Analysis Trade US-China trade war brings pros and cons for the Gulf The growing trade war between the US and China, the world’s two largest economies, presents the Gulf Arab states with a complex puzzle. International commerce may shift towards new consumer and trans-shipment markets, while a recession-driven collapse in oil prices and higher-for-longer inflation because of tariffs are further risks to the region. Sectors of the […] April 12, 2025
Opinion Trade Riyadh and Beijing deepen ties beyond trade China realises that, to become a true global power, it needs to better explain itself to the world April 11, 2025
Trade Turkey looks for positives from tariff fallout Turkey is eyeing a potential upside in its international trade as Donald Trump takes on China and much of the rest of the world in a trade war. As one of the countries initially hit with Trump’s baseline 10 percent tariff, many in Turkey had nonetheless forecast export doors to the US would open for […] April 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil prices set to drop for a second week Oil prices increased slightly on Friday morning but were still set for an overall drop for a second week due to concerns about a prolonged trade war between the United States and China. If the the world’s largest economies continue their tit-for-tat tariff increases, the fear is they will crush crude consumption as their dispute curtails economic […] April 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Saudi oil exports to China will rise in May after price fall Saudi Arabia’s crude oil supply to China will surge in May from the prior month as a sharp price cut by the kingdom attracted more demand, sources said on Friday. State oil company Saudi Aramco will ship about 48 million barrels to China in May, a tally of allocations to Chinese refiners showed, up from April’s 35.5 […] April 11, 2025
Markets GCC investors bank on gold as US-China tensions escalate Gulf investors are joining the gold rush as they look for a safe haven amid the biggest swings in global markets since the Covid pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis. “Demand for gold in the region remains elevated despite the high price levels, likely a sign of rushing to safety,” Azza Al Habsi, an economist […] April 11, 2025
Industry Gulf car buyers may benefit from competing non-US manufacturers The UAE and other Gulf markets may benefit from more competitively priced cars from China, Europe and Japan after the US imposed tariffs on imported vehicles this month and pledged to introduce similar duties on auto parts in May. The auto tariff has left international car exporters, of which China is the largest, scrambling to […] April 11, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Trump’s Gulf trip will test regional nerves and alliances With oil sliding and Iran talks ahead, the GCC braces for a high-stakes presidential visit April 9, 2025
Renewable Energy Chinese companies spearhead Algeria’s solar drive Algeria has broken ground on two new solar power projects over the past week as part of a drive to build 15 plants with the help of Chinese companies. The drive aims to largely expand the use of renewable energy and release oil and gas for export by the Opec producer. Renewable sources currently account […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil demand growth to halve in wake of Trump tariffs Global growth in demand for oil this year may be as much as 40 percent less than forecast before last week’s announcement by Donald Trump of a near tripling in effective tariff rates on US imports to their highest in a century, S&P and other oil analysts have said. On average, demand for oil was […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco and Sinopec move ahead with petrochemical expansion Saudi Aramco says it has signed an agreement to move forward with expanding a petrochemical complex on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. The oil major, which trades on the Saudi stock exchange, has signed a venture framework agreement with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (Yasref) to carry out engineering […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Iraq offers gas site concessions amid power generation issues Iraq is offering 15 natural gas concession sites to international investors as part of a post-conflict drive to develop its hydrocarbon resources and increase production capacity, the state-owned Iraq news agency reported. Opec’s second largest oil producer is prioritising the development of its gas deposits to stop the long-standing practice of burning them off, or […] April 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil at four-year low as US hits China with 104% tariff Oil prices dropped to their lowest in more than four years in early trade on Wednesday fuelled by an escalating tariff war between the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies, and a rising supply outlook. Brent futures lost $2.13, or 3.39 percent, to $60.69 a barrel as of 01:08 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate […] April 9, 2025
Opinion Media & Advertising Caracas, high fives and Covid: my passport’s eventful decade Frank Kane's passport has taken him on a lot of adventures – what will the new one bring? April 4, 2025
Opinion Trade The Gulf won’t escape the fallout of Trump’s shock tariffs US tariffs affect regional economies through inflationary pressures, lower oil prices and volatility April 4, 2025
Trade China’s investors seek shelter from Trump in Saudi Arabia President Trump’s trade war is strengthening economic ties between Saudi Arabia and China and encouraging Chinese investors to increase their holdings in the kingdom, analysts say. As China and its near neighbours face the imposition of economic tariffs – “the most beautiful word in the world”, according to the 47th president – Saudi Arabia has […] April 2, 2025
Opinion Renewable Energy China’s solar giants take root in the GCC The regions share aspirations over energy security and economic diversification April 2, 2025
Opinion Economy GCC is not immune to trade wars and US stagflation What if Trump's tariffs trigger an inflation spike on a similar scale to the Covid-19 pandemic? April 1, 2025
Opinion Trade UAE sharpens focus on China for business growth The relationship between the two countries is China's most robust in the Middle East March 26, 2025
Construction China asked by Kuwait to build housing for foreign labourers Kuwait has asked China to appoint a construction company to build six projects to house 220,000 foreign labourers, after accidents that claimed the lives of overseas workers because of improper conditions. The plan has been on the cards for several years but gained momentum last year after a fire in a labour housing complex in […] March 24, 2025
Industry China’s GWM to build its first car plant in Algeria Great Wall Motor (GWM), one of China’s 10 biggest car manufacturers, plans to build its first factory in Algeria, joining others in the country including Fiat, Peugeot and Kia. GWM will build the car assembly plant as a joint venture with an Algerian partner, Elkhabar newspaper and other Algerian publications reported, without identifying the partner. A […] March 21, 2025
Manufacturing China to invest in solar panel glass production in Egypt A Chinese company will reportedly invest $700 million to establish a solar panel glass manufacturing facility in Egypt. Hong Kong-listed Xinyi Glass will develop the project in the Suez Canal Economic Zone in two phases, the Egypt Today newspaper reported. The facility is expected to produce 1.5 million tonnes of solar panel glass and 1.1 […] March 21, 2025