AGP Executive Report

Red Sea Shipping Risk: Yemen’s Houthis seized Mayun (Perim) at the Bab el-Mandeb entrance after taking Mocha, raising fears of disruption to a route that typically carries about 12% of global goods; Saudi Arabia also shut its East-West oil pipeline as a precaution after drone attacks, underscoring how quickly Middle East tensions are spilling into energy and freight flows. Maritime Security Moves: The US reduced military protection for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz to two daily sailing periods, while Iran and Gulf states plan talks in Oman on safe commercial navigation. Dangerous Goods Rule Push: The World Shipping Council urged IMO action to close a lithium battery safety loophole in the IMDG Code, warning that thousands of batteries could be shipped in one container without dangerous-goods declarations. BRICS & Trade Corridors: At the New Delhi BRICS summit, leaders including South Africa’s Ramaphosa called for more investment in manufacturing, beneficiation, energy, infrastructure and logistics; Iran’s foreign minister said BRICS members back trade in national currencies, with a shared currency still under discussion. Fleet Building: Nigeria’s Dangote Group says it will order new vessels from Chinese shipyards starting deliveries as early as 2029 to expand its shipping capacity.

Red Sea Shipping Shock: Iran-backed Houthis seized Perim (Mayun) after taking Mocha, tightening control of the Bab el-Mandeb choke point and raising fresh risks for container and tanker routes; Energy Supply Pressure: Saudi Arabia shut a key East-West oil pipeline after drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory, adding to oil-price volatility; Food Logistics Threat: Zelenskyy warned Russia’s Black Sea grain blockade is becoming a “food corridor” bottleneck, likely driving up costs and disrupting exports; Customs & Trade Ops: FedEx rolled out Global Trade Navigator tools to help shippers plan tariffs, duties, and customs issues earlier in cross-border workflows; Port & Maritime Capacity: DP World is installing mobile harbor cranes for an $800M Tartus port modernization in Syria, aiming to cut shipping costs and boost throughput; Compliance & Risk: Eastern International flagged Nasdaq minimum bid-price noncompliance, while Ascent Global Logistics faces a data-breach investigation tied to exposed personal and financial records.

Red Sea Disruption: Yemen’s Houthis took full control of Bab el-Mandeb’s Mayyun/Perim island, raising fresh risks for Red Sea shipping and energy flows as oil prices jumped and navies watch a second chokepoint. Hormuz Talks: GCC foreign ministers are set to meet Iran in Oman (Salalah) to back a temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping arrangement, though a full reopening likely hinges on US-Iran agreement. Shipping Costs & Rates: Strait of Hormuz vessel traffic dropped sharply, while tanker attacks and insurance concerns are pushing freight and energy costs higher. Logistics Under Fire: Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Saratov, damaging an Ozon logistics hub and suspending orders, while strikes also targeted other Russian logistics and industrial sites. Energy Storage & Grid Readiness: NTPC launched a sodium-ion BESS pilot EoI, and Sonnedix secured $1.3B refinancing for Chile renewables plus storage—both aimed at stabilizing supply and improving infrastructure resilience. Workforce & Trade Infrastructure: The UK’s National College for Logistics opened a Driver Academy to train 80 HGV drivers, and India’s WDFC rail corridor expansion boosts dedicated freight capacity toward JNPT. BRICS Momentum: India’s BRICS Summit in New Delhi spotlights resilience, trade facilitation, and supply-chain connectivity amid global churn.

