DP World completes UAE’s Mina Al Hamriya expansion project

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TODAY: UAE’s Mina Al Hamriya expansion project is complete

Good morning, friends. We have a compact issue this morning with a hefty dose of earnings and some projects updates from around the region, but first, in trade news across the pond…

THE BIG STORY ABROAD- Biden is set to impose new tariffs on China this week: US President Joe Biden is expected to roll out a tariff update on Chinese imports including up to a quadruple hike on EVs as soon as tomorrow, sources told WSJ. The new tariffs will also cover Chinese semiconductors and solar equipment as the US grapples with China’s growing influence and stronghold on manufacturing amid the green transition. Talks of increased protective measures were first sparked by the US Trade Representative’s office weeks ago and internal deliberation has been ongoing since, possibly extending even beyond Tuesday.

Chinese car makers will likely push to set up shop abroad in response, and CNBC reports Thailand, which bills itself as the “Detroit of the East,” could benefit. Byd and rival Neta Auto could start producing in Indonesia soon, as we noted last week.

Sound like a familiar playbook? It’s effectively what Japanese automakers did in the 1980s to smooth-over tensions with the US as imports threatened the American car industry.

CLOSER TO HOME- PIF-backed Saudi firm Alat will divest from China if the US requests, CEO Amit Midha told Bloomberg on Thursday. “So far the requests have been to keep manufacturing and supply chains completely separate, but if the partnerships with China would become a problem for the US, we will divest,” Midha said. KSA is looking to ramp up its production of semiconductors, leading US officials to advise their Saudi counterparts to choose between going with Chinese or American technologies, Bloomberg writes.

Part of a larger push: US tech giant Microsoft inked an agreement with the UAE’s International Holding Company-backed tech and AI group G42 last month, boosting an earlier partnership and opening the way for a USD 1.5 bn investment by Microsoft. The agreement was preceded by hushed talks between the US government and G42, which saw the outfit agree to cut its links with China amid growing concern about ties to blacklisted Chinese tech companies and the Chinese government.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

The Airport Show is kicking off tomorrow in Dubai and running through to Thursday. The event brings together airport suppliers, airport service providers, aviation executives, and regional decision makers to explore current innovations and new technologies.

IN ABU DHABI- The Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information session will open its doors and conclude on Wednesday. The event gathers public officials from the UAE and abroad, airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, and cargo solution providers to examine regulatory developments, addressing obstacles to implementation and ensuring compliance.

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK-

Riyadh is hosting two major aviation events: The Future Aviation Forum (FAF) — where investment projects worth USD 100 bn will be up for grabs — and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Facilitation 2024 Global Summit. The FAF is set to run from Monday, 20 May, through to Wednesday, 22 May, while the two-day ICAO summit is scheduled for kickoff on Tuesday, 21 May. Both events will be hosted at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

Some 5k aviation executives from aviation majors including Boeing, Airbus, China’s Comac, and Embraer, along with industry experts, manufacturers and government officials are expected to arrive in the capital for both events. The FAF will be hosted and run by the General Civil Aviation Authority (Gaca).

In context: The events are part of the Kingdom’s aviation strategy, which the government hopes to turn into a USD 2 bn industry, and the country’s extending air connectivity to a total of 250 countries by 2030. FAF — headlined “Elevating global connectivity” — is expected to see the government draw back the curtain on how it plans to achieve these goals. This also plays into the government’s tourism target, which was more than doubled aiming to lure 150 mn tourist trips by 2030, after hitting an earlier target of 100 mn last year ahead of plan.

The breakdown potential investments on the table: Some USD 50 bn are earmarked for local airport development, and USD 40 bn for new aircraft orders, according to state news agency SPA. Some USD 5 bn are reserved for setting up special logistics zones in some of the airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, and the remaining USD 5 bn will be channeled towards other aviation-related projects.

On the agenda for FAF: Air mobility, travel safety, sustainable jet fuels, digitization, and the use of AI. You can check out the full {agenda (pdf) here} and watch the event live here or register to attend here.

