Morocco’s ONCF seeks USD 8.8 bn for rail expansion project

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What we're tracking today

TODAY: TODAY: Morocco seeks USD 8.8 bn for rail expansion + Egypt to lease LNG regasification unit

Good morning, ladies and gents. We have a bumper issue today with lots of updates to delve into, but first, the big story dominating headlines this morning…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- Damascus airport suspends all flights: Damascus International Airport has suspended all flights following the collapse of the Syrian government, The National reports, citing a report broadcast on Syria’s Sham FM radio. “For now, there are no flights. We are awaiting further information from our company regarding the resumption of services,” a representative of Fly & More Travel, the Dubai travel agent for Cham Wings Airlines, told the news outlet yesterday.

What’s happening in Syria: Bashar Al Assad’s regime has been toppled following a rapid 10-day offensive by rebel forces, ending over five decades of autocratic rule in Syria by members of the Assad family after the rapid opposition offensive captured several key cities, including the capital Damascus yesterday. The power vacuum left by Assad’s departure has thrust Hayat Tahrir Al Sham and its leader Abu Mohammed Al Golani into the spotlight, with numerous outlets out with pieces trying to decipher the man and his motives. The group — once an al-Qaeda affiliate — and its leader now seek to portray themselves as a stabilizing force, issuing reassurances to Syria’s minorities and pledging to preserve state institutions after transition, but questions remain as to how much the group has changed and what role it will play in a post-Assad Syria. Read more on the developing situation in Syria: Wall Street Journal | Financial Times | Bloomberg | Reuters

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

The Moroccan Rail Industry Summit will kick off on Tuesday and wrap on Wednesday in Casablanca. The summit will gather industry professionals and experts to discuss new market trends and future strategies presented by OEMs on infrastructure, rolling stock, embedded equipment and railway vehicle interiors.

The Middle East Business Aviation Show will start on Tuesday and run through to Thursday in Dubai. The event will showcase innovations across 130+ exhibitions with over 25 jets on display and over 50 speakers on various panels.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- DP World wants to expand in India: UAE port operator DP World plans to boost its presence in India to remedy trade bottlenecks by expanding into more industrial parks and logistics projects in the country, CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem told Bloomberg in an interview on Thursday. The move looks to alleviate congestion and ease the movement of cargo from ports to customers.

China is also an area of interest: The Chinese market is also ripe for growth as the country recovers from the chokehold of the pandemic and factories grapple with a backlog of cargo, Sulayem added.

DP has ties in India: The port operator launched operations at Cochin Economic Zone in the Vallarpadam terminal back in July. DP also operates in Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva Business Park and Chennai’s Integrated Chennai Business Park. The firm additionally operates five container terminals in India’s Mundra, Cochin and Chennai, as well as two in Mumbai. The terminals have a combined capacity of around 6 mn TEUs. The firm is also developing a mega-container terminal at Tuna-Tekra in India’s Kandla Port, which will take its combined capacity up to 8.19 mn TEUS.

#2- Bangladesh taps Aramco for LNG supply: Bangladesh tapped global giants Shell International Trading Middle East, BP Singapore Glencore Singapore, and KSA’s trading arm Aramco as suppliers of spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) in a bid to boost competition and reduce costs, a Bangladeshi energy official told Reuters on Thursday. The four companies are among the 22 new firms on Bangladesh's list of 33 potential suppliers, which also includes Vitol Asia, Gunvor Singapore and Excelerate Energy, who previously dominated the country’s spot market.

What does Bangladesh’s market look like? Bangladesh — which made its first LNG import back in 2018 — acquired 5.2 mn metric tons in 2023, a 19% y-oy increase, which analysts expect to keep rising, the newswire writes. The country spends some 60 bn taka (c. USD 504 mn) a year on LNG imports, with more expected to come from government agreements with Qatar, Oman, and spot market contracts. It also imports some 100 LNG cargoes annually — with more expected to emerge from 50 direct contracts with Qatar and Oman.

#3- Spain to revive rail project connecting Morocco to Europe via Algeciras Port: Spain is looking to invest nearly EUR 500 mn to build a high-speed, international-gauge railway line which will link Morocco to Europe, Spanish media outlet El Faro Ceuta reported last week. The project, which was stalled for the last few years as some 61 tracks and 28 bridges would need to be adapted and built, aims to be operational by the end of 2H 2025.

