Trump touts Reliance’s backing in first new US refinery in decades

Reliance in on Texas refinery

US President Donald Trump announced that India’s Reliance Industries is joining in on an estimated USD 300 bn plan for a new oil refinery at the Port of Brownsville in Texas, touting the project as the first new American refinery in about 50 years. Trump thanked Indian b’naire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance, the country’s largest privately held energy company, though Reliance has not yet publicly confirmed its participation.

The proposed refinery is designed to process solely US shale oil. The project is being developed by America First Refining, which recently said it has secured a nine-figure investment from an unnamed “global supermajor” at a 10-figure valuation, and signed a 20-year agreement to purchase, process, and distribute US-produced shale crude. The facility is expected to supply domestic fuel markets while also boosting refined product shipments overseas.

Why it matters: If realized, the project would bolster US-India energy ties and give Reliance a supply chain immune from the geopolitical risks affecting its Indian operations.

Indian port grants relief for MENA-bound cargo

Jawaharlal Nehru Port, India’s largest container port, has announced a 100% waiver on ground rent charges for up to 15 days, covering Middle East-bound export containers stranded due to the ongoing crisis, according to a press release. The relief applies to shipments inside port terminals from 28 February or those gated in until 8 March.

Why it matters: For operators in MENA, it confirms that the backlog of Indian containers, ranging from industrial goods to temperature-sensitive perishables, is significant enough to require government-mandated relief.