Latest News
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US sanctions against Mahan Air Support Networks
The United States issued new sanctions on Thursday against a global network that supports Mahan Air. Washington claims the Iranian carrier transports Revolutionary Guards personnel as well as drones and weapons. The U.S. Treasury has?designated' six entities in China, India?Russia?and Iran. This includes several companies who act as?sales agents for the U.S. and E.U. sanctioned airline. The move was made 'as a U.S. drone strike on gas ships in Egypt's Mediterranean Port of Damietta indicated a possible new front in the U.S. - Iran war. This raised a?the possibility of threats to the navigation through the Suez Canal, one of the last remaining export?routes?for Saudi _oil. Treasury also said that it sanctioned a front firm associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has supported Iran's kinetic targeting during the war. Treasury stated that Thursday's actions "further disrupts the network underpinning Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region." (Reporting and writing by Andrea Shalal, Ryan Patrick Jones).
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Black Sea attacks will disrupt the loading of Russian oil from western ports in July.
Three?sources, citing data on shipping and trading, said that Russia's oil imports from western ports will fall in July due to repeated Ukrainian attacks?in the Black Sea. According to sources and calculations, the exports of 'Urals', 'KEBCO, and Siberian Light Crude from Russia’s Baltic ports Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and the Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk will total around 2.6 million barrels a day in July, down about 4 percent from June. As it struggles to maintain its crude output, Russia has tried to keep exports near records. However, refinery runs are still affected by the repeated drone attacks from Ukraine on oil facilities. Attacks on export infrastructure and shipping also have disrupted flow. This month, Ukraine intensified its attacks on tankers in the Black Sea. It damaged several vessels and forced the suspension of loadings from Novorossiysk as well as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal (CPC). CPC's terminal re-started loading earlier in the week, but stopped again on Thursday following a report of a "new attack" on two tankers. Traders reported that oil loadings continued at the Sheskharis Terminal in Novorossiysk on Thursday. Many shipowners have avoided the Black Sea due to increased security risks, which has made it more difficult to secure ships and delays cargoes. One trader in Russian oil sales stated that "we have to change ships?daily because most shipowners don't visit Russia's Black Sea ports. Cargoes are delayed". Several Russian refineries are reopening after maintenance. This could reduce crude oil exports in August, as more oil will be processed at home. Traders said that recent drone attacks by Ukraine on refineries could limit this effect. Reporting by Mark Potter Mark Potter (Editing by Mark Potter).
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German Minister urges faster AI self sufficiency after OpenAI breach
Germany's Digital Minister urged Europe to accelerate efforts on Thursday to build its own AI industries after an OpenAI test revealed an AI agent breaching a system and raising concerns about control of increasingly autonomous technology. Karsten Wildberger said the incident?highlighted both the need for stronger safeguards and more European self-sufficiency when it comes to AI. Concerns over advanced AI systems are increasingly overlapping with the bloc's drive for technological sovereignty. Wildberger stated that "we all need to take the incident very, very serious". He described the fact that the agent "became autonomous" and penetrated into other systems as being "very alarming". OpenAI reported this month that a?agent slipped out from an isolated testing environment to break into Hugging Face. This compromised the?integrity? of a platform for developers where they store and collaborate AI model code. The crucial question is, to what extent can we truly manage and maintain control of them? Wildberger stated. He added that the incident had sparked a "broader international discussion" about security and prevention standards for AI systems. The Minister said that the incident also highlighted the importance of reducing the reliance on foreign AI suppliers, especially given the limited visibility into their abilities and the risk of access being restricted at short-notice. Wildberger said: "We must move even faster to achieve self-sufficiency with AI. That's the only thing that will allow us to keep up with the global competition. It's just five minutes before midnight. We need to accelerate our pace here." He added that Europe should strive to develop AI systems capable of competing on the technological frontier. He also urged for more?investment to be made in data centers, asking why European companies do not?support the sector. He said that while energy costs are higher in Germany than on other markets, the cost is not prohibitively high. "Good money is still possible." "We need to ensure that perhaps we develop a little more appetite for risk," said he, adding that policymakers cannot provide more data centres. Reporting by Andreas Rinke. Miranda Murray is the writer. Mark Potter (editing by Miranda Murray)