Building bridges: Maersk established the Morocco Bridge Solution last year — a multimodal service that connects Morocco with Spain and the rest of Europe. The solution connects rail and truck transport across Morocco to a maritime shuttle from Tangier to Algeciras. The route aims to drive the growth in trade between Morocco and the EU by reducing congestion and carbon emissions without compromising time-efficiency.

#4- Iran wants more SCO railway cooperation: Iran is seeking increased cooperation on railways between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, calling for holding a trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan to standardize tariffs, Tehran Times reported last week, citing comments by Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) Jabbar-Ali Zakeri during an SCO meeting. Zakeri also recommended establishing an expert working group to work on border-related challenges, identify routes that are not connected to existing rail networks, and create a financial model to attract investment.

What’s next? Iran’s RAI is currently working on improving international rail links by increasing capacity and facilitating logistics to transport goods between China, Russia, Central Asia, India, Pakistan, and Europe, Zakeri said.

WORTH READING-

Morocco is rising as a possible export link to Western markets for Chinese EV manufacturers in response to protectionist US and EU policies and tariffs, according to a recent Chatham House report. Recent EU and US tariffs are pushing Chinese manufacturers to operate elsewhere to circumvent restrictions and continue exporting to global markets.

The case for Morocco: Morocco is a member of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and Rabat has freetrade agreements with the US and the EU. The North African country’s geographical proximity to EU, African, and US markets would help companies cut shipping and ins. costs. Morocco also boasts advanced rail and road systems and advanced car industry infrastructure. Businesses from Canada, Australia, and South Korea have secured agreements with Chinese firms to build EV battery plants and produce chemicals for battery manufacturing in Morocco. The country also controls 72% of the world’s phosphate-rock reserves, which can position it as a global EV battery production hub as the world moves towards adopting cheaper and safer lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

An already established friendship: China Overseas Engineering Corporation (Covec) inked a MAD 1.34 bn (c. USD 133.9 mn) contract in November for the high-speed line (LGV) from Kenitra to Marrakech. Morocco and Guchen Hi-tech signed a USD 6.4 bn MoU in June 2023 to develop an EV battery gigafactory near Rabat, according to Chatham House. Morocco is also looking to secure China’s support for the e Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project.

But there are some complications: Morocco is being cautious about getting too close to China, adopting a bilateral, transactional approach and being reluctant to participate in multilateral initiatives led by China, like Brics.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices rose in early morning trading in response to the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures climbed USD 0.36 to trade at USD 71.48 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose USD 0.38 to USD 67.58 a barrel.

#2- Opec+ extends production cuts yet again: Opec+ pushed back the start date of production increases by three months to April 2025, with the overall production increases slated to be gradually implemented until the end of 2026, according to a statement. The decision came on the back of weak demand and rising non-Opec production levels. The story got ink in Reuters, Bloomberg, AP, and FT.

Remember- Opec+ had initially planned to start phasing out production cuts in October, but later pushed the plans back as oil prices fell.

The breakdown: The current cuts total 5.85 mn barrels per day (bbl / d), or 5.7% of global demand, divided into three tranches — 2 mn bbl / d by all members, 1.65 mn bbl / d in the first stage of voluntary cuts by eight members (including Saudi Arabia), and another 2.2 mn bbl / d in the second phase of the voluntary cuts. On Thursday, Opec+ extended the first two tranches by a year until the end of 2026 and prolonged the 2.2 mn bbl / d tranche until September 2026.

The rationale: Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman told CNBC it would be unfeasible to add 2.5 mn bbl / d in one year, stressing Opec’s need to balance supply-demand fundamentals with market sentiment.

Oil price forecasts are a mixed bag for 2025: Morgan Stanley upgraded its Brent crude price forecast to USD 70 a barrel in 3Q and 4Q 2025, up from USD 68 and USD 66, respectively. ING penciled in USD 71 a barrel for the whole year, up from USD 69, Bloomberg reports. Meanwhile, HSBC maintained its forecast for the year at USD 70 a barrel, and Bank of America expects Brent to average USD 65 a barrel, according to Reuters.

