Latest News
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Iraq tries to increase exports through Turkey by transporting crude oil from the south of Iraq north.
The trial began on September 13 and lasted two days In 209 trucks, 38,000 barrels of oil were transported. Iran War disrupts Iraqi exports to the south By Aref Mohamed and Ahmed Rasheed BASRA (Iraq), Sept. 16: Iraq has launched a pilot project to transport crude oil from its southern oilfields by road to a Kirkuk oil storage facility. The goal is to increase supplies for the northern export system, and possibly to increase shipments via Turkey's Ceyhan Port. The initiative is part of Iraqi efforts to increase exports through the northern route, after the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran disrupted Iraqi shipments via the Strait of Hormuz. A spokesperson for the oil ministry confirmed that Iraq's Oil Ministry has contracted local company,?KAR Group, to transport crude oil using its fleet tanker trucks. A statement from the state-run Basra Oil Company confirmed that the arrangement had been made. BOC reported that the trial operation began on September 13 and lasted for two days. During this time, a little over 6 million litres crude oil, which is equivalent to 38,000 barrels was transported by 209 tanker truck each with a capacity of 30,000-litres. Saleem al-Rikabi said that the contract with KAR Group was based on the total volume delivered by tanker truck. He added that daily volumes transported depended on a number of factors, including road conditions, security clearances, and loading capacity. KAR Group didn't?respond instantly?to an inquiry for comment. Oil ministry figures indicate that current flows from northern Iraq into Turkey's Ceyhan Port are estimated to be around 200,000 barrels per day (bpd). This is down from 250,000 bpd prior to the Iran War. BOC sources say that the project faces logistical difficulties, including limited truck supply and limited loading infrastructure at southern oilfields. Initial volumes are too small to materially increase exports from the north without an expansion in transport and loading capacities.
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US Farm Agency prepares to reopen New Mexico Port to Livestock Trade next week
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on Wednesday that the Department of Agriculture is preparing to reopen an New Mexico port for livestock trade after it had been closed due to New World screwworm. Rollins stated during her remarks at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture conference in Portland, Maine that she intends to travel to New Mexico Wednesday night. Rollins stated, "We are getting ready to reopen that New Mexico port in the next week." After months of port closures because of concerns about the screwworm parasite, the USDA resumed the cross-border trade of livestock with Mexico in late August. According to the agency there are currently two active screwworm infections, both in Texas, one in a horse, and another in a canine. Rollins stated, "What you have all 'proven for the past?20 days in Douglas, is that this situation is manageable and doable. And if we think there is another threat we will shut it down."
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Sources say that two pumping stations on the Saudi East-West Pipeline were damaged by a recent attack.
According to three oil and security sources, two pumping stations that serve the vital 'East-West Pipeline' in Saudi Arabia have been damaged by an attack last week. Saudi Aramco did not reply to a comment request. The company operates the 1,200 km (745 mile) pipeline that runs across the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia's media office did not respond immediately to a comment request. Saudi officials said that the?pipeline which had helped to relieve the blockage in the Strait of Hormuz was temporarily shut down after an?attack by a drone coming from Iraq. Sources claim that the strike has damaged pumping stations 8 and 9. According to industry estimates, the pipeline is serviced with 11 pumping and two pressure relief stations. Since?six months, the facility has been the main way to export Middle East oil globally. The Strait of Hormuz is largely closed due to war. Saudi Arabia has been able to avoid the disruptions that have crippled the other Gulf oil and natural gas exporters.