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Azerbaijan aims to boost trade along China Turkey corridor
Azerbaijan's government expects the freight volume along the "Middle Corridor", a trade route, to rise 17% this year to 5.5 million tons before rising to 7 million tons in 2027. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known by the name of the corridor, connects China to European countries via Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. It also passes through Georgia, Turkey, and Georgia. Containers containing clothing, electronics, and other consumer products, as well grain, coal, ore and fertilisers are transported along this route. The corridor, with its annual capacity of over 15 million tons is still a tiny part of the rail traffic between China & Europe. Baku, however, is expanding its port and rail infrastructure in order to gain a greater share of this trade. This is because many global logistics companies are diversifying away from Russia as a result of the war it has fought in Ukraine. The Iran war also disrupts other routes. Aytan turabova, the head of the Transport Policy Department in Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, stated that Azerbaijan’s total transit volume rose 10.1% on an annual basis during the first half of this year. Middle Corridor Freight grew by 13.1%. Turabova stated that "we see sustained growth in the cargo flows, and expect this trend will continue as infrastructure, digitalisation of transport, and regional co-operation advance." The European Union has pledged up EUR200 million (229 million dollars) in grants to support transport, energy, and digital links throughout the South Caucasus. Meanwhile, the United States wants to promote a transit corridor from Azerbaijan to Turkey, which would cross Azerbaijan, Armenia, and other long-time enemies who signed an initial peace accord last year. Around 87% of these projects are already in implementation or covered by short-term plans. Rauf Agamirzayev is a Baku based transport analyst who said that the strategic importance of the corridor has increased 'in the last?years. He said that the Middle Corridor route has seen a two-to-three-fold increase in cargo volumes since it was first introduced nine years earlier. "This momentum will continue through 2030." Turabova stated that increasing the Middle Corridor’s capacity would require coordinated investment, harmonised tariffs and simplified border procedures. She said that the expansion of Baku International Sea Trade Port would increase handling capacity from 15 to 25 millions tons and container capacity to 500,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) from 150,000 TEU. Baku is looking to increase regional cooperation in order to mitigate the risks of these plans. The Caspian Sea has shrunk by approximately a metre since 2005.
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Italy's beach access dispute pits campaigners against lido operators
In this hot summer in Italy, the clash between cultures has intensified. Campaigners for free beach access are pitted against lido operators that charge for essentials like umbrellas, sunbeds, food stalls and lifeguard services. Santa Severa is an ancient Etruscan village located about 50km (30 miles) to the north-west from Rome. The battle lines are clearly defined. The beach is lined with parasols of all colours, and there are narrow strips of sand in between each lidos. Simone Vincenzi is the manager of Pino al Mare, a family-run lido that has been in operation for three generations. In his establishment - which also has a restaurant and hotel with 57 rooms - guests can pay EUR42 ($48), for two sunloungers and an umbrella near the sea. They will also have access to a beach volleyball field and children's playground. All day, lifeguards are in duty. Vincenzi stated that Santa Severa was a destination for families with small children. "We take the utmost precaution in this regard." Campaigners want more beaches in Italy to be 'free of charge' and claim that those who are unable or unwilling to pay are marginalised. "Public beaches tend to be located in the most undesirable spots, like rocky areas, or near drainage outlets," Elisabetta Gallo said, an activist for the Free Seas National Coordination which promotes free beach access. She added, "This is not a logic that promotes free beaches but one of exclusion." LUCRATIVE LIDO Concessions Santa Marinella is a neighbouring city with fewer free beaches and more difficult access. "On weekends, the small beaches, coves and inlets are crowded because not everyone has money to spend on lidos," said Simonetta Gazzella, an activist. The European Union has pushed successive Italian governments towards a more transparent system of allocating these 'lucrative' licences, but the reforms have been slow. The government of Prime Minister Giorgia meloni passed a law 2024 that allows existing business licenses at seaside resorts to continue to be valid until September 2027. A possible extension could extend to March 2028. Santa Severa, Santa Marinella and the local councils published public notices for the allocation of beach concessions up to 2033. In most cases, existing operators were assigned the concessions in the absence competing applicants. Italy's highest administrative court is currently reviewing the procedure that has been subject to a legal challenge. According to Vincenzi beach concessions are a way of ensuring cleanliness and order on the coast. Gallo, the campaigner, said that local authorities should take responsibility of public beaches and provide basic services like showers, trash bins, and lifeguard assistance. She said: "We believe the sea belongs everyone, and it should be welcoming to all." (Writing and editing by Matteo Negri)