#3- Baltic index breaks losing streak: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — rose 0.6% to 1,167 points on Friday, buoyed by larger vessels. The capesize index grew 5 points to 1,535 points, while the panamax index increased 27 points to 1,067 points. The smaller supramax index shed 5 points to 974 points.

#4- The Drewry World Container Index increased 6% to USD 3,533 per 40-ft container on Thursday, according to the latest index readings. Spot rates for 40-ft containers are now 66% below the previous pandemic peak, but remain 149% above the pre-pandemic rate of USD 1.4k. The average composite index YTD is USD 3,958 per 40ft container, which is USD 1,104 higher than the 10-year average rate of USD 2,854..

DATA POINT-

Global trade is projected to reach USD 33 tn in 2024, a near USD 1 tn increase from 2023, driven by a strong 3.3% annual growth, according to a UNCTAD report (pdf). The record high is also driven by an annual 7% increase in trade services, while trade in goods is projected to grow nearly 2% in 2024 and remain below its 2022 peak, with both goods and services expected to contribute USD 500 bn each.

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Morocco’s ONCF seeks USD 8.8 bn for rail expansion project

Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF) is seeking USD 8.8 bn in investments for its rail expansion plan, head of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwumi Adesina told Reuters on Friday after a three-day Africa Investment Forum in Rabat. The project reportedly obtained over USD 13 bn worth of financial commitments from investors, and the bank could secure over USD 29.2 bn for African development projects across several sectors, including transport, infrastructure, water supply, and energy.

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Expansions and additions: ONCF rolled out a MAD 9.78 bn (c. USD 988.3 mn) railway development investment plan back in October for 2025-2027, which includes extending the high-speed rail line (LGV) from Kenitra to Marrakech as well as establish a regional express network (RER) for Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech. This is different from Morocco’s Railway Strategy 2040, which is a comprehensive long-term plan for the development of the national railway network, expected to cost MAD 87 bn (c. USD 8.5 bn). ONCF also aims to expand its network to serve 43 — or 87% — of Morocco by 2040, the newswire added.

Morocco’s been making moves: ONCF awarded a contract back in November to a consortium of Spanish engineering firm Ineco and Morocco’s CID to carry out the preliminary project for the railway service between the Moroccan cities of Oued Zem and Beni Mella, as well as

China Overseas Engineering Corporation (Covec), which inked a MAD 1.34 bn (c. USD 133.9 mn) contract for the high-speed line (LGV) from Kenitra to Marrakech.

IN OTHER FINANCING NEWS-

Morocco’s Nador West Port gets a financing boost: AfDB inked a EUR 129 mn agreement with Morocco to boost industrial activity at Morocco’s Nador West Med Port Business Park Development Project, MAP reported last week. The agreement aims to support the development of economic zones as well as industrial and logistical facilities at the port. The funds are part of three funding agreements between Morocco and the AfDB worth EUR 344.7 mn.

More on the cards: The African bank is also pouring EUR 650 mn to support Morocco’s 2030 World Cup preparations — which includes financing the development of the country’s railway and airport infrastructure, Morocco World News reported on Friday.

AfDB and Morocco of history: Morocco's Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) and AfDB inked a USD 70 mn risk-sharing agreement (RSA) back in May to boost trade across the continent and expand private sector financing. AfDB also offered Morocco’s Bank of Africa (BOA Group) USD 78.3 mn (EUR 70 mn) back in October, which is expected to catalyze almost EUR 300 mn worth of trade over 3.5 years. The trade finance facility includes a Risk Participation Agreement (RPA) worth EUR 50 mn and a Trade Finance Line of Credit (TFLOC) amounting to EUR 20 mn.

Egypt to lease second LNG floating regasification unit starting 2H 2025

It looks like the LNG regasification unit docked in Jordan may soon be heading to Egypt’s Ain Sokhna, following an agreement to lease a unit between US-based New Fortress Energy and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) starting in 2H 2025, covered in a statement released on Friday and a report from Trade Winds. Although yet to be specified in any official communications from the two companies, earlier unconfirmed reports name the vessel as the Energos Eskimo that is currently docked in Jordan’s Aqaba Port and has been shared between the two countries under an agreement inked last year. The length of the lease and the financial details have not been disclosed.