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Muto scores as Kobe win the Asian Champions League with a win
Vissel Kobe won 2-1 over Port FC on Wednesday thanks to a deftly executed goal by?Yoshinori muto. The Japanese team?made a perfect start in the league phase of?Asian Champion League Elite?in Thailand. Ren Komatsu, a former 'Japan - international', had given Michael Skibbe and his team the lead at the 10th minute. Issei Tahashi flicked Diego's throw-in into the Port penalty area and Komatsu pounced. In the fourth minute of stoppage time in the first half, he was able to redirect Issam al-Sabhi’s header past his own goal-line. Muto scored the winning goal after being played?on-goal by fellow substitute Yuya Osako. He then lifted a calm finish above Port goalkeeper Michael Falksgaard, as last season's semifinalists picked up all three of their points. Former champions Jeonbuk Motors came back from a goal behind to beat Kashiwa 2-1 in Jeonju. Kenshin Yuba scored an individual goal in the 30th-minute to put Japan ahead. However, Tiago Orobo equalized the score three minutes into second half by scoring a header. Italo scored the winning goal for Jeonbuk at the 69th-minute mark. The Brazilian slid his shot in the bottom right corner of Ryosuke's Kojima. The eight top teams in east and west Asia, who finished first or second respectively in the league phase of the competition (which has increased from 24 to 32 teams) will move on to the knockout round. The 'last 16 matches' will be played on a 'home-and-away basis' in March, while the quarter-finals (quarter-finals), semi-finals (semi-finals) and final in Saudi Arabia will be held centrally in April and may.
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Meloni, the Italian leader in the election campaign, has scrapped road tax on most cars.
Giorgia meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, announced on Wednesday that Italy will 'abolish road tax' for 14,5 million cars and motorbikes. This move is estimated to cost more than EUR2billion ($2.31billion) in state funds. The government is looking for ways to increase support in advance of the national elections next year. Meloni’s?conservative alliance is trailing in the polls the centre-left and is under pressure from National Future - a new far-right political party led by Roberto Vannacci that is steadily gaining supporters. Meloni stated in a press release released by her office that "today the government eliminates one of the taxes most disliked by Italians". The benefit is available for 'all motorbikes' and'more than 70% of small and medium-sized vehicles, according to the Cabinet Office. However, each citizen will only be able to use it once. The draft decree that was seen by us before the cabinet meeting indicated that the exemption would only be for one year, between January 1, 2027 and December 31, 2027. It will cost EUR 2,36 billion. Meloni did not reveal where the money would come from to fund the initiative. Italy's public debt is expected to reach 139% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in this year under its latest budget plan. This will replace Greece as the most indebted nation in the Eurozone. The coalition parties welcomed this measure as part the government's agenda to cut taxes, while critics dismissed it for a ploy to divert the attention away from the soaring fuel prices. Rossano Sasso is a senior assistant to Vannacci. Fuel prices have risen in Italy for several months due to the U.S. War against Iran, which has disrupted supplies around the globe. The government had to spend EUR2.8 to date to reduce excise duties.
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Italy eliminates road tax on most cars in the run-up to elections
Giorgia meloni, the Italian prime minister, announced on Wednesday that the government would abolish road tax for 14.5 million cars and motorbikes. The government is looking for ways to increase support in advance of the national elections next year. Meloni stated in a press release issued by her office that "today the government will eliminate one of 'the taxes most disliked by Italians. The benefit will apply to all motorbikes, and to more than 70% small-sized cars. However, citizens are only allowed to use it on one vehicle. The election next year is shaping up to be a close race between Meloni’s rightist coalition and centre-left opposition. The government has not said how much the abolition?of road tax will cost?public finances. Italy's public debt is expected to reach 139% of its gross domestic product this year under its latest budget plan. This will replace Greece as the most indebted nation in the Eurozone.
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Flydubai CEO: We expect to return to full capacity before the end of this year.
Flydubai, the airline of Dubai, expects to return to full capacity before the end of the year. This is as airlines 'across the region' recover from the impact of the Iran War. Ghaith al Ghaith, CEO of Arabian Travel Market, said to the media that by the end of the year, "we will go back to 100 percent, and maybe even more, because we'll be getting more planes." Ghaith said that Flydubai, Emirates sister airline, operates at 85% of its current network capacity. Its load factor (which measures how well a?airline fills available seats) is "good". Flights in the Middle East, and even beyond, were disrupted for weeks by the Iran War, which began at the end February. However, Gulf carriers - some of the largest in the world - have slowly resumed their activities. The EU Aviation Safety Agency issued an advisory this year to avoid the Gulf Airspace due to potential 'risks associated with the war. He added, "Our biggest problem, particularly in Europe, are all the (travel) advisory messages that continue to be issued." The CEO's comments come after the airline announced on Tuesday that it would take a further 11 aircraft this year. This includes seven?Boeing 737-9 MAXs and four Boeing 737-8 MAXs, bringing its fleet to over 100 aircraft.
