President Donald Trump is considering a major expansion of United States attacks on Iran, warning that Tehran has not suffered enough pressure to accept a peace agreement as escalating hostilities drive oil prices above $100 a barrel. Trump said he was close to deciding whether to authorise an assault that would be larger than previous operations against Iran. He described the potential action as a “massive attack” […]
September-loading cargoes of ESPO Blend, Russia’s flagship Far Eastern crude grade, have attracted brisk demand from state-owned and independent refiners despite shrinking discounts. Buyers that would normally enter the market closer to loading dates are moving early to lock in supplies and reduce exposure to possible shipping delays across the Gulf and Red Sea.
ESPO cargoes delivered to China are being offered at discounts of roughly $1 to $3 a barrel against benchmark Brent prices. That compares with discounts near $4 for some August supplies, indicating that demand has strengthened even as the crude becomes less attractive on price.
The buying surge reflects growing concern over the reliability of Middle Eastern flows. Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, combined with threats to shipping near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, has complicated routes used by Gulf producers to reach Asian customers.
Saudi Arabia has relied more heavily on its East-West pipeline to move crude from production centres near the Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. That option reduces dependence on Hormuz but leaves shipments exposed to security risks near Yemen and the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
China, the world’s largest crude importer, depends heavily on Middle Eastern producers. Russia offers an alternative supply line that avoids both maritime chokepoints. ESPO is particularly valuable because cargoes are shipped from Kozmino, near the Pacific coast, and can reach northern Chinese ports within days.
The short voyage lowers freight costs, reduces transit risk and gives refiners greater flexibility than crude shipped from the Gulf, Atlantic Basin or western Russian ports. ESPO is also a light, low-sulphur grade that produces relatively high volumes of petrol and diesel, making it suitable for many Chinese refining configurations.
Russia’s seaborne deliveries to China have increasingly centred on Far Eastern supply. ESPO represented about 62 per cent of China’s seaborne Russian crude imports in June, while overall Russian seaborne volumes rose by nearly 9 per cent from the previous month.
Purchases are being supported by competition from buyers elsewhere in Asia. Strong demand from India has helped prevent Russian exporters from offering the wide discounts seen earlier in the year. ESPO cargoes had traded as much as $9 to $10 below Brent for some February loadings before the market tightened.
The latest deals show how geopolitical risk can outweigh concerns surrounding sanctions and payment arrangements. Western measures against Russia have forced traders to rely on alternative shipping, insurance and financial networks, but established routes between Kozmino and China have continued to operate.
Chinese refiners are also examining fresh purchases of Iranian crude, which remains heavily discounted because of sanctions and transport risks. Independent processors concentrated in Shandong province have held talks over Pars and Iran Light cargoes as sellers seek buyers for barrels already moving towards Asia or held in floating storage.
Iranian grades have become cheaper relative to ESPO, although refiners must weigh the discount against possible delays, tanker availability and tighter enforcement. High international prices also restrict the amount smaller plants can purchase, particularly when domestic fuel demand and refining margins are uncertain.
Several independent refiners bought about 20 million barrels of crude from Iraq, the UAE and Qatar for July and August loading when Middle Eastern supplies briefly became cheaper. Some companies are now exploring the resale of those cargoes at higher prices to refiners in Taiwan and South Korea as regional availability tightens.
That shift illustrates the speed with which China’s private refining sector responds to changes in freight, sanctions and physical supply. The plants, often described as teapot refiners, can switch among Russian, Iranian and non-sanctioned Middle Eastern grades depending on margins and import quotas.
Two China-linked supertankers carrying about four million barrels of Saudi crude have exited the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, defying threats against vessels connected to the kingdom’s oil trade. The Xin Long Yang and Cosnew Lake completed the passage on Thursday after sailing south along Yemen’s coast. Their movement provided an important test of whether Saudi Arabia can continue using its Red Sea export route […]
By Asad Mirza Washington and Riyadh have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation pact that could let Saudi Arabia enrich uranium on its own soil. Announced this week and now headed to Congress, the deal marks a historic shift in US nonproliferation policy, alarms Israel and threatens to reshape the regional balance of power just as […]
The article The US-Saudi Nuclear Deal Redrawing The Middle East’s Atomic Map appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
A Saudi-owned oil products tanker was struck in the Red Sea, triggering a fire at its bow and raising fresh concerns over the security of energy shipments along one of the world’s most important maritime corridors. All crew members aboard the Encelia were safe after the attack, the Transport General Authority said on Thursday. Emergency measures were taken to secure the vessel, contain the fire and prevent […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained willing to negotiate an end to the Iran conflict, but accused Tehran of showing no serious commitment to diplomacy as attacks and threats disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. Speaking during a visit to Manila on Wednesday, Rubio said the United States was prepared to pursue a negotiated settlement if […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Goldman Sachs has retained its forecast for Brent crude to average $80 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026, arguing that constrained Middle East supply should support prices if hostilities between the United States and Iran ease before the end of the year. The investment bank’s baseline projection assumes that geopolitical tensions will gradually subside and oil shipments through the Strait of […]
The airlines signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a framework for negotiating a future joint business agreement. The proposed arrangement would deepen their existing codeshare relationship and could allow closer coordination across schedules, sales, network planning and passenger services.