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Bombardier tops profit estimates, free cash flow turns positive on strong jet demand
Bombardier reported a second-quarter profit that was above analyst expectations. This was due to a robust demand for private jets, which also led to a turnaround in the company's free cash flow and increased its order backlog. Montreal-based Bombardier said that its quarterly revenue increased 6% annually to $2.15billion, despite having delivered four fewer aircraft. According to data compiled from LSEG, analysts estimated the company's revenues at $2.18 billion. Business jet manufacturers are benefiting from "strong demand" as AI startups and SpaceX generate new customers for private aviation. Bombardier is reducing debt and increasing production in order to deliver more aircraft. Analysts and 'planemakers' say that aerospace supply chains are improving since the COVID-19 pandemic, with overall deliveries increasing?this year. However, there remain lingering concerns regarding certain parts. Bombardier has delivered 32 business planes for the first quarter of this year, down from 36 a year ago. This is due to lingering supply-chain constraints. Bombardier expects to deliver more planes by?the second half of 2026. Bombardier's U.S. competitor Gulfstream Aerospace - a division within General Dynamics Corp - said earlier this week that deliveries had risen by three planes, to 41. Textron Inc also said they were still dealing with issues relating to some key components. Bombardier had a backlog of $21.8 billion at the end of June, up $4.3 billion from December. Investors closely monitor the company's metric of?free cashflow, which was $228 million for the second quarter. This is up from a negative $164 in the same period last year, due to customers making firm deposits on new plane orders. The quarterly profit was $2.50 a share on a 'adjusted' basis. This compares to analysts' expectations of $1.41.
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Norwegian Cruise Line reduces annual profit forecast
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings reduced?its annual profit forecast?on Thursday and said that demand was still under pressure due to softer booking trends. In premarket trading, shares of the company dropped by about 5.7%. As a result of looming geopolitical uncertainty and higher airfares to reach the starting destination, cruise operators have seen a slowdown in bookings. John W. Chidsey, CEO of Chidsey & Co., said: "While we're confident in our brands and in the long-term benefits that will come from the actions we have taken so far, we're still at the beginning stages of our turnaround." Norwegian Cruise Line is 'working on cost saving measures, such as streamlining their supply chain. The company also felt the pressure of increased investments in?ship -maintenance?, more dry docking days and new fleet additions. The company's forecast for?fiscal?2026 adjusted earnings per share is around $1.50. This compares to its previous forecast of $1.45?to $1.79?per share. LSEG data shows that analysts expected a profit of $1.67 a share. (Reporting by Sanskriti Shekhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das)
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Ukraine grain and oilseeds forecast increased after favorable weather
The Ukrainian association of 'grain producers' and 'exporters' said that the 2026 crop is expected to reach 84.6 metric tons. According to the statement of the grain association, this forecast has been increased by 1,000,000 tons due to favorable weather conditions. The association estimates that potential exports for the 2026/27 seasons could reach almost 52 million tonnes. It said that the wheat harvest is expected to be 23.7 million tonnes, and exports will reach 18 million tons. The capacity of Ukraine to export grain has declined significantly over the past few weeks, as Russia intensified its strikes against Black Sea ports and civilian vessels. This has led to ship owners halting calls to ports. Ukraine is one of the major exporters of grains and oilseeds in Europe. Corn?and wheat dominate the area planted. The country has already exported?34.4 millions tons of grain during the season 2025/26. The Ukraine's grain harvest for 2026 could be 60 million tonnes, which is almost the same as the previous year.
Drone attack in Egypt raises concerns over security of Suez oil exports
The drone attack that damaged two gas tanks in?Egyptian water has raised energy security concerns over the nearby Suez Canal, and a pipeline related to it. This is a vital route for Saudi Arabian crude oil exports since the beginning of the Iran War.
While Iran and its Houthi-allied allies fired on oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and Bab el-Mandeb in Egypt, Egypt's Suez Canal, and Sumed pipeline, continued to provide a?safe, Northbound export route for Saudi Red Sea Energy cargoes.
Although no one has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack on Wednesday against the tankers in Egypt's port, Damietta (located?on an?arm of the Nile Delta near the Mediterranean) or threatened the Suez Canal the market is still concerned about the possible risk.