PSA-

Road closures in Abu Dhabi: Maitha Bint Mohammed street in Al Ain will be partially closed from 12 May through to 16 June and Hazza Bin Sultan street will be partially closed from 12 May to 12 June, AD Mobility said in statements here and here on X.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Jordan has suspended crude oil imports from Iraq following the expiry of a bilateral MoU inked in April of last year, Petra reports, citing a statement by Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The MoU expired on 5 April and Jordan has requested a three month extension to allow deliveries of contracted volumes, Director of Oil and Natural Gas at Jordan’s Energy Ministry Iman Awad said. Talks on a new MoU will follow once contracted deliveries have been met, Awad also said.

Iraq will remain committed to OPEC+ production cuts, Reuters reports, citing statements by Iraq’s oil minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani. “The oil ministry is keen on the cooperation of member states and working to achieve more stability in the global oil market by agreeing on voluntary reduction programmes,” Abdul Ghani said. The minister’s latest comments follow statements to reporters on Saturday that seemed to indicate that Iraq was not onboard with proposals to extend cuts, Bloomberg reported on Saturday. “We will not agree on any renewals to cut output in the next OPEC+ meeting,” Abdul Ghani had said. OPEC+ ministers are expected to extend voluntary production cuts into 2H 2024 at a 1 June meeting in Vienna, Bloomberg said.

REMEMBER- Iraq said that it would cap its oil exports to 3.3 mn barrels per day (bpd) in March, in a bid to compensate for producing above its agreed OPEC+ limits in the first two months of the year. OPEC’s second largest producer has a patchy record in terms of complying with production cuts.

#2- Australia is set to ban seaborne exports of live sheep from May 2028 on the back of strong objections from animal welfare groups, Reuters reported on Saturday, citing statements by the country’s agriculture minister Murray Watt. Some USD 107 mn will be spent over the coming five years as part of a support package for sheep farmers and others hit by the ban, the newswire said. Other livestock exports including live cattle shipments and exports of sheep via air will not be affected. Most of Australia’s sheep are transported to the Middle East, with the UAE, Kuwait, and Israel standing as top destinations for the exports.

A major livestock exporter to the region: Australia accounted for more than half of worldwide sheep meat exports in 2023 with MENA snapping up 51% of the exports, according to Sheep Central.

Recent incidents sparked outrage: Australian regulators blocked an Israel-bound livestock carrier from resuming its journey in early February after Red Sea disruptions caused the vessel to head back to its point of origin on the Australian coast. A month later the vessel was allowed to set off for Israel, with the period between the vessel’s original sailing date on 5 January and mid-February causing the deaths of 64 sheep and four cattle aboard.

#3- Ane Maersk docks in Dubai: Maersk’s first large green methanol-enabled vessel docked at Jebel Ali port on Wednesday, according to a statement. Ane Maersk is the first of 18 large vessels, each with a capacity of some 16k TEUs, fitted with dual-fuel engines that can be powered by methanol, biodiesel, and conventional bunker fuel. The vessel will operate the AE7 string connecting Asia and Europe, the statement said. The move comes in a bid to curb emissions as part of the carrier’s drive to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2040. The newbuilds are set for delivery between 2024 and 2025.

#4- Boeing’s woes continue to pile on: An Air Senegal flight operating a Boeing 737-300 aircraft overshot the runway at Senegal’s International Airport while attempting to abort its takeoff, The New York Times reported on Thursday. 10 people on the flight, including the pilot, were injured in the incident. “Our plane just caught fire,” a passenger said on Facebook. The cause of the incident is under investigation, Senegal’s Minister of Infrastructure, Land Transport Malick Ndiaye said on X. “Carriers operate and maintain their airplanes for upwards of 30 to 40 years,” Boeing told the NYT in an emailed statement.

The second incident in less than a week: A Boeing 767 freighter operated by FedEx Airlines landed at Istanbul airport without its front landing gear last week, with no injuries noted. Turkey’s Transport Ministry launched a probe into the incident.

