Industry Turkey explores relocating industries to mitigate quake risk Turkey is reportedly seeking to move industrial zones away from Istanbul to reduce potential economic disruption in the event of a major earthquake. The decision follows growing fears over a quake that could cause severe damage to the city’s population of 16 million and industrial base, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported. A 6.2 magnitude earthquake […] June 12, 2025
Analysis Manufacturing Cement’s mixed results reflect Saudi outlook In some respects, Saudi cement producers, important constituents of the Tadawul stock exchange and bellwethers of the national economy, have never had it so good. The kingdom has an array of giga-projects underway and is preparing to host a series of high profile international events, from the World Expo in Riyadh in 2030 to the […] June 12, 2025
Infrastructure Omani shipbuilding facility to serve regional markets A new shipbuilding dry dock in the remote but strategic Omani town of Musandam will serve regional markets and give the Gulf state’s farmers and fishermen a new lease of life. Musandam Global Investment Company (MGIC), a Turkish and Omani joint venture, will build the shipbuilding and marine repair facilities and the project is expected […] June 10, 2025
Analysis Manufacturing UAE-US gallium project is an attempt to loosen China’s grip A new UAE-US effort to produce gallium, a chemical element that is critical to making semiconductors, may bring some relief to Western and Asian users choked by China’s stranglehold on the metal. But relevant manufacturing plants need years to come to fruition, and require technology and know-how that for the moment are almost entirely confined […] June 10, 2025
Agriculture Saudi Arabia brings in new rules for livestock sales Saudi Arabia is clamping down on longstanding profiteering in its livestock markets with the enforcement of a landmark decision later this month mandating sale by weight rather than size. Mohammed Al-Abdullatif, assistant undersecretary for agriculture and support services, said in remarks on the ministry’s website that the measures, due to take effect on June 27, […] June 9, 2025
Manufacturing Morocco imposes duties on Egyptian PVC imports Morocco has reportedly imposed temporary anti-dumping duties on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) imports from Egypt. The tariffs, which came into effect last week, range between 74.87 percent and 92.19 percent, Morocco World News reported, citing the customs and indirect tax administration. The move follows an investigation launched on November 27, 2024 at the request of SNEP, […] June 9, 2025
Manufacturing Morocco aims to double EV production capacity Morocco aims to increase its electric vehicle (EV) production capacity by more than half by the end of 2025, as part of efforts to promote green mobility and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. EV production is likely to reach 107,000 by the end of this year, an increase of 53 percent year on year, […] June 6, 2025
Manufacturing UK company to build $200m infant formula factory in Iraq The government-backed Iraq Development Fund and UK company Agrium Capital are planning to establish an infant formula production facility in the country, in a bid to reduce imports. The plant’s production will cover 85 percent of the local market’s needs, with a capital expenditure exceeding $200 million, state-run Iraqi News Agency reported, quoting Rod Bassett, […] June 6, 2025
Manufacturing China to build $1bn lithium battery plant in Oman China-listed Zhongke Electric plans to invest CNY8 billion ($1.1 billion) in a lithium battery material manufacturing facility in Oman, according to a local media report. The plant will be located in the Sohar Port and Freezone and will be built in two phases, according to Yicai Global, the English-language news service of state-backed Shanghai Media Group, citing […] June 6, 2025
Mining UAE’s IRH to buy stake in Congo tin miner Alphamin International Resources Holding (IRH) said on Wednesday it will acquire a controlling stake in major tin producer Alphamin Resources for C$503 million ($367 million), a significant expansion into critical minerals for the Abu Dhabi-based mining company. IRH will purchase approximately 719 million shares, representing a 56 percent stake from Tremont Master Holdings at C$0.70 per share, […] June 5, 2025
Petrochemicals Borouge prepares for era of ‘transformative’ growth UAE petrochemicals company Borouge is focusing on international expansion and long-term value creation as it gears up to become a next-generation global powerhouse. Borouge reported first-quarter net profit of $281 million and record production of 5.2 million tonnes at the end of April, driven by exceptional utilisation rates of 110 percent for polyethylene and 98 […] June 4, 2025 In association with
