Qatar’s GWC snags minority stake in logistics startup Quivo

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TODAY: Qatar’s GWC clinches stake in Quivo + Egypt resumes LNG exports

Good morning, friends. We have a brisk read this morning, led with Qatar’s Gulf Warehousing Company snagging a minority stake in logistics startup Quivo. Egypt is also resuming LNG exports as the weather cools and demand dips, and we have updates on a new Qatar-Saudi Arabia railway link.

HAPPENING TODAY-

The MarineEnvironment Protection Committee Extraordinary Session is opening its doors later today and will run until Friday, 17 October at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) HQ in London. The session is set to see the intergovernmental body formally adopt its Net-Zero Framework — rolling out new fuel standards for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.

Why this matters: The Net-Zero Framework will roll out mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas pricing across the entire shipping sector, including large ocean-going ships over 5k gross tonnage that account for 85% of international shipping’s emissions. The framework was adopted last April and would oblige the global shipping industry — which is responsible for 3% of the world’s GHG emissions — to reduce and pay for a portion of its emissions. It is expected to come into effect in 2027.

A rift among IMO members: The draft was passed with support from 63 countries including China and Brazil. Sixteen countries voted against — nine of which were from our region, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. The US threatened IMO members with retaliation last August, and renewed its warnings last week, threatening visa restrictions and sanctions to retaliate against nations that vote in favor, Reuters reported on Saturday.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Cerebras eyes UAE expansion with Stargate rollout: US AI chipmaker Cerebras Systems plans to deploy its infrastructure in the UAE to support the country’s rapidly growing AI sector, CEO Andrew Feldman told Reuters. The rollout will include “megawatts worth of equipment” for the Stargate project — a USD 500 bn US-UAE initiative to build the world’s largest AI data center network outside the US.

Cerebras is also targeting a broader global expansion, with plans to grow its data center footprint from six sites to as many as 12-15 in the coming months. The UAE hub will be a key center for regional operations, including markets in India and Pakistan, Feldman said.

REMEMBER- Abu Dhabi’s G42 invested USD 335 mn in Cerebras in April after restructuring the transaction to acquire non-voting shares. The company recently raised USD 1.1 bn and withdrew its US listing plans, with Feldman saying Cerebras still intends to go public and will “refile it as quickly as we can.”

#2- du to build 500k sqm 1 GW AI Park in Dubai: Telco du unveiled plans for a 500k sqm AI Park in Dubai’s Warsan district, to be developed in phases over five years, according to a press release. The park will host hyperscale, liquid-cooled data centers with up to 1 GW capacity, alongside AI research labs and startup incubators as part of efforts to expand the UAE’s sovereign AI infrastructure.

The company also introduced a new National Hybrid AI platform at GITEX Global 2025. The platform will allow government entities and enterprises to build and deploy AI applications across du’s sovereign cloud infrastructure, integrating with its 5G and fiber networks.

#3- Three designated “airport cities” in Oman are projected to attract upwards of USD 800 mn in investments by 2030, the Oman Daily Observer reports. A roadmap for the trio of airport cities — under early development at Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah — has been completed, head of Airport Projects at the Civil Aviation Authority Salim Al Harrasi said in a post on LinkedIn.

What’s in store for Muscat? Muscat Airport City is the largest airport city under development and has already attracted more than USD 80 mn in investments — with projections to draw in upwards of USD 500 mn by 2030, Al Harrasi said. The project is reportedly slated to involve a logistics portal of about 200k sqm for air-freight services; a 1.1 mn sqm business district for airline headquarters; and an aviation zone covering roughly 166k sqm that includes terminal areas and former cargo facilities, the Omani outlet reported.

#4- Supply chain issues to cost airlines USD 11 bn this year: Persistent supply chain challenges facing airlines are expected to cost upwards of USD 11 bn in 2025, according to a report (pdf) by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Oliver Wyman. These hurdles have resulted in a record backlog of 17k aircraft as of 2024, which is markedly higher than the average backlog of 13k aircraft per year between 2010 and 2019.

A cost breakdown:

More fuel used: Aircraft delivery delays are causing airlines to operate older, less fuel-efficient jets, which consume more fuel per flight. This costs some USD 4.2 bn;
Frequent maintenance: As the global fleet ages, aircraft must undergo maintenance checks more frequently. This costs USD 3.1 bn;
Engine leasing: Airlines will have to lease more engines while their own engines undergo maintenance. This costs USD 2.6 bn;
Surplus inventory costs: Airlines are stocking more spare parts in anticipation of supply chain delays. This costs USD 1.4 bn.

