Etihad Airways moves forward with planned IPO

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What we're tracking today

TODAY: Etihad’s IPO moves forward + Trade wars at home and abroad

Good morning, folks. We have a packed issue this morning with key developments at home and abroad, but first, all eyes on Gaza…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY OVER THE WEEKEND- Turkey halted all trade with Israel on Thursday on the back of the “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza. This marks an escalation of an earlier spat which saw Turkey restrict some trade with Israel over its refusal to allow Turkish air drops of aid for Gaza and the country’s continued offensive on the territory. Israeli top diplomat Israel Katz responded by likening Erdogan to a “dictator” who has reneged on international trade agreements and sidelined his country’s business interests. Turkey and Israel were exploring avenues to boost cooperation prior to the outbreak of the war in Gaza on 7 October with bilateral trade hitting USD 6.8 bn in 2023.

HAPPENING TODAY-

Aramco will release 1Q 2024 results. Analysts will be looking for guidance on how Opec+ production cuts could impact profitability and, as a result, the company’s plans to pay some USD 34 bn in performance-based dividends this year.

HAPPENINGTHIS WEEK-

Sharjah + Dubai trade missions are in Asia: A Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry trade delegation led by Chairman Abdullah Sultan Al Owais is in India this week until Friday, 10 May, Wam reports. The mission will be looking to strengthen economic ties and explore potential investments. A Dubai International Chamber trade mission is also in Indonesia and Vietnam to help local companies grow in these markets, Wam reports.

The Saudi Smart Logistics exhibition and summit kicked off yesterday in Riyadh and will run until Thursday, 9 May. The trade fair gathers local and international suppliers, public officials, professionals, and logistics players for networking, exchanging know-how, and showcasing new technologies, products, and services.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Preparations are underway to begin construction on the Hafeet Railway linking Oman and the UAE, Oman Daily Observer reported on Saturday, citing comments made by Asyad Group CEO Abdul Rahman Al Hatemi. The freight train will carry a capacity load of over 25k tons of general cargo equivalent to over 270 standard containers and the line will have freight stations located at Suhar and Buraimi in Oman and Al Ain in the UAE, Al Hatemi said. The train will travel at 120 km per hour, covering the distance between Suhar and Al Ain in 47 minutes, and Suhar and Abu Dhabi in 100 minutes. Moving freight via the railway is expected to save 35% to 40% on the costs for alternative means of freight transport while slashing carbon emission, he added.

#2- UAE-based natural gas outfit Dana Gas has resumed operations at Kurdistan’s Khor Mor gas field, according to a Friday disclosure (pdf). The company’s production has been restored to normal levels following commitments from the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraq’s Baghdad-based Federal Government to boost security and enhance defenses at the site, the disclosure added.

BACKGROUND- Dana Gas temporarily suspended operations following a drone attack that hit the Khor Mor gas field on 26 April. The attack resulted in four fatalities, eight injuries, and minor damage to facilities.

DISRUPTION WATCH-

Container shipping capacity between Asia and Europe could fall 20% in 2Q on the back of Red Sea disruptions, Reuters reports, citing Maersk. Attacks are reaching farther out, forcing vessels to reroute further away from the Red Sea, Maersk said in an advisory to customers. Continued diversions away from the Suez Canal are expected to incur a 15% to 20% shortfall in capacity between Asia and Europe in the second quarter, Maersk added.

Yemen’s Houthis will expand the scope of their attacks “immediately” to target Israel-bound vessels in the Mediterranean, according to a threat update (pdf) by British security firm Ambrey on Friday citing statements by the group. The Houthis possess drones capable of attacking Israel-linked shipping in the Eastern Mediterranean, however such attacks can be easily intercepted by Israeli and American air defenses with contributions from KSA and Egypt, Ambrey says. Some attacks may evade interception and attacks against Mediterranean targets will become more likely if Israel goes forward with an offensive on Rafah, Ambrey added.

Shipping giants aren’t worried yet: The “risk zone” associated with Houthi-led attacks has still not been expanded to include the Mediterranean, Reuters reports, citing German shipping giant Hapag Lloyd. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are stretching further out, prompting the carrier to avoid the area altogether, the newswire reports, citing emailed comments.