Mining Oman opens its first copper recycling plant Oman has opened its first copper recycling plant in the northern industrial city of Sohar that has cost $106 million to build. It is the first such facility in the Gulf state and will recycle over 150 tonnes of copper waste annually. “We will no longer throw away copper waste or any minerals like we […] June 4, 2025
Manufacturing Volkswagen explores Egypt as production hub German carmaker Volkswagen AG is reportedly planning to set up a factory in Egypt to expand its presence in the African continent as demand slows in Europe. “We are very interested in Egypt as a production hub,” Volkswagen Group Africa’s managing director, Martina Biene, told Bloomberg. The factory announcement is expected to be made soon, the […] June 4, 2025
Manufacturing Gulf exporters may weather US metal tariff hikes A sharp increase in US tariffs on aluminium and steel imports may inadvertently benefit Gulf producers, thanks to their competitive energy advantage and expanding export footprint. President Donald Trump has announced plans to double tariffs on aluminium and steel imports to 50 percent starting on Wednesday, escalating his administration’s protectionist stance amid ongoing global trade […] June 4, 2025
Industry Turkey offers incentives to support regional industry Turkey has unveiled an investment incentive scheme to foster industrial growth, with a key pillar of the programme to encourage a shift in production capacity away from the country’s main economic centre of Istanbul to underdeveloped regions. Four sectors that have strong investment potential will be identified in each of Turkey’s 81 provinces, Mehmet Kacır, […] June 3, 2025
Industry China’s Jingdong to build $500m steel plant in Algeria Chinese company Jingdon Steel is planning to build a plant in Algeria at a cost of around $500 million, with half the output destined for the export market. On Monday it signed a contract for the 500,000-tonne-capacity plant on with Omar Rekkache, director general of the Algerian Investment Promotion Agency (AIPA). AIPA, which was created […] June 3, 2025
Logistics Oman and Kazakhstan set up logistics and mining companies Oman and Kazakhstan have agreed to set up two companies to widen their investment and economic ties. The agreement was signed during the visit of Oman’s Minister of Finance Sultan Al Habsi in Astana. “These two companies in logistics and mining will widen our investments and economic portfolios as we look to establish common ground […] June 3, 2025
Agriculture PIF-backed Olam Agri raises nearly $2bn Singapore-based agribusiness Olam Agri Holdings, partially owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has secured $1.85 billion in financing to support its business goals. The dual-tranche conventional and Islamic facility was raised by Olam Global Agri and Olam Global Agri Treasury Pte, two subsidiaries of Olam Agri — which sources, processes, trades and distributes […] June 3, 2025
Analysis Economy Turkish economy cools as major sectors struggle Turkey’s economic growth slowed in the first quarter of the year, as declining activity in industry and agriculture offset expansion in other sectors, notably construction and information and communications. Gross domestic product expanded 2 percent year on year in the first three months of 2025, according to data issued by the state statistics agency Turkstat […] May 30, 2025
Analysis Agriculture African and local sheep on the menu as livestock trade shifts As Eid al Adha approaches, consumers in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region can expect imports of animals and meat of varying provenance from their traditional suppliers, analysts say. African exporters and Gulf self-sufficiency projects are stepping in to fill gaps in the Middle East’s livestock supply as Australian and other providers step back. […] May 29, 2025
Mining Oman creates new company to regulate mineral exports Oman has established a new company to regulate mineral exports and to unify price negotiations and standardise contracts with global buyers. Oman Minerals Trading Company, a subsidiary of the state-run Minerals Development Oman (MDO), aims to overcome challenges in the mineral market, the state-run Oman News Agency reported. These challenges, the report said, include the […] May 28, 2025
Analysis Markets United Carton’s shares fall on Tadawul first day Shares in United Carton Industries Company fell on their debut in Riyadh on Tuesday, making it the only Saudi company this year to end its first day below its initial public offering price. UCIC closed at SAR49.25, 1.5 percent below the IPO price of SAR50, in the first Saudi listing since President Donald Trump‘s tariffs […] May 28, 2025