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The regasification unit may be leaving Jordan, but it looks like the country will still be able to make use of the vessel. EGAS signed an agreement earlier last week with Jordan’s National Electric Power Company that will see Jordan share the use of one of Egypt's LNG storage and regasification units over the next two years. The agreement will enable Jordan to ensure it can process incoming shipments ahead of its fixed Aqaba LNG terminal slated for completion in 2026.

The unit will be the second terminal to be docked in Egypt, alongside Norwegian floating storage and regasification unit that docked in Ain Sokhna in June. The new unit will add a gasification capacity of 750 mn cf/d and have a storage capacity of 160k cbm to help the state keep pace with growing domestic demand for natural gas during peak periods, according to the ministry.

We’ve been on the lookout for news like this after a government source told EnterpriseAM last month that Egypt will begin leasing another floating storage regasification unit at the start of 2025 in a move aimed at expanding the country’s limited regasification capacity.

Limited capacity has been cited as a reason for Egypt’s Oil Ministry pushing back LNG delivery dates, with our source telling us the ministry is in talks with suppliers to postpone LNG shipments from 4Q 2024 to 1Q 2025 on the back of limited regasification capacity and currently sufficient domestic supply of natural gas.

Non-oil private sector activity continues its boom in UAE

How the UAE’s non-oil private sector performed in November: Purchasing manager Indices (PMI) tracking non-oil energy sectors in the UAE were on the rise in November on the back of robust demand conditions and competitive pricing, according to S&P Global’s UAE PMI (pdf) released on Friday. The UAE held above the 50.0 mark threshold, driven by an influx in new orders and output rates. The country’s headline PMI grew slightly to 54.2 in November, up from 54.1 in October.

REMEMBER- The all-important 50.0 mark is the threshold separating contraction from growth. Anything above 50 denotes expansion, while anything below indicates contraction.

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Business output and activity levels rose due to the sharpest increase in new order volumes since August. This rise in demand occurred due to businesses acquiring new customers through marketing initiatives and price reductions.

Though employment is still on a growth trajectory, elevated capacity pressures caused its growth to “slip to a 31-month low” and input purchases to increase at the “slowest pace since July 2023,” according to S&P Senior Economist David Owen.

Output forecasts saw a slight improvement over the 18-month low recorded in September, causing companies to hesitate to increase input stocks and directly aimed new purchases at addressing output needs.

Input price inflation steadied, holding at October’s six-month low. With that said, costs still increased at a higher pace than the long-run trend, due to growing prices of material, tech, fuel, machinery, and maintenance. Firms continued to offer discounted prices despite higher costs.

Backlogs are still piling up despite logistical improvements: Several businesses didn’t accurately anticipate their future activity growth, so the increase in orders caused delays in the completion schedule, causing a rise in backlogs. However, supplier delivery times improved, leading to a minor increase in overall inventories, with new purchases being consumed by present output requirements.

Business sentiment leans toward uncertainty as confidence levels in future activity reached its “second lowest” since early 2023, Owen said. Meanwhile, experts are arguing that markets are becoming increasingly crowded, subduing pricing power.

Dnata breaks ground on 57k sqm warehouse in Dubai South

Dnata expands its UAE operations: Freight forwarder Dnata, a subsidiary of UAE-based Emirates, broke ground on a new 57k sqm warehouse in Dubai South on Thursday, according to a statement released on Thursday. Dnata has plugged AED 100 mn into the new facility, which is scheduled to be completed in November 2025.

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Details: The new facility will have a processing capacity of 400k tonnes of cargo per annum. The move will expand the firm’s storage capacity by 50% and create over 50 direct jobs. The warehouse will be integrated with an AI-drive management system to streamline delivery operations, as well as automated systems for cargo and storage retrieval and truck loading and unloading. The facility is strategically located near key logistics hubs, including Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport.

Going green: The warehouse will be equipped with solar panels and rainwater and energy harvesting systems to boost environmental efficiency, as well as smart heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Lots of action in Dubai South: Indu Kishore Logistics broke ground on a new logistics facility back in November in Dubai South’s Logistics District, set for completion by 3Q 2025. Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub inked an agreement back in October with Liebherr-Aerospace to establish an MRO facility in Dubai South. Dubai South and Al Dar Properties inked an agreement to develop a build-to-suit facility for Kuehne+Nagel at Dubai South’s EZDubai e-commerce hub back in May.