Boeing’s largest subcontractor Spirit AeroSystems denied claims of routinely shipping out aircraft fuselages with defective parts,BBC reported on Thursday. Whistleblower and former Spirit employee Santiago Paredes alleged he recorded up to 200 defects on fuselages scheduled to be shipped to Boeing while working at the firm between 2010 and 2022. These included missing fasteners, bent, and missing parts. Paredes was also pressured to be less stringent on safety checks, he told the BBC. Spirit has strongly denied the allegations, but Boeing has so far declined to comment. This latest development adds to a series of safety concerns that have been levied against the US planemaker and its suppliers.

And frustrations are growing as aircraft delivery delays stretch on: Compensations for late aircraft deliveries are expected but they won’t make up for seat shortages, Etihad Airways CEO Anotonoaldo Neves told The National last week on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The carrier is set to receive about 15 planes from Boeing and Airbus this year, with those deliveries already between six months to a year late, Neves said. “Compensations are expected because they are contractual and they are going to come,” Neves explained, adding that the compensatory payments do not make up for lost ticket sales, citing surging demand for air travel and a shortage of capacity.

#5- Three ins. companies have rejected Chevron’s USD 57 mn claim for Iran’s seizure of a company-owned oil cargo,Reuters reported last week, citing a court complaint filed at a court in California. The companies — which include Zurich American Ins., Liberty Mutual Ins. and Great American Ins. — petitioned courts to uphold their decision not to compensate Chevron, saying that Iran’s seizure of the cargo does not constitute “warlike operations,” the firms told the court.

Background: Iran seized a tanker, dubbed Advantage Sweet, hauling a Chevron-owned oil cargo in March. The seizure was carried out on the basis of an Iranian court order.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices fell this morning as the prospect of interest rate cuts by the Fed were hampered and weak fuel demand continues, Re uters reports. Brent crude futures dipped 0.3% to USD 82.53 a barrel by 00.25 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slid 0.3% to USD 78.03 a barrel, the newswire said.

Goldman Sachs no longer thinks Opec+ will announce a partial unwind ofvoluntary production cuts in their next meeting, set to take place on 1 June in Vienna, the bank said in a note picked up by Reuters last week. The bank estimates only a 37% chance of a production increase, owing to inventories surprising to the upside. “We now expect Saudi crude supply to remain flat at 9 mn barrels per day in July (vs. 9.2 previously),” with Brent crude expected to range between USD 75-90 a barrel, and USD 82 in 2025.

#2- Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) gained 16% to USD 3,159 per 40ft container for the week ending Thursday, and was up 81% y-o-y, maritime research and consultancy firm Drewry reported. The latest WCI index is also 122% greater than the average 2019 pre-pandemic rate of USD 1,420 per 40 ft container. Meanwhile, the average YTD composite index stands at USD 3,227, USD 512 above the USD 2,714 10-year average, Drewry said.

#3- Baltic Index dropped, but saw its best week in two months: The Baltic Exchange’s Dry Bulk Index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — dropped 1.7% to settle at 2,129 points on Friday, Reuters reports. Despite falling for the day, the Baltic Index was up 13% for the week, marking its best weekly performance since 1 March. The capesize subindex tumbled 3.3% to 3,292 points, with the segment up 23% w-o-w, while the panamax segment rose by 6 points to settle at 2,026 points. The supramax index ticked down to 1,485 points, the newswire also said.

DATA POINT-

Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) saw 8.58% y-o-y growth in cargo throughput tonnage in April 2024, hitting 27mn tons compared to 25 mn tons during the same month last year, according to a statement released last week. Total containers handled fell 19.54% y-o-y to 558k TEUs, while transshipment containers also decreased 53.49%, at 123k TEUs. Exported containers increased 3.72% during the period to 217k TEUs, while imported containers decreased by 0.68%, at 218k TEUs, Mawani said. The breakdown of the cargo handled includes 839k tons of general cargo, 4.1 mn tons of solid bulk cargo, 16 mn tons of liquid bulk cargo, and 658k heads of livestock, up 43.54% when compared to the same period last year. Maritime traffic declined 8.27% to 910 vessels, while cars handled at Mawani’s ports dropped 30.55% to 70k units.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Saudi Arabia will host the Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress from Wednesday, 18 September to Thursday, 19 September in Dammam. The two-day event looks to gather up to 10k attendees and 200 exhibitors, and will discuss topics including interlinked logistics, developments in supply chains, digitalisation, decarbonisation, the energy transition, and workforce development.