The partnership is expected to explore single-ticket journeys across the two carriers’ combined networks. Garuda Indonesia passengers could gain easier access to Saudia-operated destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Africa, while Saudia customers could connect through Garuda’s domestic network and services to Australia.
The carriers will examine coordinating flight schedules between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia to improve connection times and reduce lengthy transfers. They will also assess joint sales, marketing and distribution initiatives in markets where both airlines see opportunities for traffic growth.
Cooperation could extend to frequent-flyer programmes, airport services, technology systems and customer handling. The memorandum also places particular emphasis on services for Umrah and Hajj passengers travelling from Indonesia, one of the world’s largest markets for pilgrimage-related air travel.
Saudia Chief Commercial Officer Arved von zur Muehlen and Garuda Indonesia Director of Transformation Neil Raymond Mills signed the agreement. The ceremony was attended by Saudia Group Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar and Garuda Indonesia Vice President Director Thomas Sugiarto Oentoro.
Von zur Muehlen said the agreement reflected Saudia’s strategy of building commercial partnerships that strengthen its international network. He said the proposed cooperation would offer passengers greater flexibility between Indonesia, Australia and destinations served by Saudia across three regions.
Mills said the partnership carried strategic value beyond expanding flight networks. Improved access to the Middle East, Europe and Africa would support pilgrimage travel, family and community movement, business links and wider economic cooperation.
A joint business agreement would represent a deeper form of cooperation than a conventional codeshare. Codeshares allow airlines to sell seats on flights operated by a partner, while joint business structures can involve coordinated scheduling, pricing, sales and capacity planning, subject to regulatory approval.
Such arrangements allow airlines to extend their market reach without immediately adding aircraft or launching a large number of new routes. They can also improve aircraft utilisation and feed passenger traffic through major hubs. Regulators, however, generally examine these partnerships to ensure that closer coordination does not weaken competition or limit consumer choice.
The proposed partnership builds on the airlines’ membership of the SkyTeam alliance. Saudia joined SkyTeam in 2012, while Garuda Indonesia became a member in 2014. Alliance membership already supports shared passenger benefits, lounge access, priority services and frequent-flyer recognition across participating carriers.
Saudia operates from hubs including Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Medina, connecting Saudi Arabia with destinations across Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Its Jeddah hub is particularly important for religious travel because of its proximity to Makkah and its role as a gateway for pilgrims.
Garuda Indonesia’s network is centred on Jakarta and Bali, with domestic services covering major commercial centres and tourism destinations across the archipelago. Its international operations connect Indonesia with markets in Asia, the Middle East and Australia.
The agreement comes as Garuda expands commercial cooperation with overseas airlines during its continuing operational and financial restructuring. The carrier launched a codeshare partnership with Scandinavian Airlines in June, offering connections between Indonesia and Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo through hubs including Amsterdam and Tokyo.
Greater cooperation with Saudia could strengthen Garuda’s access to markets that are difficult to serve economically with direct flights. The arrangement could also help generate connecting traffic for domestic destinations beyond Jakarta, including cities that supply significant numbers of Umrah and Hajj travellers.
