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
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
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
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
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 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
Industry DP World unit signs 50-year deal to develop UAE-Oman free zone A DP World unit has signed a 50-year deal to develop an economic free zone between the UAE and Oman. Mahdah Development Company, a UAE-Omani joint venture led by DP World, is working with Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) to develop the first phase of the Al Rawdah zone. […] May 27, 2025
Manufacturing China’s BTR targets $1bn revenue from Moroccan plants Chinese electric battery producer BTR New Material Group expects revenues of $1.2 billion from its Moroccan factories after production starts next year, according to a media report. Production at the Chinese company’s plants in the north of the country is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, general manager Peter Yang told Asharq News. […] May 23, 2025
Manufacturing China’s ROX Motors to produce EVs in Abu Dhabi Chinese luxury EV maker ROX Motor and Dubai-headquartered W Motors will manufacture electric vehicles in Abu Dhabi as Gulf countries step up efforts to attract automotive manufacturing. The ROX 01, a mid-size combustion-electric SUV, will be made at W Motors’ new facility in the capital city, the companies said in a joint statement. No […] May 22, 2025
Manufacturing Adnoc awards $2bn contracts to back localisation Abu Dhabi state-backed oil giant Adnoc says it prioritising local manufacturing to mitigate supply chain risks and cut delivery times for critical equipment. The oil company has signed framework agreements valued at AED6 billion ($1.6 billion) with 12 UAE companies to manufacture critical industrial equipment under the “Make it in the Emirates” initiative, according to […] May 22, 2025
Industry Turkey’s Zorlu to cut jobs and sell assets Zorlu Holding, one of Turkey’s largest industrial groups, is selling assets and letting go of least 10 percent of its staff to help meet its debt obligations, Bloomberg reported. The Istanbul-based group, which operates in real estate, energy and manufacturing, has nearly $5 billion in outstanding loans and has already extended some of its loan […] May 21, 2025
Manufacturing UAE’s $11bn manufacturing investment aims to cut oil reliance The UAE plans investment of more than AED40 billion ($11 billion) over the next five years to establish itself as a centre for advanced manufacturing. The strategy aims to expand its industrial base, accelerating efforts to diversify its economy away from oil. Highlighting progress so far, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, federal minister of industry and […] May 20, 2025
Industry EGA to build first US aluminium smelter in 45 years Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), which says it is responsible for 4 percent of global output, plans to start building a primary aluminium production plant in the US by the end of 2026. The $4 billion smelter, the first to be built in the US since 1980, is expected to have a capacity of 600,000 tonnes […] May 19, 2025
Exclusive Manufacturing Why Emsteel is not worried about rising Chinese imports UAE steel and building material company Emsteel expects demand for its products to grow 10 percent this year, paced by multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects and real estate developments, its CEO said. That could offset a challenge from surging imports from China and declining world prices. The Abu Dhabi-based company has increased production capacity to meet demand […] May 15, 2025
Manufacturing PIF and Hyundai to roll out first Saudi vehicles in 2026 A joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company will roll out its first vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2026. The partners broke ground on the new manufacturing facility on Wednesday at the recently launched King Salman Automotive Cluster in King Abdullah Economic City, the state-run Saudi Press Agency […] May 15, 2025