Iran will host the International Exhibition of Rail Transportation and RelatedIndustries from Saturday 18 May to Tuesday 21 May in Tehran. The exhibition looks to attract domestic and international firms to showcase Iran’s local rail manufacturing capabilities and to acquaint industry players with developments made in the industry worldwide.

The UAE will host The Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit from Monday, 20 May to Wednesday, 22 May in Abu Dhabi. The event will see industry leaders come together to discuss sustainable mobility and tapping into groundbreaking advancements in electric vehicles while engaging with key decision-makers.

Saudi Arabia will host the Future Aviation Forum from Monday, 20 May to Wednesday, 22 May in Riyadh. The event, organized by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, will see the Kingdom showcasing some USD 100 bn worth of investment options in the aviation and logistics sector at large.

Barbados will hostUNCTAD’sGlobal Supply Chain Forum from Tuesday, 21 May to Friday, 24 May in Bridgetown. UNCTAD is holding the event in collaboration with the Government of Barbados, which aims to evaluate the role global supply chains have in supporting economic growth, creating jobs, and reducing poverty. Global industry leaders, policymakers and experts will convene to discuss forthcoming issues and explore innovative solutions.

Oman will host the Comex Technology Show from Monday, 27 May to Saturday, 30 May in Muscat. The event will see representation from industry leaders and decision makers to showcase buyer potential in innovative technology, in transportation, logistics, energy and healthcare sectors.

Egypt will host ProPak MENA from Sunday, 26 May to Tuesday, 28 May in Cairo. The conference will see F&B manufacturing industry professionals network and discover the latest equipment and logistic solutions for processing and packaging.

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

DP World completes Mina Al Hamriya expansion project

Dubai-based port operator DP World has completed its expansion project at Dubai’s Mina Al Hamriya port, according to a statement released on Friday. The move looks to enhance Dubai’s maritime capabilities and increase the port’s operational capacity to establish it as a key hub for trade across the GCC, East Africa, and India, the statement said.

Details: The expansion project — launched in 2022 — included the construction of an additional 1,150 meters of quay wall extending the port’s quay to 3,140 meters. Upgrades also added five berths, bringing the total to 14. The improvements included dredging work to deepen the port’s draft to 8.5 meters, allowing it to accommodate larger vessels and higher volumes of cargo. Storage capacity at the port was also increased via the addition of an 86k sqm apron zone, bridging total storage capacity to 403k sqm, with the area equipped with bollards, fenders, and ladders.

DP World is on an expansion roll: DP World has been investing heavily to expand its regional and global operations in recent months. DP World feedering subsidiary Unifeeder opened a Panama City office earlier this month to coordinate plans to sink investments into Latin American routes in a bid to unlock new avenues for trade. The move came alongside other drives to expand the outfit’s operations in Brazil, Laos, Malaysia, and other locations.

About the port: Established in the 1970s, Mina Al Hamriya lies in strategic proximity to Dubai’s local market, which aids efforts by businesses to distribute their products and services. The port handles a wide range of cargo vessel types, including RoRo vessels, general cargo vessels, container vessels, dhows, and others. In 2023, the port received upwards of 4.3k vessels and handled more than 1.6 mn tonnes of cargo. The port is also an important center for livestock, fresh goods, and fishing.

Aramex + Omniful partner to deploy OMS in e-commerce fulfillment services

Aramex to boost e-commerce fulfillment with OMS tool: UAE’s Aramex and Saudi supply chain and planning technologies startup Omniful have kicked off a strategic partnership to integrate Omniful’s advanced Order Management System (OMS) into Aramex operations, according to a statement (pdf) released on Thursday. A timeline for operational launch and an investment ticket for the agreement were not disclosed. OMS will begin rolling out in MENA before expanding to the US, Europe, and Asia, the statement said.