ALSO- SAF suppliers are “price gouging” airlines, IATA says: Europe-based suppliers of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are leveraging EU mandates to inflate costs up to double the market rate, IATA Director General Willie Walsh told Reuters. These suppliers are able to “extract additional [income] from airlines by charging these compliance surcharges,” Walsh said, calling upon the EU to cancel the mandates.

REMEMBER- The EU’s regulation on the subject — ReFuelEU Aviation — mandated earlier this year that 2% of all jet fuel demand be SAF starting in 2025. The bloc is aiming for a 70% SAF target by 2050.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices inched up this morning after signs of easing US-China trade tensions lifts market confidence and eases global fuel consumption worries, Reuters reports.Brent crude futures climbed by USD 0.18 to USD 63.50 / bbl as of 00.00 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained USD 0.16 to trade at USD 59.65 / bbl.

Opec kept its global oil demand growth forecast unchanged at 1.3 mn bbl / d for 2025 and 1.4 mn bbl / d for 2026, according to its monthly oil report (pdf). Global supply is expected to match demand next year as the group continues to boost production.

Demand for Opec+ crude remains steady at 42.5 mn bbl / d this year, rising slightly to 43.1 mn bbl / d next year. The group increased output by 630k bb l /d in September, bringing total production to an average of 43.05 mn bbl / d, the report adds, citing secondary sources. Opec+ agreed to add a total of 137k bbl / d to production in October and November.

ALSO- Echoing Opec: Saudi Aramco maintained a similar growth forecast of around 1.2-1.4 mn bbl / d for both 2025 and 2026, Reuters reports, quoting CEO Amin Nasser as saying at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London.

Aramco can maintain its maximum production capacity of 12 mn bbl / d — one of the lowest extraction costs globally at about USD 2 per barrel — at the same costs, Nasser added.

SOUND SMART- The Kingdom’s very low production costs — previously estimated between USD 3-5 per barrel — give it a structural edge over higher-cost producers such as US shale firms, which typically need prices around USD 65 per barrel to stay profitable. Expanding output — as seen with Opec — allows the Kingdom to claw back market share by sustaining lower prices for longer periods, a tactic used from past oil price wars by driving prices down to a level where only the lowest-cost producer can thrive.

#2- Baltic index continues upwards trajectory: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — increasing 10.7% to 2,144 points, its highest since 29 September. The capesize rose to 21.2% to 3,392 points, while the panamax index climbed 42 points to 1,806. The smaller supramax index eased 2 points to 1,400.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Iraq will host the Iraq International Transportation & Airports & Logistics Expo & Conference tomorrow until Friday, 17 October in Baghdad. The expo — Iraq’s first platform focused exclusively on transport and logistics services — is expected to feature over 100 exhibitors, including ports, aviation, road, and rail players as well as logistics tech firms.

Morocco will host the International Forum and Expo on Mobility, Transport, and Logistics (Logiterre) on Thursday, 16 October until Saturday, 18 October in Casablanca. Logiterre will host main operators within the industry from West and Central Africa.

The UAE will host the Adipec Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference on Monday, 3 November until Thursday, 6 November in Abu Dhabi. The conference will host over 250k attendees working in government entities, finance, and tech.

The UAE will host the Air Cargo Forum on Tuesday, 4 November until Thursday, 6 November in Abu Dhabi. The forum — hosted by Etihad Cargo — will bring together air freight industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss industry solutions, tech, strategies, and collaborative initiatives for global air logistics.

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

GWC clinches stake in EU-based logistics startup Quivo

Qatari logistics giant Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) acquired a non-controlling stake in Austria-based startup Quivo, according to a press release. GWC integrated Quivo’s software into its Qatar-based warehouses, with its KSA and UAE-based warehouses to follow suit. The acquisition enables GWC’s GCC-based clients to access markets where Quivo is active, namely the EU, UK, and the USA. The size of the stake and value of the transaction were undisclosed.

On an expansion streak: GWC agreed to acquire a c.16.2% equity stake in German supply chain operator Ancla Logistik for EUR 8.2 mn earlier this year. GWC also launched a wholly-owned subsidiary – named GWC ENR — in Saudi Arabia last year.