NMDC LTS to snap up 70% of Emdad

NMDC LTS moves to acquire 70% stake in Emdad: NMDC’s new logistics arm, NMDC LTS, is set to acquire a 70% stake in Abu Dhabi-based oil and gas services firm Emdad for an undisclosed sum, according to an ADX disclosure (pdf) released last week. The agreement is pending regulatory approvals and endorsements from stakeholders within and outside the UAE.

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About Emdad: The Abu Dhabi-based company provides oilfield services, including operations, maintenance, and well construction, offering offshore and logistical support, vessel management, cross chartering, and offshore transportation.

It’s not just oil and gas: NMDC will tap into Emdad’s shipping and marine services subsidiary Marcap, which offers several marine services, including offshore and logical support, cross chartering and vessel management, and offshore transportation.

Emdad’s clients: Emdad has long-standing relationships with major players in the industry, including Adnoc, Borouge, and Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA).

There’s been hints: NMDC has been looking to acquire a 70% stake in Emdad since July. The company submitted a binding offer of an undisclosed value after completing due diligence.

ICYMI- NMDC Group launched NMDC LTS this week with a focus on marine logistics and technical operations as part of the company’s strategy to diversify its portfolio.

NMDC has been on the move: The company has been eyeing developing new business units, including NMDC Construction and NMDC LNS. NMDC Group will develop a USD 300 mn chemicals port as part of a Ta’ziz awarded contract. NMDC Energy inked a 50-year lease agreement in June to set up a new manufacturing facility in the zone back in September.

Edgnex + Damac + PPC Group launch data center in Greece

Another Edgnex data center in Greece: Edgnex Data Centers, a joint venture (JV) between Damac and PPC Group, launched Data In Scale, a JV focusing on the development of a data center in Spata, Greece. The joint venture will see Damac holding a 55% stake and PPC Group owning 45%, according to a statement released last week.

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The details: The first phase of the project involves an investment of EUR 150 mn to establish 12.5 MW of capacity, with plans to expand to 25 MW in subsequent phases. Currently in the design and licensing stages, construction is set to commence in 1Q 2025, with the aim of completing the first phase within two years.

ICYMI: Damac Group plans to invest approximately USD 3 bn in establishing data centers across Southeast Asia through its subsidiary Edgnex, and between USD 5 and 7 bn to expand globally. The company is primarily targeting Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in Southeast Asia.

Adnoc + Petronas finalize 15-year SPA for 1 mn tonnes of LNG

Adnoc finalizes second long-term LNG agreement with Malaysia’s Petronas: Adnoc signed a 15-year sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Malaysia’s state-owned oil and gas firm Petronas to supply it with 1 mn tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually from its LNG project in Al Ruwais, according to a statement released last week. Deliveries are set to begin in 2028.

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The agreement will help Malaysia ramp up its LNG portfolio: The agreement with Adnoc “bolsters [Petronas’] LNG portfolio with a reliable supply of lower-carbon energy to meet Malaysia’s domestic demand,” Petronas LNG Marketing & Trading VP Shamsairi Ibrahim said.

ICYMI- To date, over 8 mn tonnes per annum (mtpa) of the Al Ruwais LNG project’s 9.6 mtpa production capacity has been committed through long-term agreements. These include a 15-year SPA with Singapore’s Sefe Marketing & Trading for 1 mn tonnes, a 15-year agreement with China’s ENN Natural Gas for 1 mn tonnes, and another 15-year agreement with Germany’s Energie Baden-Württemberg for 0.6 mn tonnes. Additional supply agreements include 1 mn tonnes per year to Shell and 0.6 mn tonnes to Mitsui.

President El Sisi kicks off Euro tour with Denmark visit, launches Egypt-Denmark Business Council

Egypt’s El Sisi kicks off Euro tour with an inaugural trip to Denmark: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi inaugurated the Egyptian-Danish Economic Conference on Friday alongside Danish King Frederick X, in what marked the first visit of an Egyptian president to Denmark, according to a statement. El Sisi and Frederick X signed a joint declaration promoting the level of Egyptian-Danish relations to a strategic partnership, which El Sisi said will focus on “economic, trade, and investment aspects as well as forging closer cooperation between the two sides’ private sectors.”