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have sought to expand economic and transport ties alongside their strong religious and cultural links. Agreements between companies from the two countries valued at about $27 billion were announced in 2025 across sectors including clean energy, petrochemicals and aviation fuel services.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai DP World has agreed to develop and operate two new terminals in Fujairah under a 50-year concession, expanding the UAE’s cargo-handling capacity and creating a deep-water gateway with direct access to the Gulf of Oman. The agreement in principle with Fujairah Ports Authority covers the Al Rugaylat container and multi-purpose terminal and the Dibba General Cargo terminal. The projects will be developed in […]
Yemen’s Houthi movement has positioned missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb strait and is prepared to resume attacks on commercial shipping, raising the risk of disruption across one of the world’s most important trade corridors. Maritime security monitors have raised their assessment of the threat after the group declared a blockade targeting vessels connected to Saudi Arabia. Ships calling at Saudi ports have been warned that […]
Dubai has launched a tourism campaign offering UAE residents benefits worth more than Dh3,000 when friends or relatives they nominate travel to the emirate before the end of October. The “A Dubai Invite” programme, led by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, aims to use personal recommendations to attract additional international visitors. Residents can register overseas guests through an online nomination form and receive hotel, dining, […]
US carmakers are racing to remove Chinese-designed communications hardware and software from connected vehicles as federal restrictions force a costly overhaul of supply chains, engineering systems and supplier relationships. The industry faces its first major deadline with model year 2027 vehicles, when covered connectivity and automated-driving software linked to China or Russia will be barred from new cars sold in the United States. Restrictions on vehicle connectivity […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Changer. ae and Tether have signed a memorandum of understanding to examine regulated cross-border settlement services using USD₮, expanding efforts to build institutional digital asset infrastructure within Abu Dhabi Global Market. The agreement brings together Changer, an Abu Dhabi-based virtual asset custodian regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, and Tether, issuer of the world’s largest dollar-linked stablecoin. The companies will assess USD₮-to-fiat […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Yemen’s Houthi movement has declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, adding another unofficial customs authority to one of the world’s busiest and most heavily armed stretches of water. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced on Monday that the measure would take effect immediately, apparently concluding that international shipping had enjoyed far too much clarity about which sea lane might be attacked next. The […]
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem has taken direct charge of MMC Port Holdings following the immediate departure of group chief executive Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, placing Malaysia’s largest port operator under the control of its Emirati executive chairman. An internal company memorandum dated July 12 instructed employees to direct matters previously handled by the group chief executive to Bin Sulayem’s office. It did not explain Azman Shah’s departure […]
India has barred shipping companies from assigning the country’s seafarers to vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, tightening safety measures after deadly attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf. The Directorate General of Maritime Administration issued the instruction through Circular No. 36 of 2026, dated July 15, directing shipowners, ship managers and recruitment and placement service companies to stop fresh deployments on voyages involving the strategic […]
Dubai authorities have dismissed as false a report claiming explosions were heard in the Downtown district, urging the public to rely on verified official information during heightened regional tensions. The Government of Dubai Media Office issued the clarification on Thursday evening after Reuters published a brief report citing witnesses who said they had heard loud booms in central Dubai. The official response said the information was inaccurate […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iran launched missile and drone attacks on US military facilities across the Gulf on Friday after American forces completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, deepening a cycle of retaliation that has disrupted regional shipping and unsettled energy markets. Tehran said its forces targeted US facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait during the early hours of Friday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards […]
Citadel Securities has invested $400 million in cryptocurrency exchange Crypto. com, valuing the Singapore-based trading platform at $20 billion as established financial groups deepen their involvement in digital assets. The strategic investment will support Crypto. com’s expansion beyond cryptocurrency trading into tokenised securities, derivatives and other blockchain-based financial products. The transaction also gives the exchange a powerful institutional partner with extensive expertise in liquidity provision, pricing and […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai is assessing the feasibility of converting organic waste into sustainable aviation fuel, extending the emirate’s clean-energy ambitions to one of the world’s most difficult sectors to decarbonise. The proposal was examined at the 95th meeting of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Council members reviewed how locally available waste could provide feedstock for lower-carbon […]
Revolut has secured in-principle approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority to offer cryptocurrency services in the UAE, advancing the financial technology group’s plan to build a regulated digital finance platform in the country. The proposed Virtual Assets Service Provider licence would permit Revolut to provide broker-dealer, management and investment, and exchange services. Full operations will remain subject to the company meeting VARA’s conditions and obtaining final […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai DMCC and the Botswana Stock Exchange Group have signed an agreement to connect Botswana’s commodity producers with Dubai’s trade, finance and logistics network, creating a new commercial corridor between Gaborone and the emirate. The memorandum of understanding will establish what the organisations describe as Africa’s first multi-commodity sister-hub trading corridor. It is intended to widen international market access for Botswana’s diamonds, copper, coal, […]
Masdar has reached financial close on a $6.1 billion renewable energy project in Abu Dhabi, securing $5.1 billion in debt financing for a solar and battery complex designed to supply clean electricity around the clock. The Abu Dhabi-based clean energy company will provide $1 billion in equity for the development, which is being undertaken with Emirates Water and Electricity Company. A consortium of 13 local and international […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, killing one crew member and injuring eight others as maritime tensions intensified across the Gulf. The Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were hit while travelling through the southern shipping lane within Omani territorial waters, the UAE Ministry of Defence said. Fires broke out on both vessels and caused material damage […]