How will OMS help Aramex? Aramex will leverage OMS solutions to enhance operational efficiency through streamlining inventory, orders, and logistics data management in real time. Aramex will also apply OMS to integrate into marketplaces and brand websites globally to enable better dark store services, and flexible plug-and-play omnichannel integration into all e-commerce platforms and marketplaces to handle B2C and B2B market demands, Aramex Logistics Global DIrector Fadi Azzi said in the statement.

About Omniful: Founded in 2021, Omniful is a SaaS provider focused on retail technologies. With operations in KSA, the UAE, and India, the startup has raised USD 5.85 mn in seed round funding last December, which it plans to deploy to strengthen its position in existing markets, launch sales and marketing activities in new markets in the region, and ramp up technology development

QatarEnergy + Nakilat ink long-term agreement for nine LNG vessels

QatarEnergy + Nakilat ink another long-term charter: Qatar’s state-owned energy player QatarEnergy and tanker operator Nakilat inked a long-term agreement to charter and operate nine QC-Max LNG ships, according to a statement released last week. The move comes as part of QatarEnergy’s drive to boost its LNG fleet. No investment ticket or timeline was disclosed as part of the statement.

Details: Nakilat will fully own and operate the vessels – each with a capacity of 271k cubic meters – which will be chartered QatarEnergy affiliates. The ships will be built at China’s Hudong-Zhonghua shipyards. The move takes Nakila’s total number of secured LNG vessels to 34 and comes on the heels of another time-charter party agreement inked in March for the operation of 25 conventional size LNG vessels.

QatarEnergy is doubling down on fleet expansion: The state-owned energy player is undergoing a historic fleet expansion drive in a bid to support boosted production from Qatar’s North Field, the statement said. QatarEnergy and Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua signed a USD 2.4 bn agreement in January for the construction of eight Q-Max LNG carriers, each with a carrying capacity of 271k cubic meters. The vessels – the largest ever built of their kind in capacity – are set to be delivered in 2028 and 2029. The firm also closed a QR 14.2 bn (USD 3.9 bn) agreement last September with Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for 17 “ultra-modern” LNG carriers.

Skirmishes continue as Iran releases seven MSC Aries crew members

US Central Command (Centcom) intercepted three Houthi-launched uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday, Centcom said on X. Another UAS was shot down the previous day by a coalition aircraft. No injuries or damage were reported by merchant, US, or coalition vessels, Centcom said.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a failed hijacking attempt on a vessel east of Yemen’s Aden, Reuters reported on Friday. The vessel was approached by a craft carrying five to six gunmen, which turned back after being fired upon by the vessel’s security. No damages or injuries were reported, and the vessel continued to its next port of call. Lax security in the region on the back of Houthi-led attacks have seen pirates emboldened, the newswire said citing maritime sources.

Yemen’s Houthis targeted the MSC Dego and the MSC Gina in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles and drones, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing statements by the Iranian-backed group’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea. The group also targeted the MSC Vittoria further out in the Indian Ocean and as it approached the Gulf of Aden, the newswire cites Sarea as saying.

ON THE IRAN FRONT-Iran released a batch of seafarers aboard captured container vessel MSC Aries, IRNA reported, citing a Saturday statement by Iran’s Road and Urban Development Ministry. The freed sailors include five from India, one from Estonia, and one from the Philippines. A female crew member had been released earlier, while the 17 crew mates still aboard the Aries have access to their countries’ embassies and consulates in Iran. The MSC Aries is currently anchored at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port, IRNA also said.

And Israel is still in the crosshairs: Iraq’s Islamic Resistance targeted Israel’s Asqalan oil port and Nevatim air base on Thursday, IRNA reported, citing statements by the group. The militia employed drones in its attack on Nevatim, and a cruise missile in its attack on Asqalan oil port.