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What are the areas of interest between these two nations? In a speech following the signing, El Sisi namechecked cooperation in maritime transport, energy and the green transition, health, scientific research, investment, agriculture, tourism, ICT, and efforts to combat illegal migration and terrorism as being part of the agreement.

The two leaders launched the Egypt-Denmark Business Council, which will serve as a “gateway for Danish economic and commercial bodies to explore investment opportunities in Egypt,” namely in the infrastructure, ICT, renewable energy, and transformative industries sectors. The council “aligns with Egypt’s ambition to become a regional hub for supply chains and the transport and trade of renewable and green energy,” El Sisi said.

El Sisi also met with a number of key Danish business leaders: The president met with Philip Christiani, partner in one of the largest renewables investment firms Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, who expressed his company’s interest in exploring investments in Egypt’s sustainable energy sector. El Sisi also met with shipping company AP Moller-Maersk Chairman Robert Maersk Uggla, who highlighted the company’s “keenness to enhance its cooperation and consider increasing the scope of its business in Egypt.”

El Sisi's visit to Denmark is his first stop in his European tour, which will also see him land in Norway — where he will meet the king, prime minister, and members of the nation’s parliament — and Ireland — where he is scheduled to hold meetings with the president and prime minister.

OTHER DIPLO STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

Kuwait + India sign JCC agreement: Kuwait has inked an MoU with India to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) for joint working groups in areas including trade, investments, education, technology, agriculture, security and culture. (Zaywa)

Etihad Cargo appoints Andy Newbold as Senior Manager Global Accounts

Etihad Cargo has appointed Andy Newbold (LinkedIn) as Etihad Cargo Senior Manager Global Accounts, according to a company LinkedIn post. Newbold has 35 years of experience across multiple airlines including Air France-KLM, he has held leadership roles in cargo operations, commercial strategy, and product management.

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A slew of trade, projects, cargo, and port updates from all around the region

TRADE-

AfDB + TDB to strengthen African trade financing: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has inked a USD 150 mn agreement with the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) for a Trade Finance Unfunded Risk Participation Agreement (RPA) facility, according to a statement.

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What is it for? The RPA aims to strengthen intra-Africa trade and reduce the trade finance gap in Africa, according to the statement. The facility will support USD 1.8 bn of trade over the next three years, and guarantee cover of 50-75% of transactions in Low-Income Countries (LICs) and transition states.

ICYMI: AfDB offered Morocco’s Bank of Africa (BOA Group) USD 78.3 mn (EUR 70 mn) in October to promote financing trade in Africa and an RPA facility worth EUR 50 mn. The funding should catalyze almost EUR 300 mn worth of trade over 3.5 years.

ADDED kicks off TIP for imports and exports: Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development launched the Abu Dhabi Trade Information Portal (TIP) to streamline import, export, and re-export procedures, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Customs and Maqta Gateway, Wam reported on Thursday. TIP provides details on regulations, fees, taxes, and procedures across all trade stages, including permits, licenses, and certifications. The details on transactions are provided using harmonized system codes, considering product specifics and transit methods.

TIP’s main features: The new portal offers templates for essential trade documents like bills of lading and certificates of origin. It also evaluates timelines and costs, potentially reducing customs compliance time by 50% and cutting operational costs by USD 100-1k per transaction, according to the organisation for economic co-operation and development. It also integrates the Abu Dhabi Export Gateway to help local businesses identify international markets.

Zatca + Pakistan cooperate on trade customs: Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (Zatca) inked an agreement with Pakistan on cooperation and mutual assistance in matters related to customs during the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Conference in Riyadh, Spa reported last week. The agreement aims to promote trade by improving cooperation and providing administrative support in customs matters. It also highlights the sharing of expertise and best practices between the two countries to enhance their ability to implement advanced customs technologies.

And a tax cooperation agreement with Morocco: Zatca signed an MoU with Morocco’s Tax Authority to cooperate in tax administration, SPA reported. The agreement seeks to share expertise in tax administration and leverage the strengths of both parties to transfer knowledge and skills in the field.