Egypt is expected to rake in USD 6.8 bn in Suez Canal revenues in FY 2023 - 2024, down 22.7% y-o-y, Arab News reports, citing IMF figures. Suez Canal receipts are expected to rebound to USD 10 bn in the following FY, the IMF said.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices opened higher this morning in response to delays in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures bumped up 0.28% to USD 83.59 a barrel by 04.00 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 0.31% to USD 78.72 a barrel, the newswire said. Market participants are pricing on the basis geopolitical tensions could potentially drag on longer, market strategists told Reuters.

ADNOC ups crude oil production capacity: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has raised its crude oil production capacity to 4.85 mn barrels per day (bpd) from 4.65 mn bpd, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing the state-owned oil giant’s website. The hike brings Adnoc closer to its target to boost its crude oil production capacity to reach 5 mn bpd by 2027.

REMEMBER- OPEC+ is meeting soon: The production capacity increase comes a month ahead of an OPEC+ meeting, set to take place on 1 June in Vienna, where members of the alliance will discuss oil production output cuts and quotas for the rest of this year. The cartel is expected to prolong supply cuts through to the end of the year, with more evidence of the impact of cuts on the market needed before a change in policy, analysts told Bloomberg last week.

#2- Baltic Index gains, buoyed by capesize: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — was up 5.1% to 1,774 on Thursday, hitting a more than one week high, Reuters reported on Friday. Capesize rose 12.1% to 2,372, while panamax also inched up 0.9% to 1,863. Meanwhile, the smaller supramax segment shed 12 points to 1,466, marking its fourth consecutive fall.

#3-Drewery’s World Container Index (WCI) gained 1% to USD 2,725 per 40ft container for the week ending Thursday, and was up 55% y-o-y, maritime research and consultancy firm Drewry reported on Thursday. The latest WCI index is also 92% 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 3,230 per 40ft container, USD 519 above the 10 year average of USD 2,712, Drewry said.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Saudi exports to China fell 14% y-o-y in USD 14.4 bn in 1Q 2024, Mubasher reported on Sunday, citing Chinese government data. The Kingdom accounted for 35% of the total exports from GCC countries to Beijing in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Saudi’s imports from China rose 10.4% y-o-y during the quarter to USD 11.7 bn, the data showed.

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) moved 6.34 mn tonnes of goods and minerals via rail freight in Q1 2024, up 9% y-o-y, according to a statement.

And Saudi vehicle imports were up 40% y-o-y to 93.1k vehicles in 2023, SPA reports, citing Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) spokesperson Hamoud Al Harbi. Top exporters of cars into the Kingdom were Japan, India, South Korea, US, and Thailand.

#2- Foreign goods transiting via Iran surged 47% y-o-y to 1.6 mn tons in April, Mehr reported on Friday, citing data from Iran’s customs.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The UAE will host The Airport Show from Tuesday, 14 May through to Thursday, 16 May in Dubai. The event brings together airport suppliers, airport service providers, aviation executives, and regional decision makers to explore current innovations and new technologies.

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.

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.

Etihad Airways moves forward with planned IPO

Etihad Airways taps more advisors for IPO this year: Emirati flag carrier Etihad Airways has reportedly tapped Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, and Morgan Stanley as joint bookrunners for its upcoming initial public offering, expected to take place the end of this year, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing people it says are familiar with the matter. The offering could raise as much as USD 1 bn, according to the sources, who did not disclose the specific size and timing of the IPO.

ICYMI- Etihad parent company ADQ held talks earlier in March with banks about the potential listing that sources said could be “as soon as this year.” The wealth fund previously chose Citigroup, HSBC, First Abu Dhabi Bank as advisors for the IPO, and appointed Rothschild & Co. as independent financial advisor. ADQ is eyeing potentially going after both a traditional IPO and direct listing.

Background: ADQ was transferred full ownership of Etihad from the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs back in October 2022. The airline last year saw its net income grow fivefold, with CEO Antonoaldo Neves saying it is boosting profitability to prepare for the likelihood of an IPO.

First legacy airline to go public in the Gulf? Etihad could be the first major Gulf carrier to trade publicly if the IPO goes through. Saudi low-cost airline Flynas is also preparing to go public this year, tapping Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Saudi Fransi Capital for its upcoming IPO in Riyadh.