Etihad, Aramex, and SAL see hefty boosts to earnings in 1Q

Earnings season continues with another Etihad, Aramex, and SAL reporting their 1Q 2024 results. First up, Etihad Airways has posted its 1Q financials as it gears up for IPO.

The flagship carrier saw its income after tax rise 791% y-o-y to a record AED 526 mn in 1Q 2024, according to its earnings release. Etihad booked AED 5.7 bn in revenues for the quarter, up 21% y-o-y, driven by 41% increase in passenger numbers.

What they said: “We are pleased to report a strong start to the financial year 2024, with our first quarter earnings equivalent to our total net income for the entire financial year 2023 as we continue our margin expansion journey. We have maintained our resilience and our focus on customer service and growth while continuing to improve our commitment to efficiency,” Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves said.

Background- Etihad parent company ADQ is eyeing potentially going after both a traditional IPO and direct listing on the ADX at the end of the year, with the offering expected to raise as much as USD 1 bn. The airline tapped Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, and Morgan Stanley as joint bookrunners as advisors last week.

ARAMEX-

UAE-based logistics outfit Aramex’s net income rose 95% y-o-y to AED 46.6 mn in 1Q 2024, according to an earnings release (pdf).The company recorded AED 1.54 bn in revenues, up 8% y-o-y, buoyed primarily by new clients, seasonal trends, and improved sales, especially in international and domestic express operations.

Behind the numbers: Aramex attributes the boosted topline to new clients, seasonality, and better sales. International Express and Domestic Express operations in particular were a strong driver for the improved performance. The company also saw gains in bottomline performance on the back of moves to improve sales and operational efficiency, Aramex said.

The breakdown: Aramex’s International Express operations were a key driver for growth, with the unit’s revenues seeing 14% y-o-y growth to AED 645.8 mn in 1Q 2024. The outfit’s Domestic Express segment saw a 5% y-o-y boost in revenues to AED 380 mn, attributed to an improved turnaround strategy for the Oceania region and surging e-commerce activity in several markets. Revenues from Aramex’ Freight Forwarding unit increased 3% y-o-y to AED 398.5 mn, on the back of double digit growth in air, sea, and land freight volumes. Aramex’ Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions segment saw a negligible decline in revenues to AED 106.6 mn, due to losses attributed to a currency devaluation in Egypt.

Looking ahead: Aramex sees continued y-o-y volume growth in 2Q and 3Q 2024, bearing in mind seasonality, CEO Othman Aljeda says. The outfit also looks to pay down some USD 50 mn to USD 70 mn in debts in 2024, in a bid to pare down expenses for debt servicing, Aljeda added.

SAUDI LOGISTICS SERVICES-

Saudi Logistics Services’ net income doubled y-o-y to SAR 208.5 mn in 1Q 2024, and revenues rose 33% to SAR 452.5 mn, according to the shareholders relations prospectus (pdf). The growth in top line was attributed to a 24% increase in booked business from the cargo handling segment — which accounted for 81% of overall revenues — along with an 89% hike in revenues from the logistics solutions segment which accounts for the remainder of overall revenues.

UAE offers Panama-flagged vessels incentives

The UAE’s Energy and Infrastructure Ministry inked an MoU with the Panama Maritime Authority granting incentives for Panama-registered ships, according to a statement released on Thursday. The MoU paves the way for the Blue Pass project — a platform gathering key players in the maritime sector of the UAE, along with partners and stakeholders — which is set to provide benefits and services to major shipping companies and shipowners visiting UAE ports and waters from around the globe.

What’s on offer: Vessels under the Panamanian registry will be entitled to a range of perks and amenities, including priority access to ports for entry and exit, crew change services, and disc. on auxiliary services offered by companies, shipyards, and other businesses listed in the Blue Pass program’s database.

