TODAY: A new Oman-Turkish investment fund is here + Egypt and Italy launch long-awaited ro-ro line

Good morning, folks. It’s a very busy start to the week with lots of investment updates flowing in from across the region, and the full rundown of Egypt’s new ro-ro launch at Damietta port. First, a quick check at the latest in Trump-land…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- Trump comes for Brics nations: US President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose a 100% tariff on countries involved in Brics if they act to undermine the greenback by creating a new currency. The move comes as part of Trump’s administration discussions to punish allies who seek to to engage in bilateral trade in currencies other than the USD, including implementing export controls, currency manipulation charges, and levies on trade. “There is no chance that the Brics will replace the USD in International Trade, and any country that tries should wave goodbye to America,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network. Brics — the acronym stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — expanded this year to bring Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt into the fold.

The de-dollarization movement: De-dollarization has long been an objective of Brics, a goal strengthened by geopolitical developments including the heightened tensions between the West, Russia and China. For the US, de-dollarization means the loss of its dominant role in global trade. For other countries — especially emerging economies — it’s a means to reduce vulnerability to USD exchange rate fluctuations.

The potential impact: Building a Brics currency would be a “political project,” South African economist Lesetja Kganyago told Reuters last July. De-dollarization has the potential to have various impacts on the global monetary system including a shift in FX stability, trade behaviors, and challenges for the established status quo. It could also lead to the creation of new economic alliances and partnerships based on common interests and alternative financial structures.

The story grabbed a lot of ink in int’l press over the weekend: Reuters | AP | Bloomberg | Financial Times | The Washington Post | CNN | BBC | The Guardian | CNBC | Politico

^^ We have everything on this story and more in the news well, below.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

The US Department of Agriculture will host the Agribusiness Trade Mission to Morocco from 2-5 December, Morocco World News reports. The event will gather a delegation of American agribusinesses, cooperatives, and state agriculture departments to meet with Moroccan buyers from players from Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia and Senegal to explore the latest consumer food trends, access market demand and explore regional markets.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Egypt’s Hassan Allam Holding and France’s Groupe Aéroports de Paris (ADP France) have submitted a joint proposal to manage and operate Egyptian airports, according to a statement. The alliance aims to increase airport capacity, facilitate passenger and cargo movement, and boost airport efficiency. The announcement follows Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly’s comments last week that “positive news” on the government’s airport privatization plans was imminent.

REFRESHER- Egypt first revealed plans last November to invite private sector players — including foreign companies — to take over the management of airports in the country in order to improve services and increase revenues collected by the state coffers. Momentum has been gaining around the project in the last couple of months, with the government announcing in October that the first phase of the private sector offering would include Cairo International Airport, Sphinx International Airport, El Alamein International Airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, and Hurghada International Airport.

This isn’t ADP France’s first time in Egypt: ADP deputy general director Xavier Hurstel noted that ADP France had previously collaborated with the Egyptian government to improve its airports in the early 2000s.

Next steps: The Egyptian-French alliance will hold a series of workshops with the Civil Aviation Ministry to further discuss the partnership, allowing both sides to “clearly present their visions regarding potential partnerships and the progress of consultations on the airport offering plan.”

ON THE TRADE SIDE- Egypt wants to strengthen German trade ties: Egypt wants to increase its bilateral trade with Germany to hit EUR 9 bn by the end of 2025 with Germany expected to contribute EUR 3 bn to the overall increase, according to a statement released on Saturday. The countries’ current trade volumes amount to EUR 7 bn. Several German firms — including Thyssenkrupp, Energy for Climate, and Rayvenlaser — are considering the possibility of cooperation and investment in Egypt.

IN OTHER NEWS- Egypt’s LNG import needs may continue long-term: Egypt is reportedly set to continue importing LNG until 2029-2030 to meet its LNG needs, an unnamed government official told Asharq Business. The country — which needs 6 bn cubic ft per day — cut its production to 4.3 bn cubic ft due to a decline in fields. “The plan to import liquefied gas is currently being implemented according to indicators of local gas production until 2030, as it has become clear that all the wells that will be connected during that period will not succeed in bridging the gap between local consumption and expected production,” the official said.

Shoring up domestic supply: Egypt has been reviewing its LNG needs and “ updating production and consumption models according to actual figures ” with the aim of “achieving the optimal and most efficient energy mix,” although the country said it will need to import another 17-20 shipments of LNG in 1Q 2025. Egypt has been shifting LNG imports away from international tenders towards long-term deals since November, with The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company negotiating the agreements.