KSA’s Flyadeal plans fleet and int’l route expansion

Saudibudget airline Flyadeal, a unit of Saudia, aims to more than triple its fleet to 100 aircraft within the next five years, as it looks to expand its route network to 100 within four years, CEO Steven Greenway tells The National. The airline hopes to hit a target of carrying 10 mn passengers by the end of 2024.

Eyeing a larger Airbus fleet: The operator — whose entire fleet is comprised of Airbuses — is mulling ordering more single-aisle Airbus jets and upgrading a separate existing order for 50 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, Greenway said. The potential upgrade would help the airline increase maximum take-off weight, and secure jets with high performing engines along with a certification that allows for longer flights over water.

The price tag: The exact value of the order “will depend on the modifications” Flyadeal decides to make, Greenway said.

Delivery schedule: The airline is set to receive six aircraft this year, with its 33rd A320neo expected to arrive in a couple of weeks, Greenway said. One-third of the airline's order book consists of A321 Neos, with delivery scheduled to start in 2026, while the remaining orders are for the smaller A320 Neos model, he added.

New routes in 2H 2024, with more focus on international network: The low-cost carrier is slated to launch new routes to southern Europe, India, and the GCC in 2H 2024, with flights between Riyadh and Dubai’s second hub, Al Maktoum International Airport, slated to start on 20 June. Flyadeal wants to reach an even split between its domestic and overseas flights, which are currently at an 80-20 split in favor of domestic routes. “The real focus of the aircraft deliveries over the next couple of years will be our international network.”

In context: Flyadeal currently operates flights to 18 domestic destinations and five international destinations year-round, including Amman, Cairo, Istanbul, and Dubai. This is in addition to seven seasonal summer destinations: Antalya, Baku, Bodrum, Sarajevo, Sharm El Sheikh, Tbilisi, and Trabzon.

REMEMBER- Flyadeal’s ownership could be transferred to the Public Investment Fund (PIF) if the fund goes through with unconfirmed plans to acquire state-owned Saudia as soon as next year. This would add to the aviation asset portfolio of the wealth fund which launched Riyadh Air in March last year.

IN OTHER AVIATION NEWS-

Riyadh Air is looking to make follow-up aircraft orders to meet its fleet needs, ahead of the airline’s planned 2025 debut, Bloomberg reports. “We need a very large fleet, we’re going to make a number of additional orders,” CEO Tony Douglas told the business information service. The move would add to the airline’s order for up to 72 Boeing Dreamliners in March, Bloomberg says.

Low-cost airline Flynas is adding Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the soon-to-be expanded Al Maktoum International Airport to its network as of September, from its bases in Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, and Al Madinah, Khaleej Times reports. The expansion will take the number of routes between the countries to nine, up from four currently. Flynas said in April that it could be looking at a Tadawul IPO this year

Abu Dhabi Aviation closes share swap agreement with ADQ Aviation

ADA snaps up stakes in three aviation firms: Commercial helicopter operator Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) has completed an acquisition of stakes in three aviation firms from ADQ subsidiary ADQ Aviation in a transaction valued at AED 4 bn, according to a statement (pdf) released on Thursday. ADQ Aviation transferred stakes in the three companies — Etihad Airways Engineering, Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Centre (Ammroc), and Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) — in exchange for shares in ADA.

The details: The transaction saw ADA acquire 100% of Etihad Airways Engineering, 100% of Ammroc, and 50% of GAL. The transaction will see ADA issue convertible notes valued at some AED 4 bn, to be converted into new ADA shares, totaling 652 mn shares. Following the issuance of the convertible instrument, ADQ Aviation will hold a 59.45% stake in ADA.

Background: ADA initially received the offer from the ADQ subsidiary in 2022, to “provide a framework to investing in the future development of an advanced aviation ecosystem that supports the sustainable transformation of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s economy for the long term,” ADQ Managing Director Mohamed Alsuwaidi said at the time. The offer was later approved by ADA’s board in April last year (pdf).

ADA’s portfolio expansion aims to “create a competitively positioned, vertically integrated aviation group of companies with strong capabilities in maintenance, logistics, supply chain and advanced engineering.”

What they said: “The completion of this transaction makes ADA a competitive force in the aviation sector that is equipped to further strengthen Abu Dhabi’s status as a global aviation hub. By extending ADA’s value chain into the maintenance, repair and overhaul segment, we have greater scale for growth and look forward to catering to the needs of our customers with an exceptional commitment to excellence,” ADA chairman Nader Ahmed Alhammadi said.