About Quivo: Founded in 2017, the logistics startup was created from the merger of three logistics brands: Logsta, Ancla, and PackAngels, and offers e-commerce solutions for direct-to-customer brands, according to its website. Quivo operates a network of six warehouses across Germany, France, Austria, UK, and the USA.

Egypt greenlights Shell, Petronas export ambitions

LNG exports will once again begin flowing out of Egypt after the Madbouly government gave energy players the green light to resume exporting during the winter months, a government source told EnterpriseAM. Exports will be on hold starting April as the country starts gearing up for the heightened demand that comes as the weather warms up again.

But why? Despite local gas output falling to a nine-year low in 2Q 2025, the Madbouly government believes the move to resume LNG exports will encourage international firms to increase their investment in the sector.

Arrear settlements also mapped out: The move to reopen the door for exports comes alongside the government’s efforts to settle the remaining USD 1.2 bn in arrears owed to international oil companies by year-end.

The state will be settling a percentage of its arrears by allowing companies to export a larger share of their production, the source said. The move was the result of an expected bump in Israeli gas supplies, likely to start next month.

Shell and Petronas got the green light to export two LNG cargoes during October and November, our source said. The first shipment left Egypt yesterday and is currently en route to Italy, the Oil Ministry said.

The long-term plan: Egypt plans to stop importing LNG by 2030 and significantly up exports by 2027.

A new railway connecting Qatar + Riyadh gets the go-ahead

Qatar-Saudi railway link gets the greenlight: Qatar’s cabinet approved a draft agreement to set up a railway linking Qatar to the Kingdom through a modern train network spread across several regions in both countries, QNA reports. The high-speed railway line, expected to span some 550 km, is part of the GCC railway network — a broader USD 200 bn project slated for completion by December 2030.

Not the only link in the pipeline: Kuwait’s Central Agency for Public Tenders opened four bids for a 12-month design contract for a Kuwait-Saudi railway project in November. The 111 km railway will connect Kuwait City to the Saudi border and is part of the larger USD 200 bn GCC railway initiative.

REMEMBER- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was mulling investments in a Gulf rail connection project — announcing they were engaged in talks with regional finance ministers back in February.

SOUNDS FAMILIAR? A feasibility and traffic study for a 2.1k km railway linking Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar was first completed back in 2023, with the project set to wrap up by December 2030. The initiative aims to link all Gulf states, enhance intra-regional trade, and improve movement.

A big trade push: The railway will be used to ship goods at first, with the expectation to transport over 95 mn tons of goods per annum by 2045. It will then be used to host passenger traffic at a later stage, aiming to transport 8 mn passengers annually.

Oman awards contract for cold chain economic cluster

ZONES-

Opaz awards tender for logistics project in Sezad: Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Freezones (Opaz) has awarded Omani firm Egolisi Consulting for Modest Business Solutions the consultancy services tender for the cold chain economic cluster in the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (Sezad), the Oman Observer reported on Sunday. The project aims to expand production and exports from Duqm — leveraging its infrastructure, multipurpose fishing ports, logistics facilities, and roads to connect investment zones.

ICYMI- Opaz issued tenders for a cold chain economic cluster in Sezad in March to store perishables like food and pharma products. The deadline for bid submission was on 17 April.

E-COMMERCE-

Dubai Taxi to supply 500 delivery bikes to Keeta by year-end: Dubai Taxi signed an agreement with food delivery app Keeta to supply it with around 500 delivery bikes and drivers by the end of 2025, CEO Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi told Khaleej Times. Keeta currently operates about 150 bikes in Dubai, with the agreement expected to generate over AED 10 mn in revenue in the first year and create 500 delivery jobs.

ICYMI- Keeta, the food delivery arm of Chinese consumer service tech giant Meituan, is set to invest hundreds of mns of USD in the Emirates over 3-5 years under an MoU signed with the Investment Ministry.

ROADS-

Rwanda taps Saudi to develop road infrastructure: The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) inaugurated three road development projects in Rwanda — financed through development loans worth USD 42 mn, state news agency SPA reports. The projects include a USD 15 mn Nyagatare-Base-Rukomo Road; the USD 14 mn Huye-Kitabi Road; and the USD 13 mn Rubengera-Gisiza Road. The project aims to boost transport infrastructure to strengthen trade links as well as increase access to essential services and public facilities.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

CMA CGM vessel lands in Latakia: Syria has received a French firm-operated CMA CGM large cargo vessel, Navegantes, at Latakia port, according to a statement. The nearly 222-meter-long vessel is one of the largest at the dock, carrying unspecified essential cargo and commodities to meet Syria’s domestic market.