ALSO- Egypt + Jordan eye stronger trade relations: The Joint Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee agreed to encourage trade between the two sides and discussed the establishment of a private-sector-led joint logistics zone, according to a cabinet statement released after the committee wrapped its meetings on Thursday.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

FAO + Iran to launch food authenticity project: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Iran’s Agricultural Jihad Ministry have agreed to launch a project to ensure food authenticity and manage food supply chains. (Statement)
UAE + Uzbekistan eye stronger trade ties: Dubai’s Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) has inked a MoU with Uzbekistan to boost trade between the UAE and Uzbekistan and promote economic growth. (Statement)
Iran + Iraq extend gas agreement: Iran and Iraq have extended an agreement for Iranian gas exports to Iraq, CEO of the National Iranian Gas Company Majid Chegeni said. The contract, which was set to end on 20 June 2024, has been extended for another five years. (Tasnim)

Danone Egypt partners up with Shift EV to add Electro-fitted technology into its fleet

AVIATION-

Dnata has inked an agreement with Lufthansa Group to provide passenger and ramp services at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), according to a statement released on Friday. Dnata will provide services to Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, and Air Dolomiti, which operate narrow-body Airbus and Embraer aircraft between Amsterdam and Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich. The air and travel services provider is also currently constructing its Cargo City Amsterdam, where it has taken delivery of an electric smart car fleet in a bid to replace all airside diesel vehicles at AMS, the statement also said.

E-COMMERCE-

Jordan Post will establish an e-commerce center at its HQ to manage and coordinate procedures for parcels arriving in Jordan, according to a statement released on Thursday. Express mail firms will be transferred from their locations at Queen Alia International Airport to the center at the building, Jordan Post Chairman Sami Al Daoud. Upgrades to infrastructure, including additional warehouse capacity, may also be implemented to accommodate the move, Al Daoud also said.

DECARBONIZATION-

Danone Egypt set to decarbonize half its fleet: Danone Egypt is partnering with Egyptian EV firm Shift EV to integrate its innovative electro-fitted technology to switch half of its distribution fleet to electric power, according to a statement released on Thursday. Danone aims to slash carbon emissions by some 6k metric tons and push down operating costs by 70% by 2030, according to the statement.

REMEMBER- Mylerz Egypt and Shift EV inked an agreement in November 2023 to convert Mylerz’ logistics vehicle fleet to electric vehicles using the company’s electro-fitting technology, with the swap beginning late last year and continuing into 2024.

SUPPLY CHAINS-

CB&I to build LNG storage tank in Oman’s Sohar Port: Marsa LNG — a TotalEnergies and OQ JV — has awarded multinational engineering company CB&I a contract for the engineering, procurement, and construction of a full containment concrete LNG storage tank in Oman’s Sohar Port, according to a statement released last week. The exact investment ticket for the contract has not been revealed, but the statement indicates that it is between USD 100 mn and USD 250 mn. Construction is set to begin in Q4 2024.

BACKGROUND- Marsa LNG reached a Final Investment Decision (FID) and inked a sub-usufruct agreement with Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone in April for an LNG liquefaction plant at Sohar port, with the initiative positioning Sohar as an up-and-coming regional LNG bunkering hub.

DATA CENTERS-

KSA’s DataVolt signed an investment agreement with the Uzbekistan government under a plan to develop up to 500 MW of green data centers across the Central Asian country, it said on Linkedin yesterday. The announcement comes a week after it broke ground on what it says is the world’s first data center to be operated on “green energy” at the IT Park Uzbekistan. The data center, valued at USD 150 mn, will have a total capacity of 10 MW.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

Emirates brings back Edinbrugh flights: Emirates is reintroducing daily flights to Edinburgh, Scotland starting 4 November. (Statement)
Al Habtoor Motors rolls out new JAC trucking line: UAE-based Al Habtoor Motors, sole distributor of JAC in the UAE, has launched a new fleet of JAC commercial vehicles, showcasing a range of light and heavy-duty trucks at the launch event. (Statement)

Calendar

MAY

14-15 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Seamless Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

14-15 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Pre-LoadingAdvance Cargo Information session, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

14-16 May (Tuesday-Thursday): The Airport Show, Dubai, UAE.