KSA’s non-oil private sector witnessed steady growth in April while UAE experienced a dip

How KSA + UAE’s PMI performed in April: Purchasing manager indices (PMI) tracking non-energy sectors in Saudi Arabia and the UAE saw both countries holding above the 50.0 mark threshold separating contraction from growth. Saudi remained in expansion with steady growth amid favorable market conditions, while the UAE also remained in expansion — albeit at a slower pace due to the disruptions caused by the storm — which saw upwards of 2k flights canceled, and 115 diverted.

Refresher: The all-important 50.0 mark is the threshold separating contraction from growth. Anything over 50 denotes expansion and anything below indicates contraction.

First up, Saudi Arabia: Non-oil business activity in the Kingdom maintained a steady growth rate in April, thanks to favorable market conditions including consistently high levels of demand, growth in customer base, new investments, and heightened competition, according to the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia PMI (pdf) released on Sunday. The headline purchasing managers’ index remained unchanged m-o-m at 57.0, remaining firmly above the 50 threshold.

PMI figures are a good omen for non-oil growth: “This uptrend hints at an anticipated spike in the non-oil GDP, likely exceeding the 4.5% [growth] mark for this year,” Riyadh Bank Chief Economist Naif Al Ghaith said.

Output + new orders driving growth, despite rising at a slower m-o-m pace: The output subindex inched down to 61.9 last month, down from 62.2 in March, while the sub-index for new orders followed a similar trend, retreating to 61 last month, down from 64, according to Reuters. Firms allocated greater volume of raw materials and other items needed for output into inventories with stocks of purchases increasing at a survey-record rate.

Purchasing price inflation eased in April,as input costs grew at their slowest rate since July2023. Output prices, however, inched up for the sixth month in a row — “albeit only marginally — with firms looking to provide competitive pricing. Non-oil private sector firms were more cautious with their pricing in April — providing disc. to customers in a bid to boost competitiveness.

Inventories surged at a “survey-record” clip, as firms upped their purchasing activity in anticipation of stronger sales. “Noteworthy is the surge in new orders and inventory expansion, indicative of a proactive response to mounting demand within the market,” Al Ghaith said.

The wholesale & retail sectors recorded record-high growth in output, supported by “competitive pricing, promotional activity, investment and expanding client bases, particularly in the domestic market.”

Meanwhile, vendor performance improved at the weakest rate in eight months in April despite faster delivery times. The rise in new orders and output saw backlogs build up for the first time in three months, and at the fastest rate of accumulation in 4.5 years, as capacity pressures became more apparent.

Employment levels fell for the first time in over two years in April, on the back of higher costs and tighter cashflows, although workers saw an uptick in their salaries. “This strategy aims to bolster productivity and ensure the retention of skilled workers within the expanding economy,” Al Ghaith said.

Over in the UAE, non-oil business activity grew at a slower pace in April due to disruptions from the storm, which impacted business operations and sales, according to S&P Global’s PMI (pdf). The index dipped to 55.3 in April, down from 56.9 in March, remaining well above the 50.0 threshold, although it came in lower than the post-pandemic peak seen in February.

Business growth came in at its slowest pace in 14 months, as new order volumes slowed and consumer demand eased amid business disruptions caused by the flooding, as well as high workloads, which also led to a significant increase in backlogs. The considerable pile up in backlogs is linked to temporary business disruption and elevated pressure on operating capacity, S&P Global Market Intelligence Economics Director Tim Moore said.

Purchasing expenses were high: April saw a spike in purchasing and staff costs driven by increased raw material prices and efforts to offset employees’ higher living expenses. Meanwhile, companies slashed prices to boost sales amid stiff competition, resulting in a marginal decrease in average prices.

Companies were cautious about their inventories, with stocks of purchases expanding at its slowest rate since March 2022. Supplier performance also saw minimal improvement, partly due to transportation disruptions caused by the flooding during the month.

Staffing levels only grew modestly: While companies saw a continued increase in employment levels on the back of new projects and strong demand — which maintained a two-year stretch of jobs being created — the pace of employment growth was mild due to reported high costs. “Pressure on operating margins remained a challenge, as price discounting continued despite faster rises in purchasing costs and salary payments,” Moore said.

