, which will be delivered in through five monthly shipments, each carrying between 160-165k cubic meters of LNG.
IN OTHER EGYPT UPDATES- Egypt’s detailed airports privatization plan could be out soon: The International Finance Corporation’s full privatization plan for Egypt’s airports should be out in the next six months, Al Mal reports, citing an unnamed official from the Civil Aviation Ministry. The plan will include the technical, financial, and legal nitty gritty to get the airport privatization push off the ground.
Last we heard about the plans: Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El Hefny said last month that Egypt plans to initially offer the management of 11 airports to the private sector, excluding Cairo International Airport, despite earlier reports that said Egypt’s biggest airport would be included.
REMEMBER- Some players are already interested: Egypt’s Hassan Allam Holding and France’s Groupe Aéroports de Paris submitted a joint proposal to manage and operate Egyptian airports in early December. The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) also said it was interested in working with the Madbouly government on the airport development plans back in December.
ALSO– A timeline update for Egypt’s Dekheila dry bulk terminal: The local consortium setting up the EGP 3 bn, 300k sqm dry bulk terminal in Dekheila Port is expected to deliver it in 4Q 2025, Al Mal reports citing comments from the director of consortium member Latt Trading and Shipping Abdelrahman Laheta.
Remember: A consortium of four local private and state-owned firms — Mediterraneo Egypt, Latt Trading and Shipping, an Elsewedy company, and the Transport Ministry’s Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport — last September inked an agreement to invest USD 450 mn to build, manage, and operate the terminal.
A lot is happening in Dekheila: Egypt has inked an agreement for the construction, management, operation, maintenance, and eventual handover of Dekheila Port’s Tahya Misr 2 multipurpose terminal with the global consortium of Hutchison Ports — a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings — and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). Construction operations are currently underway.
#2- Algeria boosts silo connectivity to railway network: Algeria has connected three grain silos — out of seven ready for connection — to its railway network, with plans to connect 30 more silos down the road, Algeria Press Service reports, citing an official from the National Agency for Studies and Monitoring of the Implementation of Railway Investments (ANESRIF). The connected silos are located in the capital cities of the Guelma, Jijel, and Constantine provinces.
Part of a bigger picture: The move aligns with Algeria’s push to modernize rail freight by linking industrial zones, factories, and warehouses and boosting capacity to transport grain and fuel, the outlet writes. The country’s railway network achieved a 12% y-o-y increase in transported goods in 2024, reaching nearly 6 mn tons, according to the outlet.
Other rail connection projects in the works: ANESRIF has plans to connect fuel depots in Bouchared, Béchar, and Djelfa provinces to the railway network, and link the GICA cement production complex to Setif, Oum El Bouaghi, and Bechar provinces, according to a statement.
#3- The Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline is slated to resume operations with Iraq planning to export nearly 300k bpd crude oil to Turkey, Iraq’s Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani told Bloomberg. The Kurdistan pipeline can transport nearly 500k bpd via the Ceyhan port to global markets. It remains unclear whether the pipeline will operate at full capacity upon resumption.
The shutdown: The pipeline was shut down in February 2023 for earthquake repairs, after which Turkey suspended operations following an arbitration court order for it to pay USD 1.5 bn as compensation to Iraq. Although Turkey indicated that the pipeline was operational, Iraq delayed reopening due to financial disagreements and technical issues.
Taking formal steps: Iraq has tapped the Kurdistan Regional Government to transfer oil to the federal marketing company SOMO, with negotiations underway between Baghdad and Erbil regarding outstanding debts related to the region’s oil revenues, Abdul Ghani told INA. Iraq’s parliament approved an amendment to the budget earlier this week, allowing Baghdad to pay USD 16 per barrel of oil produced and transported to resolve the pipeline crisis.
There’s a catch: Iraq — the leading offender in exceeding Opec+ limits — must be wary of resuming oil exports given its agreement to reduce crude output.
#4- Morocco’s expanding firm Mutandis eyes KSA: Morocco’s Mutandis is looking to start exporting fish products to Saudi Arabia in a push to expand in the Gulf markets, which is part of a bigger plan to invest nearly MAD 1.5 bn (c.USD 149 mn) for global expansions over the next five years, CEO Adil Douiri told Asharq Business.
The growth plan: Mutandis aims to double its revenues by entering into new markets or acquiring existing brands. The company seeks to expand its presence in the US market, where it earns 25% of its sales. The company is also eyeing Europe expansion — which currently accounts for a little under 5% of topline — aided by geographic proximity and trade agreements.
About Mutandis: The firm is listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange and operates 11 facilities. Its four main products are seafood, detergents, beverages, and fruit juice, according to its website.
MARKET WATCH-
#1- Crude prices fell on Wednesday on the back of rising US stockpiles, despite heightened market anxiety over the US-China trade war, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures fell by USD 0.39 to USD 75.81 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also fell by USD 0.26 to USD 72.44 a barrel by 04.27 GMT.
#2- Baltic index inches up: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — rose 3 points to 738 on Monday. The capesize index fell by 13 points to 861, while the panamax index gained 30 points to 830. The smaller supramax index dipped by 1 point to 602, the lowest since June 2020.
#3- US-China tariff war to shake up LNG global trade: Chinese LNG buyers are likely to reroute their US shipments to other markets — including to Europe — in search for better prices, which “may push prices higher everywhere on the margin… create material market inefficiencies, which will benefit some LNG traders in the regions,” energy analyst at MST Marque Saul Kavonic told Bloomberg.
This is bad news for US exporters who rely on long-term contracts, as Chinese companies will likely not sign any agreements with US projects.
China’s retaliatory salvo: China is set to impose a 15% duty on US coal and LNG and a 10% duty on oil, farm equipment, and some vehicles starting 10 February in response to the US slapping a 10% tariff on Chinese exports. The country is also implementing export controls on rare earth minerals, citing national security concerns. Trump is set to speak with China’s Xi Jinping this week to reach an agreement.
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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-
The UAE will host the Middle East Breakbulk Conference from Monday, 10 February to Tuesday, 11 February in Dubai. The event gathers giant manufacturers, EPCs, and service providers to discuss the latest solutions in breakbulk and heavy-lift logistics across the Middle East and Africa. The two-day event features an artificial intelligence (AI) seminar, a heavy lift workshop, a chartering workshop, and a women in breakbulk panel.
The UAE will host the MRO Middle East and Aircraft Interiors from Monday, 10 February to Tuesday, 11 February in Dubai. MRO Middle East will host leaders in aircraft maintenance, repair, and operations to explore the latest technologies and strategies in the industry.
The UAE will host the Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA forum from Monday, 10 February to Wednesday, 12 February in Abu Dhabi. The event aims to promote SAF partnerships, raise awareness, and support the integration of clean energy and sustainability in the aviation sector. The two-day forum will host key figures in the aviation industry, including notable speakers from Lufthansa Group, ACI World, Saudia Group, Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO), and DHL Express.
The UAE will host the WCA Worldwide Conference from Tuesday, 25 February to Saturday, 1 March in Dubai. The event — set to bring together over 4.5k freight forwarders from 179 countries — will host several workshops and courses over one week.
Check out our full calendar at the bottom of this email for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.