18-21 May (Saturday-Tuesday): Exhibition of Rail Transportation and Related Industries, Tehran, Iran.

20-22 May (Monday-Wednesday): The Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

21-23 May (Tuesday-Thursday): WAGA 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

21-24 May (Tuesday-Friday): Global Supply Chain Forum, Bridgetown, Barbados.

26-28 May (Sunday-Tuesday): ProPak Mena 2024, Cairo, Egypt.

27-30 May (Monday-Saturday): Comex Technology Show, Muscat, Oman.

JUNE

2-4 June (Sunday-Tuesday): IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit, Dubai, UAE.

2-3 June (Sunday-Monday): Offshore Support Vessels Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

5 June (Wednesday): The Optimism Forum, Cairo, Egypt.

5 June (Wednesday): Digital Transformation Summit, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

5-7 June (Wednesday-Friday): Sustainability World Summit, Frankfurt, Germany.

6-7 June (Thursday-Friday): Supply Chain Innovation Summit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

6-7 June (Thursday-Friday): International Symposium on Sustainable Logistics, Mersin, Turkey.

11-13 June (Tuesday-Thursday): Terminal Operations Conference & Exhibition, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

19-21 June (Wednesday-Friday): World Freezones Organization’s Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Bari, Italy.

26-27 June (Wednesday-Thursday): Decarbonizing Shipping Forum, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

27 June (Thursday): East Med Maritime Conference, Beirut, Lebanon.

29 June (Saturday): The Investment Conference in cooperation with the European Union, Brussels.

JULY

2-4 July (Tuesday-Thursday): ACI Europe Annual Congress, Istanbul, Turkey.

14 July (Friday): AI Integration and Autonomous Mobility, Berlin, Germany.

SEPTEMBER

18-19 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress, Dammam, KSA.

OCTOBER

6-8 October (Sunday-Tuesday): Routes World 2024, Bahrain.

8-10 October (Tuesday-Thursday): The Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition and Conference(Global Rail), Abu Dhabi, UAE.

7-9 October (Monday-Wednesday): AFSIC – Investing in Africa, London, UK.

8-10 October (Tuesday-Thursday): AntwerpXL Expo, Antwerp, Belgium.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday):Smart Ports & Logistics Transformation Summit, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

22-24 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Asean Ports and Logistics, Johor, Malaysia.

22-24 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Global Ports Forum, Singapore.

NOVEMBER

11-14 November (Sunday-Thursday): ADIPEC Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

13-15 November (Wednesday-Friday): The Bahrain International Airshow, Sakhir Airbase, Bahrain.

18-20 November (Monday-Wednesday): The Heavy Equipment and Truck Show, Damman, Saudi Arabia.

18-19 November (Monday-Tuesday): G20 Summit, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

DECEMBER

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Business Aviation, Dubai, UAE.

20 December (Wednesday): The Iran-Senegal Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, Dakar, Senegal.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

1Q 2024: Construction of phase 3 of Agility’s logistic park in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to be completed.

1Q 2024: Egypt’s Transport Ministry to launch pre-qualification tender for Cairo-Alex freight railway.

1H 2024: Civil Construction subcontracts for construction firms in Oman for implementation of the Abu Dhabi – Suhar rail link to be announced.

2H 2024: Bahri’s barges for Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) to begin initial and commercial operation.

King Salman Energy Park is set to become operational.

The Cross-Border Digital Trade Forum, Dubai.

2025

APRIL

16-17 April: Global Ports Forum, Dubai, UAE.

Mid-2025: Iraq will complete phase one of the construction of the Grand Faw Port.

DHL and Aramco’s logistics and procurement hub in Saudi Arabia will commence operations.

AD Ports-operated Safaga Port’s multi-purpose terminal will become operational.

Phase 3 of APM Terminals Tangier MedPort to be complete and operational.

1Q 2025: Sadr Park’s Logistics Center in Riyadh to be completed.

1Q 2025: Phase twoof Jafza Logistics Park to be completed.

2027

4Q 2027: Oman’s Musandam Airport construction to be completed.

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