Sentiment remained upbeat for the two: The UAE had some respite as business sentiment remained strong as companies noted “buoyant market conditions and strong sales pipelines, as well as a swift recovery from weather-related business disruptions.” As for the Kingdom, the PMI underscores a promising outlook, as the sustained expansion coupled with market dynamics underscores a favorable environment for continued economic prosperity and stability, Al Ghaith commented.

Stay tuned for our coverage of Qatar and Kuwait’s indices tomorrow, with Egypt and Lebanon’s reports to follow on Thursday.

Agility Global shares jump more than four-fold on ADX debut

Agility Global shares pop on the first day of trading: Shares in Kuwaiti logistics outfit Agility subsidiary Agility Global closed up 327% on their trading debut on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) on Thursday, according to market data released on Thursday. Trading under the ticker AGILITY, the company had set the reference price for its shares at AED 0.37 apiece. Agility Global’s shares closed at AED 1.58 apiece, giving it a market cap of AED 16.46 bn (USD 4.5 bn).

REMEMBER- Agility received approval from the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) to move forward with a technical listing of Agility Global, its operations and assets management unit, on the Abu Dhabi bourse last week. Agility’s board approved last month an in-kind dividend distribution of some KWD 800 mn (USD 2.6 bn), representing 49% of the issued share capital of Agility Global. Following the distribution, Agility — which is listed both on the DFM and the Kuwait Stock Exchange — will remain the controlling shareholder with a 51% stake in Agility Global.

Technical listing? A technical listing means the company’s shares have been made tradeable on the bourse, without an offering of equity (primary or secondary) arranged by existing shareholders prior to the listing. This simply makes it possible for shareholders pre-transaction to start offering shares for sale to other investors via the ADX.

What Agility Global does: The wholly owned unit manages company operations and assets for Agility subsidiary Menzies Aviation, the company’s investment in Tristar Transport, operations of Agility Logistics Parks outside of Kuwait, and the DSV investment — which Agility’s Global Integrated Logistics business (GIL) had acquired back in 2021.

The IPO is to promote growth and expand access to more capital markets: The listing of Agility Global “crystalizes the value of assets for shareholders and gives the company access to additional capital markets to fund future growth,” Agility Vice Chairman Tarek Sultan commented previously. The listing enables global and regional investors a chance to invest in Agility and for existing shareholders in Kuwait to be rewarded, he added in a statement.

Advisors: Agility tapped UAE-based BHM Capital as a liquidity provider for its shares, the company said in an ADX disclosure (pdf). Middle East and UK-based international law firm Meysan acted as the legal advisor to Agility for the listing of the shares on the ADX, according to a statement.

Bahri’s bottomline sees 8% y-o-y drop + NMDC’s net income shoots up 122% y-o-y in 1Q 2024

Saudi national shipping company Bahri saw its net income fall 8% y-o-y in 1Q 2024 to SAR 453 mn, down from SAR 492.6 mn a year earlier, it said in a Thursday disclosure to Tadawul. Revenues dropped 2.6% y-o-y to reach SAR 2.3 bn.

Driving the plunge: Bahri oil transportation sector revenue fell by SAR 121 mn on the back of operation activities experiencing a decrease compared to the same quarter last year, with the logistics sector’s net income also dropping SAR 60 mn. The rise in finance costs by SAR 22mn due to higher interest rates also fueled the decline in net income, as well as profits from equity accounted investee companies decreasing by SAR 21 compared to last quarter.by SAR 21 compared to last quarter.

NATIONAL MARINE DREDGING COMPANY-

The UAE’s National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) saw its net income climb 122% y-o-y to AED 641.1 mn in 1Q 2024, driven by a “strategic expansion into new projects,” according to an earnings release (pdf). Revenues increased 67% y-o-y during the quarter to AED 5.3 bn, as the company was awarded AED 3.3 bn worth of contracts since the start of the year.

Looking ahead: “As we look forward, our focus is on sharpening our financial indicators, optimizing our operational processes to enhance profitability and revenue, and expanding our asset portfolio. Our strategy is built on a solid foundation of past achievements and the strategic acquisition of new projects,” said NMDC CEO Yasser Zaghloul.

UAE eyes boosted trade with Uzbekistan and Iran, UK + Egypt collaborate on export financing, EXIM + QDB partner on exports and imports

The UAE and New Zealand are in discussions to sign an economic partnership and trade agreement, Wam reports. The agreement would cover sectors including agriculture, tourism, technology, logistics, education, healthcare, and renewable energy. The two countries have already conducted “exploratory discussions” and public consultations, and are now “eager to get started,” Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said.