Red Sea Shipping Shock: Iran-backed Houthis seized Yemen’s port city of Mocha, moving closer to Bab el-Mandeb and raising fresh risks for cargo and energy flows through a key chokepoint. Insurance & Route Rewiring: With Strait of Hormuz tensions pushing maritime insurance costs to about five times pre-war levels, GCC importers are rerouting to contain freight and risk expenses. Oil Prices Up: Brent jumped to around $107 as shipping attacks intensified, keeping global markets in a “new normal” of persistent maritime risk. Maritime Safety Warning: A U.S. NTSB marine probe into a fatal collision highlights how distracted bridge phone use can undermine lookout duties. Eurasian Logistics Axis: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are doubling down on the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian routes), focusing on ports, rail links, and digital border modernization. Energy Storage Push: Sigenergy showcased modular, AI-driven battery storage in Stuttgart, while financing is flowing into U.S. BESS manufacturing to meet domestic supply-chain needs. Cold-Chain Compliance: Accucold and PharmaWatch plan faster, factory-installed temperature monitoring for vaccine and pharma refrigeration starting Q4 2026. Trade Friction: New U.S.-Canada tariffs are already hitting Great Lakes shipping and mining demand, with Duluth Seaway watching iron ore volumes closely.

Middle East Shipping Shock: Oil stayed above $100 as Iran–US attacks on tankers and shipping near the Strait of Hormuz raised fears of longer supply disruptions, tightening global crude flows and keeping markets jumpy. Energy Outlook: The US EIA said inventories are falling and expects Brent to average around $90 in 2H26 before easing in 2027, while the IEA forecast coal demand up 1.2% in 2026 to a record 8.94bn tonnes as gas disruptions push power generation toward coal. Maritime Policy: Sri Lanka pushed its bid to strengthen global supply-chain links at CIMC 2026, with the US FMC chair urging an independent maritime regulator to boost fair competition and attract investment. Logistics Infrastructure: Kyrgyzstan advanced plans for the “Sary-Tash” international transport and logistics center, targeting up to $100m for storage, transshipment, customs support, and digital controls along the China–Central Asia–South Asia corridor. Cold Chain Moves: Tesco rolled out lower-GWP trailer refrigeration units to cut emissions in refrigerated transport. Autonomous Delivery: WeRide, Uber, and AVOMO won Spain’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles in Madrid, signaling the next step toward commercial rollout.

Middle East Shipping Shock: Iran says it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. sank five Iranian oil tankers, with oil jumping above $100 and reports of tanker casualties—raising fresh risks for sea lanes, marine ecosystems, and global supply chains. Fuel & Freight Cost Pressure: Global crude strength is feeding into higher gasoline and diesel prices in the U.S., with analysts warning shipping and trucking costs could rise as disruptions linger. Energy Infrastructure Deal: Enbridge agreed to buy Tallgrass Energy’s crude oil business for $2.55B, adding the Pony Express pipeline and major storage at Cushing—an expansion that could reshape U.S. crude flows. Port & Storage Capacity Bottleneck: India’s edible oil imports are overwhelming port storage, delaying vessel discharge by up to 10 days and potentially cooling future buying. Trade & Security Compliance: A U.S. trial opening alleges Huawei used theft, fraud, and sanctions-skirting to expand globally—another reminder that compliance risk is now a logistics issue. Air Cargo Expansion: Gary/Chicago International Airport opened a $24M cargo campus, aiming to boost freight capacity and attract more distribution.

Middle East Shipping Shock: Oil prices pushed above $100 a barrel again as US-Iran tensions and attacks around the Strait of Hormuz raise supply and insurance risks, with shipping lanes under fresh strain. Maritime Security & Compliance: Sri Lanka said Iranian-linked vessels near the island remain in international waters beyond its 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, while monitoring continues. Trade Corridor Strategy: A Jordan policy paper urges the country to move from “transit” to capturing value via logistics, manufacturing, and re-export, warning that corridor gains tied to disruption may not last. Port & Dry Port Expansion: Armenia’s economy minister met DP World in Dubai to discuss long-term cooperation, including potential involvement in the Gyumri dry port and multimodal warehousing. Energy Storage for Logistics-Ready Grids: Malaysia’s TNB Genco backed a hybrid hydro-floating solar plus large battery storage project for completion in 2028, aiming to strengthen reliability alongside renewables. Cold-Chain & Air Cargo Growth: DSV expanded temperature-controlled air freight routes via Air ThermoDirect, adding new direct links between Luxembourg and Shanghai. Food Safety in E-commerce Supply Chains: Bengaluru authorities seized expired and mislabelled food and medicines from online delivery storage networks, targeting labeling and licensing violations. Digital Trade & Logistics Hubs: Zimbabwe invited Chinese tech and investors to build smart logistics, green data centres, and cross-border e-commerce as it positions itself as a gateway into Southern and Central Africa.