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Equinor plans LNG growth in early 2030s for European and Asian demands
Senior executives at Equinor said that they hoped to increase their liquefied gas supply portfolio between 10 and 15 million metric tons (tpy) per year in the early part of the next decade to meet demand from Europe and Asia. Ingvar Egeland is Equinor's Vice President for LNG. He said that the Norwegian producer will announce a second LNG deal with an Asian client this week. In May, Equinor signed a 15-year LNG deal with India’s Deepak Fertilizers &?Petrochemicals Corp. Egeland stated that Equinor has been in contact with many counterparts, particularly in India and other places in Southeast Asia. They are interested in finding new sources. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has?prevented Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, from exporting the majority of their LNG via the Strait of?Hormuz. A fifth of global LNG supplies used to pass through this Strait, forcing Asian buyers into seeking other sources. Equinor expects to double its portfolio of supplies to 7 million tonnes per year in 2030, when U.S. supplies reach full capacity. The Norwegian LNG plant Hammerfest is responsible for half of the total supply. Egeland stated that Equinor intends to increase its supply to between 10 and 15 million tonnes per year (tpy) by the early 2030s. This will include cargoes with a Brent price to diversify their exposure to prices. He added that the volume does not include Tanzania where Equinor has a project in progress which is being 'delayed' by government negotiations. Tanzania's deputy minister of energy said this week that a new law on LNG investments could be passed by the end the year. Egeland said that the East Coast of the U.S.A., West Coast of Canada, South America and other African countries, besides Tanzania, could be potential new sources of supply.
UK companies flag over $1.4 bln in labour expenses from increase in national insurance coverage, salaries
British companies have actually flagged an boost of 1.1 billion pounds ($ 1.40 billion) in labour costs associated to a rise in companies' social security contributions and minimum incomes following Finance Minister Rachel Reeves' maiden budget plan in October.
They also anticipate the increase in National Insurance Contributions (NIC) and the minimum earnings to sustain inflation.
Here's what some business throughout sectors have actually said so far:
MERCHANTS
British retailer Pets in the house Group stated it expected costs to rise by about 18 million pounds in fiscal 2026 due to increased NIC.
British bike and vehicle items seller Halfords Group forecast its future costs to increase by around 23 million pounds in financial 2026 due to greater employer social security contributions.
Tile retailer Topps Tiles stated it approximated a 4 million pound cost effect on a yearly basis from April 2025, out of which 2 million would affect the 2025 fiscal year.
Home improvement seller Kingfisher, which employs more than 78,000 individuals, stated the boost in NIC would cost it about 31 million pounds in fiscal 2025/26.
British supermarket chain Sainsbury's, which uses around 150,000 people, said it was dealing with headwinds of 140 million pounds from the national insurance coverage change.
Marks & & Spencer stated the national insurance boost would cost it around 60 million pounds in its next financial year, which begins in April. A 6.7% rise in base pay will include another 60 million pounds.
Asda, Britain's third-largest supermarket, stated the national insurance modification would cost it 100 million pounds next year and warned it would probably be inflationary to some degree.
Primark-owner Associated British Foods said the nationwide insurance modification would cost the clothes seller, which uses 40,000 individuals in the UK, tens of millions of pounds, though the increase in the minimum wage was expected.
Cooking area and joinery retailer Howden Joinery stated the expected annualised expense impact of greater contributions to employers' nationwide insurance and the increase in the nationwide minimum wage was around 18 million pounds.
Mike Ashley-owned Frasers called the budget plan a 'kick. in the face' and said it would cost the seller at least 50. million pounds in included costs going into its 2025/26 year.
Flooring firm Headlam Group stated that the. unexpected reduction in the nationwide insurance coverage threshold,. combined with the boost in the nationwide minimum wage, will. include about 2 million pounds to its yearly operating costs from. April 2025.
Supreme, which offers Duracell and Energiser. batteries along with Elf Bar vapes, stated it anticipates an addition. of 0.9 million pounds to its annualised individuals costs due to the. changes in National Insurance coverage and National Living Wage.