ROADS-

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) inaugurated a three-lane bridge linking Sheikh Rashid Road to Infinity Bridge, according to a statement. A second bridge on Sheikh Rashid Road which will link Al Mina Intersection to Sheikh Rashid Road intersection with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street is scheduled to open in the first half of January.

This project is part of the fourth phase of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, which involves the construction of three bridges totaling 3.1 km in length, with a combined capacity of 19.4k vehicles per hour. The phase — which will ultimately reduce travel time along the corridor from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030 — is now 71% complete.

ZONES-

SCZone + Henneway to launch project in West Qantara Zone: Egypt’s General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) has started construction on a USD 50 mn project for Chinese company Henneway in Qantara West Industrial Zone to manufacture travel luggage on an area of 120k square meters, according to a statement. “In addition to the luggage project, six projects were contracted in the past period, with a total investment of USD 271 mn, on a total area of 614k sqm, and providing more than 12k job opportunities, and contracts are underway for the other three projects,” SCZone Chairman Waleid Gamal El-Dien said.

STORAGE + WAREHOUSES-

KPC eyes India’s SPR project: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) is looking to store crude oil in India’s strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) project to boost the country’s energy security, the Economic Times reported on Thursday, quoting the Ministry of External Affairs. The cooperation would see KPC expand its crude oil capacity in SPR’s second phase, which includes developing caverns with a 4 mn metric ton capacity in Chandikhol and 2.5 mn in Padur. The Kuwaiti firm is joining the UAE’s Adnoc and Saudi’s Aramco as potential participants in the second phase of the project.

CARGO-

EgyptAir Cargo + Unilode partner up on cargo services: Egypt’s flagship carrier’s cargo arm EgyptAir Cargo has inked a full-service container management agreement with Switzerland-based Unilode Aviation Solutions, where EgyptAir Cargo will receive digital cargo containers (PMC and PAG), according to a statement released last week. The agreement also aims to boost operational efficiency and functional data analysis by leveraging the E-ULD application and Unilode’s customer intelligence platform.

RAIL-

Iraq getting a new railway line: Iraq’s Transport Ministry will construct a new railway line in Baghdad to improve the transportation infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion in the country’s capital, INA reported last week. The ministry announced the removal of all railway lines within Baghdad and their replacement with a bypass line extending from Al-Yousfiya to the Taji area. This aims to eliminate the conflicts caused by the old routes and enhance efforts to ease traffic congestion in the capital.

ICYMI- The General Company for Iraqi Railways has issued a tender for the completion and restoration of the Baghdad-Baiji railway line.

PORTS-

Sohar Port + Allied Container expand agreement: Sohar Port and Freezone has inked a USD 2.6 mn expansion agreement with Allied Ondock Container Services, a subsidiary of Singapore’s Allied Container Group, according to a statement released last week. Allied Ondock initially signed an agreement in June 2023 with Sohar Port to provide container depot services.

The details: The agreement adds two hectares to the initial three hectares for a new container depot. Allied Ondock will facilitate the transfer of containers from Hutchison Ports Sohar, unloading cargo at their warehouse before returning the empty containers. The depot will enhance warehousing capacity to support over 20 shipping lines weekly, according to the statement.

IN OTHER SOHAR PORT NEWS- Oman’s Sohar Port has broken ground on a RO 115.4 mn polymer production facility, which is set to be operational in 1Q 2026, Times of Oman reports. The 240k sqm facility — set to be the second-largest in the world — will produce polyacrylamide and monomers and aims to boost the development of downstream industries in the petrochemical complex at Sohar Port and freezone.

EU-Mercosur wrap freetrade agreement negotiations 25 years in the making

The EU and the Mercosur bloc of South American nations inked an agreement in principle on Friday on a pact 25 years in the making, Reuters reported on Friday. The agreement saw amendments from a 2019 version, including in public procurement, auto trading, and critical mineral exports, as well as an annex about environmental measures to address South American fears about EU protectionism.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

Not without challenges: The trade agreement still must go through legal formalities, translation, and approval by member countries, with a possibility looming that it may still be blocked by staunch opponents like France. “Only two of the five spoke and no questions were taken. That in itself, speaks volumes,” said an EU source closely involved in the talks, explaining that the agreement came out “by the skin of its teeth ... At least we have the association agreement, the rest will keep playing out in the coming days.”