ON A RELATED NOTE- Qatar could start exporting gas to South Africa: Qatar is in talks to export LNG to South Africa due to a forecasted fall in output from its primary supplier Mozambique, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. “We are likely to face a severe gas crisis in 30 months, putting 5% of the country’s GDP at great risk as a result,” South African Electricity Minister Gosincho Ramokgoba told government officials last week after a weekend visit to Doha.

#2- A step forward for Qatar Airways flights to Australia: New Qatar Airways-operated flights between Doha and Australia will be sold by Virgin Australia after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave Virgin interim approval to sell flights, Reuters reported on Friday.

The details: Under the tentative approval Virgin Australia has the go ahead to sell 28 weekly scheduled return flights from Doha to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, slated to commence by June 2025. Qatar Airways is providing its aircrafts’ and crew to operate the new service under a wet-lease agreement. The ACCC has yet to deliver final approval on the new routes, waiting on nods from other authorities, according to a statement cited by the newswire. If the new services fail to be authorized the organization will refund customers or provide alternative flights at no additional cost.

REMEMBER- Qatar Airways said it intends to buy a minority 25% equity stake in Bain Capital-owned Virgin Australia for an undisclosed sum back in October. Reports of a possible acquisition first emerged earlier this year in July. The transaction is still pending approval from the Australian government.

It’s been a rocky road: Qatar Airways entered talks last June with Australia’s government to boost the number of routes it operates in the country to no avail. Australia’s Qantas Airways, which possesses 65% of the domestic market, reportedly lobbied against Qatar Airways gaining more access in the country, Reuters reported at the time. Qantas has stressed it is not opposed to Qatar’s investment in Virgin Australia but told the newswire it was worried aspects of their partnership could result in a “public detriment” that warrants further scrutiny.

#3- China scoops up unsold oil as Iranian crude stalls: Several Chinese independent refiners have purchased barrels of crude from MENA and Africa — with roughly 10 mn barrels sourced from Abu Dhabi and Qatar — as Iranian crude supply dipped over 10% in November and increased in price, unnamed traders told Bloomberg on Thursday. The cargoes reportedly cleared an overhang of unsold crude from previous trading cycles and will be loaded this month and in January for delivery, the sources say.

Why the shift in supply? The scarcity of Iranian crude could possibly be impacted by the broadening of US sanctions instilled back in October to include more dark fleet vessels plying the Iran-China trade, a move that has restricted the number of vessels, tightened supply, and drove prices higher. Closer to home, inventories of MENA oil ratcheted due to bumper trading activity in contracts linked to the Dubai market over the past few months spurring delivery of cargoes that went unconsumed, traders tell Bloomberg.

Several airlines, including Jordan’s flagship carrier Royal Jordanian and Iraqi Airways are resuming flights back to Beirut following a ceasefire agreement struck last week, according to statements here and here. Ethiopian Airlines also reopened bookings for flights to Beirut, with services scheduled to resume on 10 December, Arab News reported on Thursday.

Weighing the risks?Gulf Airlines were reportedly delaying the resumption of flights as they await confirmation on the Beirut as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, The National reported on Thursday. EgyptAir, Qatar Airways, and Iran Air are continuing their suspensions until further notice, while UAE’s Emirates Airways, Air France-KLM, and cancelling flights to Beirut until 31 December and 5 January 2025, respectively, Reuters reported on Friday.

#4- Iraq has temporarily closed its borders due to mounting security concerns with no reopening date disclosed, Anadolu Ajansı reported, citing a statement by Iraqi Joint Operations Command deputy commander Qais Al-Muhammadawi on Saturday. National security forces have been deployed to heighten security along the Iraq-Syria border, INA reported on Saturday.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices rose in early morning trading on the back of positive economic data emerging from China and continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures gained USD 0.34 trading at USD 72.18 a barrel by GMT 04.52, while US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures rose USD 0.32 to USD 68.32 a barrel. Both benchmarks shed over 3% last week on the back of over supply risks from the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and forecasts of surplus supply in 2025.

Opec+ pushed back its oil policy meeting to this Thursday, 5 December from today due to a scheduling clash with a GCC summit taking place in Kuwait, Reuters reports. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman held talks with his Russian and Kazakh counterparts last week ahead of the talks, with officials from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Russia also meeting in Baghdad on Tuesday. The group is reportedly considering putting off plans to begin phasing out production cuts from January to 2Q 2025 due to risks of oversupply.