LOGISTICS
International Distribution Services, the owner of. Royal Mail, which uses nearly 130,000 individuals in Britain, stated. modifications to the NIC will cost around 120 million pounds a year.
TELECOM
BT, an employer of more than 100,000 people, stated the. NIC change would increase its costs by near 100 million. pounds next year, about 0.5% of its overall cost base.
PUBS & & RESTAURANTS Club group Mitchells & Butlers flagged the NIC & change. to increase its expense to 23 million per year. It also said the. minimum wage hike would include another 42 million each year. JD Wetherspoon, a major British club
operator that. utilizes more than 40,000 people, stated its yearly costs would. boost by about 60 million pounds in 2025, with its NIC rising. by an estimated two-thirds. British pub group Young & Co's Brewery, which. utilizes about 7,700 people
, alerted that rising NIC and & minimum. wages will increase its yearly expenses by about 11 million pounds,. starting April. Marston's, which operates 1,339 bars in the UK with. about 11,000 workers
, said it expects a 4 million pound impact. due to wage inflation and another 4.6 million pounds from. additional employment expenses in fiscal 2025, but called the expenses. workable . Loungers, a cafe-bar and dining establishment chain with over.
8,000 personnel, stated the combined impact of NIC and base pay. increase will add 9 million pounds to its yearly costs. HOMEBUILDERS Persimmon expects expenses from a hike in national. insurance coverage to be about 5 million pounds over the next year. Vistry also estimated a 5-million-pound impact in. 2025 from the boost in
employer NIC. OUTSOURCERS Serco Group said the UK government's nationwide. insurance coverage tax modifications would increase its direct
labour costs
by. around 20 million pounds per year which it was checking out methods. to balance out these expenses. Mitie Group expects NIC-related costs to be about 60. million pounds, but the business estimates that it would be able. to recover 35 million pounds
of those expenses through legal. healings and industrial settlements in financial 2026. Agreement caterer Compass Group, which employs about. 50,000 personnel in its UK and Ireland unit, expects NIC-related. expenses to be in the 10s of millions. COMPANY Workplace services provider Bring back Plc which uses. almost 2,700 individuals, said it estimates about 3 million pounds in. expenses from the NIC change and minimum
wage hike. Veterinary providers CVS Group, which. employs more than 8,800 individuals, said it estimates a cost impact. of about 8 million pounds in 2026 from the NIC changes. British rail market companies Tracsis. likewise stated the NIC change and minimum wage increase are expected. to effect 2025 core revenue by about 500,000 pounds.
Legal and expert companies Knights Group. stated it expects a yearly cost effect of about 2. million pounds in financial 2026 due to the NIC boost.
Service healing and residential or commercial property services consultancy Begbies. Traynor estimates the NIC modifications to increase work. expenses by about 1.25 million pounds per annum.
British legal and expert services group Gateley. stated it was expecting the NIC changes to impact its. expenses by about 1.8 million pounds in financial 2026. Equipment rental specialist VP Plc stated it estimated. the NIC and wage walkings would cost the group about 4 million. pounds in the next financial year. Specialist property services provider Kinovo said. it expected a cost of effect of about 500,000 pounds from the. NIC and wage increase. CHEMICALS British chemicals maker Johnson
Matthey stated the. impact of the increase in UK employers' NIC on the group would. remain in about the mid-single digit millions. MANUFACTURER Genuit Group expects
the NIC and
minimum wage walkings. to add almost 5 million pounds to its cost base in 2025. Structural steel company Severfield said it. approximates the NIC hike to increase costs by 2 million pounds per. year starting fiscal 2026. Convenience food maker Greencore flagged an . effect of about 7.5 million pounds in fiscal 2025 due to
the. boost in national insurance charges. Packaging firm Macfarlane Group said it anticipated its annualised. expenses to increase by around 1.5
million pounds from the NIC and. wage hikes, starting April 2025. IG Style Group, the world's largest maker of celebration items. including present wrap, welcoming cards and
gift bags, stated
it. approximated the NIC and wage increases to cost the firm about 0.7. million pounds in yearly operating costs from the next monetary.
year. MEDIA FIRM Media
production company Zinc Media expects the NIC. modifications to increase its expense base by about 400,000 pounds. annually.
(source: Reuters)