The Emirates also wrapped a joint economic committee session with Uzbekistan focusing on expanding into new and sustainable economic sectors, Wam reported on Friday. The two countries inked agreements to explore joint investment opportunities for new data centers in Uzbekistan, offering cloud and AI solutions to both private and public entities, aiming to facilitate cooperation between the public and private sector of both countries.

And held an inaugural joint economic committee meeting with Iran in Abu Dhabi last week to strengthen cooperation in transportation and logistics, Wam reported.

IN OTHER DIPLO NEWS-

UK + Egypt to partner on export financing: General Authority for Investment and Freezones (GAFI) CEO Hossam Heiba has inked an agreement with Tim Reid, Chief Executive of UK Export Finance, the UK’s export credit agency, in a bid to boost bilateral investment and trade between Egypt and the UK, according to a Thursday statement. The agreement will see UK Export Finance providing funding for several projects, while working with GAFI to exchange information necessary to determine which projects are eligible for support in terms of their alignment with both countries’ development strategies, integration with British value-chains, as well as their standards on governance and sustainability, the statement said.

KSA’s Export-Import Bank has inked an MoU with Qatar Development Bank to boost collaborations on exports and imports and explore prospects for investment, SPA reported on Thursday.

Oman Air appoints new CEO, Con Korfiatis

Oman Air appoints new CEO: Oman Air has appointed Con Korfiatis (Linkedin) as its new CEO, according to a statement released on Thursday. Korfiatis has three decades of experience in aviation and has been tasked with bringing about a turnaround in the carrier’s financial operations, the statement said. Korfiatis assumed roles as CEO at several outfits in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. He has also founded four startups and held leadership roles in finance, marketing, operations, and other divisions at major world airlines.

DP World completes Savan Logistics acquisition, Iozera eyes Morocco data center, Emaar + Aramex partner on logistics bots,

M&A WATCH-

DP World has finalized its acquisition of Laos-based Savan Logistics, which operates the Savannakhet dry port in Laos' Savannakhet Special Economic Zone, according to a statement. No details were provided on the value of the transaction.

The move sees DP World assuming management of the dry port, a logistics hub linking supply chains along a multinational corridor connecting Laos with Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Aside from managing the dry port and its warehouses, DP World will also coordinate cross-border transport, freight forwarding, and integrated logistics solutions at the site, the statement said.

DATA CENTERS-

US-based tech startup Iozera will ink an MoU with Morocco’s government to establish a 386 MW data center and AI hub in Tetouan, Morocco on 8 May, according to a press release. The hub looks to provide AI computing services to businesses in the US, Morocco, and other countries, and will be powered by renewable energy, the statement says.

DECARBONIZATION-

Emaar The Economic City + Aramex ink agreement to boost logistics operations and sustainability at KAEC: Developer of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Emaar The Economic City, and Aramex have inked an agreement to implement sustainable and value-added logistics solutions in KAEC in a bid to enhance operational efficiency and to curb environmental impact, according to a statement released on Thursday. Phase one of the agreement will see Aramex deploy its AramexBot for deliveries in KAEC. Later stages will see a multi compartment bot used to permit several deliveries on a single trip, reducing costs. The electrically powered bots emit zero emissions and bring about gains in terms of delivery speeds and efficiency, the statement said.

SUPPLY CHAINS-

NHC and CITIC Construction partner to boost building materials supply chains in KSA: KSA’s National Housing Company (NHC) has inked a cooperation agreement with Chinese construction and engineering outfit CITIC Construction to establish an industrial city and logistics zones for building materials in the Kingdom, SPA reported on Sunday. The initiative will include 12 factories and comes in a bid to secure supply chains for building materials for residential projects.

AVIATION-

Oman Air Cargo partners with RTS: Oman Air Cargo has signed an agreement with Texas-based revenue management consultant Revenues Technology Services (RTS) to adopt a comprehensive suite of digital tools to automate revenue and pricing processes, in a bid to enhance operations and boost revenues, according to a statement released last week. The partnership looks to develop pricing strategies, optimize use of belly cargo capacity, and boost customer experiences at Oman Air Cargo.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

New shipping service added to Jeddah port: The Saudi Port Authority (Mawani) has added a new shipping service by local feeder and short sea shipping operator Folk Maritime to Jeddah Islamic Port, according to a statement. The shipping service — dubbed the Port Sudan Service (PSS) — will connect Jeddah Islamic Port with Port Sudan. The service, which has a capacity of up to 700 standard containers via regular weekly trips, aims to facilitate market needs and growing trade in the region.