#2- Baltic index maintains downward trajectory: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — fell nearly 4.6% to 1,354 points on Friday, hitting its lowest since 14 January. The capesize index dipped 179 points to 2,133 points, while the panamax index dropped to a 16-month low to 1,018 points. The smaller supramax index shed 9 points to 980 points.

#3- The Drewry World Container Index decreased 2% to USD 3,331 per 40-ft container on Thursday, according to the latest index readings. Spot rates for 40-ft containers are now 68% below the previous pandemic peak, but remain 134% above the pre-pandemic rate of USD 1.4k. The average composite index YTD is USD 3,966 per 40ft container, which is USD 1,116 higher than the 10-year average rate of USD 2,850.

#4- Freight rates for Russian oil transport are expected to grow amid sanctions against a new Russian fleet and incoming winter season, traders told Reuters on Friday. The costs for oil tankers to pass through the Turkish straits have increased to a maximum since February 2024 and amount to about 10 days for November 1 to 27. The Urals oil shipments cost from Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Novorossiisk to India has remained stable for the second month, while the route from the Baltic ports in Russia to the ports in western India the cost of transportation is USD 4.9 to USD 5.1 mn per standard vessel, although stability in freight trades may change soon as seasonal factors weigh on the costs.

DATA POINT-

#1- Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani) saw an increase in general bulk and cargo handled by 5% y-o-y to over 99k tons in November 2024, the company said. Vessels carried 108 TEUs, while livestock recorded 27.8k heads. RoRo handling rose by 297% in November 2024 to more than 22k units with the ports receiving 238 vessels, while building materials handled were recorded 14.02k tons, all in the same time period.

ALSO- Qatar’s QTerminal-operated Hamad Port handled 107k TEUs in containers in November,with some 135 vessels calling at the port, according to a statement. The port handled some 73.4k f/t in breakbulk and 7.6k f/t in bulk. As well as, 146.6k f/t in RoRo and 8.4k RoRo units.

#2- Morocco boosted its automotive and aviation sector exports by 9.2% y-o-y to MAD 153 bn (USD 15.3 bn) during the first ten months of this year, Asharq Business reports, citing data from the Moroccan Exchange Office. The automotive industry recorded a 8% y-o-y jump in exports to MAD 131.3 bn, while the aviation sector increased exports by 17.3% y-o-y to MAD 21.8 bn.

REMEMBER-Morocco is looking to become an aviation manufacturing hub by attracting investment to speed up aircraft production to meet global demand. The country’s aerospace industry — which brings in USD 2 bn annually — plans to grow by subsidizing plane manufacturing, in addition to subsidies for train and vehicle manufacturing.

PSA-

Hapag-Lloyd enforces GRI on Indian Subcontinent and Middle East shipments: Shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd will implement a general rate increase (GRI) to USD 1k per container on cargo shipments from the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East to North America, effective 1 January 2025, according to a statement released on Thursday. The rate increase will apply to all cargo transported in 20’ and 40’ dry containers, reefers and special containers. It will affect shipments traveling to US and Canadian East and Gulf Coasts from the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

***YOU’RE READING EnterpriseAM Logistics, the essential MENA publication for senior execs who care about the industry that connects producers and retailers to global markets. We’re out Monday through Thursday by 9:15am in Cairo and Riyadh and 11:15am in the UAE.

EnterpriseAM Logistics is available without charge thanks to the generous support of our friends at Hassan Allam Utilities, Transmar, and AK-Ships.

Were you forwarded this email? Tap or click here to get your own copy of Enterprise Logistics.

Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? Reach out to us on logistics@enterprisemea.com.

DID YOU KNOW that we also cover Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the MENA climate industry ?
***

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Morocco will host the Rail Industry Summit from Tuesday, 10 December to Wednesday, 11 December in Casablanca. The two-day summit includes pre-scheduled business meetings with potential partners, conferences, and themed workshops on new market trends and future strategies presented by OEMs on infrastructure, rolling stock, embedded equipment and railway vehicle interiors.

The UAE will host the Middle East Business Aviation Show from Tuesday, 10 December to Thursday, 11 December in Dubai. The event will showcase innovations from over 135 exhibitors and will have over 25 jets on display, with over 55 speakers offering insight on market trends.

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