Good morning, folks. It’s a brisk read today, with investment, zones, and startup updates from UAE-based players. But first, we have another world update on global trade as the UK-US agreement goes into effect…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- US-UK trade pact takes effect for cars…: UK auto manufacturers can now export to the US automobiles at a 10% tariff rate after their limited trade agreement officially came into play on Monday, giving them preferential access to the world’s biggest consumer market. The first 100kvehicles exported annually from the UK to the US will face a 10% tariff, with any additional vehicles subject to a 25% import duty. The US currently has a 25% flat rate on all automobiles.

… and for aerospace: Aerospace engines and aircraft parts saw the 10% levy slashed altogether, giving UK manufacturers — like Rolls Royce — a major advantage. In return for the concessions, Downing Street will eliminate tariffs on imported US beef and ethanol.

Steel, aluminum stays behind: While the UK is the only country to receive a pledge for an exemption from the up to 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, talks to bring the levy to as low as zero are reportedly still underway. If negotiations falter, then the tariff rate on British steel and aluminum will be reset at 50% by 9 July.

A long time coming: The US and UK signed a limited trade agreement that lowered tariffs on UK imports to the US from 27.5% to a flat 10%.

This story grabbed a lot of ink in int’l press: Reuters | Bloomberg | CNBC | The Guardian | BBC

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Sezad makes headway in green hydrogen project: Oman has started receiving equipment cargo for its first green hydrogen and ammonia project at the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad), Zawya reports. The cargoes — which are bound for a USD 750 mn green ammonia plant developed India’s Acme Group subsidiary GHC — included 14 packages of heavy equipment at an average weight of 120 tonnes each. The plant will have an initial capacity of 100k tons per annum and is designed to bring capacity up to 1.1 mn tons per annum in future expansions.

A hydrogen hub in Duqm: Oman’s OQ is leading Duqm Port’s transition into a hub for hydrocarbons, chemicals, and low-carbon products production, with a focus on turning the port and its zone into a trade and logistics hub for green hydrogen and ammonia. Sezad is set to focus on green hydrogen trade with Europe, and the government signed agreements back in April to connect it to the Netherlands’ Port of Amsterdam and Germany’s Port of Duisburg.

#2- Iraq attempts to revive Kurdistan crude exports: An Iraqi delegation was sent to Erbil — Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) capital — in another attempt this year to resume crude oil exports from the region through Turkey, Arabian Gulf Business Insight reports. The delegation’s sit-down with Kurdish officials will reportedly discuss the 970-km Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, which stands at a capacity of 400k barrels per day.

The holdup: Tensions in a longstanding dispute between Baghdad and Erbil were retriggered by the KRG’s efforts to unilaterally export oil via Turkey’s Ceyhan Port after inking two agreements with US oil companies last month, skirting Iraq’s national oil company. In retaliation, Baghdad severed funding for public-sector employee salaries in the Kurdish region last week.

A critical moment for Iraqi crude: The spectre of shutting Hormuz Strait — through which 83% of Iraq’s oil exports pass — served as a wake-up call for Iraqi officials, prompting the renewed effort to resume Kirkuk-Ceyhun pipeline, and reviving interest in other stalled pipeline developments.

#3- Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has greenlit the expansion of Al Safa Street in a bid to streamline traffic flow, according to a statement. The project covers nearly 1.5 km — spanning from Al Safa Street’s junction with Sheikh Zayed Road to the junction with Al Wasl Street — and aims to double the street’s capacity to 12k vehicles per hour in both directions and cut travel time from twelve to three minutes. RTA is set to construct two bridges and two tunnels — spanning a combined 3.1 km — as well as widen road surfaces and upgrade traffic signal systems.

In context: The project is a part of a larger plan to improve Dubai’s Umm Suqeim and Al Wasl streets, which looks to “enhance connectivity between four strategic corridors in the Emirate — Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road,” RTA Chairman Mattar Al Tayer said.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices dipped this morning amid concerns over a possible supply hike in August and the prospect of slowed economic activity as the US tariff deadline looms, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures decreased USD 0.30 to USD 66.44 a barrel by 04.30 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures saw a dip of USD 0.33 to trade at USD 64.78 a barrel.

Meanwhile, Aramco reduced its official selling prices for propane and butane (LPG) for July, setting propane at USD 575 / ton and butane at USD 545 / ton, Arab News reports, citing an Aramco statement. The oil giant cut LPG rates between 1.6% and 11.2% in June from May prices to USD 600 / ton and USD 570 / ton for propane and butane, respectively.

The macro picture: China is moving away from US-sourced LPG cargoes due to high tariffs, opening the door for Middle Eastern suppliers to gain market share. The shift is benefiting exporters in the Middle East, who are stepping in to fill the supply gap left by the US. Some buyers across Asia, including Japan and India, are taking advantage of the lower prices to negotiate better supply agreements.

#2- Baltic index dips once again: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — dropped 2.1% to 1, 489 points on Monday. The capesize was down 4.9% to 2,111 points, while the panamax index increased 0.7% to 1,500 points. The small supramax index inched up 0.3% points to settle at 1,012.

DATA POINT-

#1- The volume of air cargo dispatched from the Middle East and South Asia rose 10% w-o-w last week ending June 22, after crashing by some 15% in the first two weeks of June amid conflict between Israel-Iran and Eid Al-Adha holidays, Stat Trade Times reports, citing WorldACD Market Data. Air cargo traffic from the Levant alone rebounded 14% w-o-w, the report found.

Outbound traffic experienced an upward tick: The region recorded a 17% w-o-w hike in its air cargo traffic to Europe, intra-regional traffic rose some 12% w-o-w, while cargo traveling to Asia Pacific was up by 11% w-o-w. The significant increase came from Saudi Arabia with a 40% w-o-w jump and the UAE at 10% w-o-w. India — the region’s largest market destination — was marked by a 7% w-o-w rise in traffic flows.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Intermodal Africa will kick off on Tuesday, 22 July and run till Thursday, 24 July in Beira, Mozambique. The forum will host over 300 senior government officials, industry leaders, academics, senior executives, and harbor masters in the ports, shipping, and logistics sector. Attendees and speakers will be coming from countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

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