BACKGROUND- Mawani has recently added a new shipping service — NRS by Folk Maritime — to its Jeddah Islamic Port to boost connectivity along ports in the North Sea. The service, which will offer a capacity of up to 1.3k TEUs, will link Jeddah Islamic Port to Yanbu Commercial Port, Neom Port, Jordan’s Aqaba and Egypt’s Sokhna.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

New Fujairah-Cairo flights in July: Fujairah International Airport, in cooperation with Egyptair, has launched direct flights between Fujairah and Cairo at a rate of two flights per week on Sundays and Thursdays. (Wam)
Etihad Airways partners with five major airliners: UAE’s Etihad Airways inked reciprocal interline partnerships with five new airlines, Kam Air, Sky Express, Rex Airlines, Jeju Air, and Myanmar Airways International. The agreement will streamline connectivity and baggage check-through on single tickets across networks, and offer connections to some 80 destinations across Afghanistan, Greece, Australia, Korea, and Myanmar from Etihad’s gateways. (Statement)
SAL introduces storage and delivery solutions at Dammam Port: Saudi Logistics Services SAL has started offering storage and delivery solutions to customers at their center in Dammam’s King Abdulaziz port. (Statement)
EBRD to boost Palestinian trade: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supplying the Arab Islamic Bank in the West Bank and Gaza with a USD 2 mn trade finance line to boost Palestinian exports and imports. (Statement)

EU-China trade war is brewing + Maersk earnings take a big hit

The EU is preparing to launch a trade war with China over the import of cheap electric cars and cheap solar and wind technology, Reuters reports, according to comments made by president of the European Commission Ursula von der after a meeting with the Chinese president Xi Jinping. “Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and security,” Leyen said in a statement, adding that the EU will work with G7 partners to fight “China’s market distortions.”

China is not convinced: China’s cheaper green technologies are necessary to further the energy transition, Xi Jinping's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin told Bloomberg on Thursday. Backlash from the US and EU results in a “delay in the substitution of fossil fuels by renewables globally,” Liu said, adding that energy transition costs would increase by up to USD 6 tn without China’s production. Liu urges countries to instead take advantage of China’s low cost products ahead of his upcoming meeting with American counterpart John Podesta.

Tensions have been brewing for a while between China and the West: Trade tensions have been sparked between China and the West over the oversupply of cheap solar panels and EVs from China, which has crowded American and European markets and threatened domestic production. The European Commission launched its investigation in September to consider imposing punitive tariffs on Chinese EV imports as a protection measure for local producers. The US and China seem to be “ on more stable footing,” however, since US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s diplomatic visit last month.

Panama Canal shipping traffic has started to pick up, recovering from the drought which scientists have attributed to El Nino rather than climate change, The Financial Times reported on Saturday. Ships arriving at the canal rose to 739 last month, from a low of 692 in February, the FT says, citing data from Marine Traffic. The canal’s water levels are expected to rise by as much as 2 meters in the upcoming May to December rainy season.

International shipping giant Maersk saw its net income fall 91% y-o-y to USD 208 mn in 1Q 2024, according to financial statements (pdf) released on Thursday. The carrier’s revenues also dropped 13% y-o-y to USD 12.4 bn during the same period. The fall in performance is broadly in line with expectations that European shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd were unlikely to see significant boosts to their earnings in 1Q 2024, despite a surge in freight rates on the back of Red Sea disruptions.

Russia is shipping refined petroleum to North Korea at levels that exceed UN Security Council limits which could trigger a fresh raft of sanctions, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing comments by White House national security spokesperson John Kirby. The UN has capped North Korea’s annual imports of refined products to 500k barrels. Meanwhile Russia has shipped more than 165k barrels of refined petroleum to the country in March, Kirby said.

Calendar

MAY

5-7 May (Sunday-Tuesday): ReverseMi Logistics Network, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

6-9 May (Monday-Thursday): Saudi Smart Logistics, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

7-9 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

NOVEMBER

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

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

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

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

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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