Background: The EU and Mercosur had been looking to complete the long delayed trade treaty by early December. France has been leading the opposition within the EU — alongside Austria, and the Netherlands — and has called the European Commission to renegotiate the agreement by incorporating “mirror clauses” which could impose identical standards on products traded between the two blocs.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

Japan plans to talk trade with Trump: Japan plans on holding trade talks with US President-elect Donald Trump, with the understanding that cutting car and auto part tariffs will be on the agenda. (Bloomberg)

Calendar

DECEMBER

10-11 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Rail Industry Summit, Casablanca, Morocco.

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

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

JANUARY 2025

20-24 January (Monday-Friday): World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Davos, Switzerland.

27-29 January (Monday-Wednesday): World Cargo Summit, Ostend, Belgium.

28-29 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): Green Shipping Summit, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

29-30 January (Wednesday-Thursday): ShipTek International Conference, Dubai, UAE.

FEBRUARY

3-5 February (Monday-Wednesday): Middle East Bunkering Convention, Dubai, UAE.

4-5 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): Seatrade Maritime Qatar, Doha, Qatar.

4-5 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): Airport Expansion Conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

10-11 February (Monday-Tuesday): Middle East Breakbulk conference, Dubai, UAE.

10-11 February (Monday-Tuesday): MRO Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

10-12 February (Monday-Wednesday): Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

10-12 February (Monday-Wednesday): Japan Kyoto Trade Exhibition, Dubai, UAE.

10-13 February (Monday-Thursday): Future Warehouses & Logistics, Dubai, UAE.

18-19 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): Argus Green Marina Fuels Asia Conference, Singapore.

18-19 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): Middle East Procuretech Summit, Dubai, UAE.

19-21 February (Wednesday-Friday): Air Cargo Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.

20-22 February (Thursday-Saturday): Dubai Freight Camp, Dubai, UAE.

25 February - 1 March (Tuesday-Saturday): WCA Worldwide Conference, Dubai, UAE.

MARCH

No events announced at the moment.

APRIL

2-4 April (Wednesday-Friday): Global Supply Chain and Logistics Summit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

3-4 April (Thursday-Friday): Africa Supply Chain Optimization, Johannesburg, South Africa

10 April (Thursday): Gulf Ship Fiance Forum, Dubai, UAE.

14 April (Monday): CargoIS Forum, Dubai, UAE.

15-17 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Transport Middle East 2025, Aqaba, Jordan.

15-17 April (Tuesday-Thursday): IATA World Cargo Symposium, Dubai, UAE.

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

MAY

6-8 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Airport Show, Dubai, UAE.

12-15 May (Monday-Thursday): Saudi Smart Logistics, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

13-14 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Global Ports Forum, Dubai, UAE.

20-22 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Seamless Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

27-29 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

JUNE

1-3 June (Sunday-Tuesday): Annual General Meeting & World Air Transport Summit 2025, Delhi, India.

2-4 June (Monday-Wednesday): Propak MENA, Cairo, Egypt.

5-6 June (Thursday-Friday): Supply Chain & Logistics Innovation Summit, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

11-13 June (Wednesday-Friday): Sustainability World Summit, Frankfurt, Germany.

17-19 June (Tuesday-Thursday): Terminal Operations Conference & Exhibition, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

19 June (Thursday): East Med Maritime Conference, Athens, Greece.

25-26 June (Wednesday-Friday): Decarbonizing Shipping Forum, Hambury, Germany.

JULY

1-3 July (Tuesday-Thursday): ASEAN Ports and Logistics, Jakarta, Indonesia.

SEPTEMBER

24-26 September (Wednesday-Friday): Routes World, Hong Kong.

OCTOBER

1-2 October (Wednesday-Thursday): Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

14-15 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Investing in Africa Conference and Expo, London, UK.

NOVEMBER

3-6 November (Monday-Thursday): ADIPEC Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

4-6 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Air Cargo Forum, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

17-21 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Airshow, Dubai, UAE.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

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.

2026

2026 UNCTAD Global Supply Chains Forum, Saudi Arabia.

2027

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

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