Saul Kavonic is the head of energy research for MST Marquee, a consultancy. He said that the Strait of Hormuz could no longer be bypassed by oil supplies of up to 5 million barrels a day.
Fewer than a handful of tankers pass through the Gulf's Hormuz chokepoint, which was previously the route used for about a quarter of the world's oil and LNG supply.
Saudi Arabia diverted most of its oil to Yanbu and the Red Sea after the start of the war, but Houthi attacks and threats since last week has stopped many tankers from using that route.
According to Kpler's market intelligence, an increasing volume of Saudi oil, as well as other shipping, is heading north, up the Red Sea, towards Suez and Sumed.
This means that Asian customers will have to travel around Africa rather than south via the Gulf of Aden.
Crude loadings - from the pipeline that crosses Egypt, from the Red Sea, to the Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir - have risen from 19.52 millions barrels in April to 28.79 in July, even before the Houthis threatened on July 20 to stop Saudi oil from leaving via Bab el-Mandeb.
MarineTraffic data showed that on Thursday, around 30 ships were clustered at the Port 'Said anchorage on the Mediterranean end of the canal compared to 20 earlier in the week.
George Morris, of the energy analytics company Vortexa, attributed this to Houthi threats.
Kpler data shows that crude oil is still flowing through Bab el-Mandeb but at a volume of around half what it was at the beginning of the month. Around 43% of Yanbu loads are heading south, compared to 81% last June.
Some tankers, such as Chinese vessels, have permission from the Houthis, to pass. Morris stated that an increasing number of tankers 'also travel with their trackers off.
Aly Blakeway is the head of Atlantic LNG for S&P Global Energy. She said that the attack in Damietta does not necessarily mean that the canal is at immediate risk. Blakeway stated that the market has not yet priced in a disruption to canal operations. Oil prices dropped on Thursday despite the attack as traders reacted to Iranian-Omani discussions on Hormuz.
The Suez Canal Authority has not responded to comments immediately.
Long, Uncertain Route to Market
Iran has threatened that it will stop all Middle Eastern oil exports if the United States continues to block Iranian tankers.
The Houthis have announced a ban on all Saudi shipping, which could include vessels that are attempting to transport crude oil to the Mediterranean from Yanbu.
Both have demonstrated that their drones and missiles can reach the canal zone, as they have fired them repeatedly at Israel. However, the distances involved give the projectiles more chances to hit the ground.
Martin Senior, Argus' head of LNG pricing, says that this fact alone could raise insurance rates.
In light of (Egypt's) attack, insurers may also demand higher Additional War-Risk Premiums for Suez, given the increased risks to shipping and energy infrastructures in the area, he said. He noted, however, that Iran has not made any threats.
A maritime security source revealed that shipping companies had already begun reevaluating their security measures for ships near Egypt's Mediterranean port and the Suez Canal.
In Egypt, this attack does not necessarily mean that Suez's safety is in danger. Wael Kaddour is a former Suez Canal Authority board member. He said that the canal was heavily guarded around-the-clock.
Even before the attack on 9/11, Middle Eastern oil took a long, complicated and expensive route in order to reach global markets.
Morris said that the route via Suez rather than Bab el-Mandeb doubles the journey times to Northeast Asia and delays arrivals by a little over a month.
It is difficult to move large volumes through Suez for other reasons as well. The Very Large Crude Carriers have a too deep draught for them to cross Suez with their full load and must?offload crude oil through the Sumed pipe before reloading in the Mediterranean.
Suez and Sumed could still handle more crude. Last week, Sidi Kerir produced 1.4 million barrels of oil per day compared to the historical peak of 2.1 millions bpd. Sumed has a capacity of 2.5million bpd.
Morris stated that around 10 'VLCCs' are likely to be loaded at Sidi Kerir over the next few weeks, mostly?serving Asian refining companies.
This capacity, along with the uncertain outlook of Hormuz traffic and Bab el-Mandeb travel, underscores the reason why Suez 'could be such an important route in the current crises and why any threats to its operations can hit so hard.
A major increase in war risk insurance rates would result from an attack on any part of the canal region. "It would also change the security assessment in the region," said Corey Ranslem CEO of maritime security firm Dryad Global.
"A disruption to the Suez Canal will have an immediate impact on price." Matthew Wright, principal freight analysts at Kpler, said that the inflationary pressure caused by longer voyages and higher freight would be felt almost immediately by consumers.
(source: Reuters)