REMEMBER- CMA CGM has its sights set on Latakia port: CMA CGM decided to launch a EUR 200 mn second phase of its Latakia Port concession in August. CMA CGM also agreed to invest EUR 230 mn to upgrade the port in May, committing EUR 30 mn for the first year of its 30-year concession.

ICYMI- Latakia port saw an increase in handled cargo, reaching over 1.5 mn tons by September, with over 290 vessels docking.

Ship repair industry sees uptick as fleet ages

China is the hub of global ship repair boom: Global ship repair markets have seen increased activity of 7% y-o-y in vessels repaired, on the back of an aging fleet, Splash247 reports, citing findings by Clarkson Research. Ship owners are rushing to install energy-saving technology in a bid to fall in line with decarbonization mandates. China — home to 17 of the world’s 20 busiest repair yards — remains the industry leader amid the boom.

REMEMBER- China is striving to retain global shipyard dominance: China State Shipbuilding Corp. (CSSC) — the world’s largest shipbuilder — closed its acquisition of a local competitor, state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. (CSIC), Lloyd’s List reported last month. The move will help China’s state-controlled industry consolidate and expand operations while cutting costs and boosting efficiency.

China’s LNG tanker orderbooks are swelling: China’s LNG tanker orderbooks have surged recently, resulting in shipyard incomes doubling in the first five months of 2025. Chinese manufacturers halved the construction time for LNG tankers to 15 months, largely by sourcing 80% of their components locally.

Stiff competition from neighbors: The global shipbuilding boom has driven Japanese and South Korean firms toward consolidation in their bid to unseat China from the top spot. South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) will merge with its affiliate — HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, while Japan’s top producer Imabari Shipbuilding is working to acquire 60% of Japan Marine United — a merger that could create the world’s fourth-largest shipbuilder.

Air India ordered to inspect RAT emergency systems in its Boeing 787 Dreamliners

DGCA orders watchdog hunt on Boeing jets: India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Indian carrier Air India to inspect the emergency power system ram air turbine (RAT) on some of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, Reuters reports. The order came after a RAT system switched on during a Boeing 787 flight headed from India’s Amritsar to Birmingham Airport earlier this month, the BBC reported.

ICYMI- A DGCA probe detected repeated safety shortcomings after the Air India crash in June. The DGCA found several issues, including unusable ground-handling equipment and non-compliance with work-order instructions at New Delhi and Mumbai airports. The probe covered flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control, communication, navigation, surveillance systems, and pre-flight medical evaluations for local airlines.

Calendar

14-17 October (Monday-Friday): The Marine Environment Protection Committee’s second extraordinary session, London, UK.

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

14-16 October (Tuesday-Thursday): AntwerpXL, Antwerp, Belgium.

15 October (Wednesday): Global Trade Review, Cairo, Egypt.

15-17 October (Wednesday-Friday): Iraq Transport, Logistics & Airports Exhibition & Conference, Baghdad, Iraq

16-18 October (Thursday-Saturday): International Forum and Expo on Mobility, Transport and Logistics (Logiterre), Casablanca, Morocco.

28-30 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Borneo International Maritime Week, Sarawak, Malaysia.

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.

9-11 November (Sunday-Tuesday): TransMea Expo, Cairo, Egypt.

11-13 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Freightcamp, Bangkok, Thailand.

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

18 November (Tuesday): ShipTek International Conference and Awards, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

24-26 November (Monday-Wednesday): World Advanced Manufacturing Logistics Summit and Expo, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

DECEMBER

6 December (Saturday): International Procurement Supply Chain Conference, Cairo, Egypt.

9-10 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Rail Industry Summit, El Jadida, Morocco.

16-17 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Saudi Airport Exhibition, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

JANUARY 2026

19-23 January (Monday-Friday): World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Davos, Switzerland.

27-28 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): SkyMove Air Cargo MENA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

27-28 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): Middle East ProcureTech Summit, Dubai, UAE.

FEBRUARY 2026

4-5 February (Wednesday-Thursday): Breakbulk Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

4-5 February (Wednesday-Thursday): MRO Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

25-27 February (Wednesday-Friday): Air Cargo Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.

MARCH 2026

10-12 March (Tuesday-Thursday): World Cargo Symposium, Lima, Peru.

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