Food & Fuel Shock: The UN FAO says global food prices rose in August to the highest level since late 2022, driven by extreme weather and war-linked trade disruptions that are tightening supply expectations and lifting grain and sugar costs. Maritime Risk & Oil Prices: With Middle East shipping threats escalating, oil is pushing toward $100 and major banks are warning forecasts could extend higher if tanker and route disruptions persist. Port & Corridor Focus: The Dominican Republic’s president stressed that port upgrades and logistics support are central to turning the country into a Caribbean and Central America hub, pointing to new and modernized facilities. Trade Route Diversions: Dubai’s Hatta crossing saw trade value jump 175% in H1 2026 as overland traffic rises with shifting routes. Energy Exports Recovery: Iraq reported oil exports rebounded to above 3 million bpd after earlier Strait of Hormuz disruptions, with plans to restore and expand northern export routes. Policy & Infrastructure Talks: A World Bank delegation met transport officials to discuss infrastructure, public transport, and logistics corridor development.

Energy & Shipping Shock: Qatar warned the Strait of Hormuz could trigger an “industrial catastrophe” as transits hit the lowest levels in months, while oil benchmarks hover near $100 and diesel prices stay at record highs—fueling higher logistics costs and tighter supply. Maritime Rules Under Strain: A coalition of major shipping nations says global shipping rules are fragmenting into a two-tier system, raising uncertainty for route planning and trade flows. Port & Corridor Moves: India’s Dedicated Freight Corridor is now fully operational, cutting freight travel times and easing pressure on mixed passenger-goods routes. Storage & Warehousing Expansion: FLS Group started operations at a new multi-user warehouse in Laguna, Philippines, with Envision Energy using it as a national distribution center to shorten maintenance lead times. Renewables + Charging for Freight: CHARGEZONE secured $1B+ in long-term energy contracts to scale EV charging for buses and trucks along highway corridors, aiming to deploy 1,000 new stations. Industrial Tech for Logistics: USI launched an edge AI smart camera platform for automated quality inspection and logistics tracking in manufacturing. Regional Trade Links: Oman and China discussed deeper investment cooperation across special economic zones and ports, targeting logistics and industrial clusters. Shipping Contracting: HMM signed a $3.5B long-term bulk shipping deal with Brazil’s Vale, with methanol-capable vessels and future-ready fuel options.

Hormuz Shipping Tensions: Iran says it will announce a new restricted Gulf shipping zone and publish maps for a new Hormuz corridor, warning ships could be added to a sanctions list—while the UAE is also developing alternative energy trade routes as attacks keep oil prices elevated. Maritime Safety Response: Oman’s navy rescued 16 crew members from a Saudi oil tanker attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring how quickly disruptions are turning into real operational risk for shipping. EU Energy Pressure: EU gas storage fell to a 15-year low (65.5%), reviving fears of a harsh winter and spillover from the US-Iran conflict into broader energy markets. Port & Trade Moves: Bahrain and Cyprus discussed stronger maritime ties at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, while NYK’s LNG dual-fuel RoRo/vehicle carrier Azalea Leader made a maiden call at Hambantota, highlighting ongoing shifts toward lower-emission tonnage. Paperless Trade Push: GSBN appointed BIMCO to its board to accelerate interoperable electronic Bills of Lading adoption. Green Freight in the UK: Freeport East backed an electric HGV charging hub plan for Felixstowe to support the Green Freight Corridor. Regional Industry Support (NZ): Taranaki secured $3m to scale the Taranaki Alliance, aiming to help engineering, logistics and manufacturing firms win major contracts as oil-and-gas demand cools. Fuel Price Watch (US): GasBuddy data shows localized US pump price swings tied to global oil and Hormuz-linked shipping risk.

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Shock: Iran says it will announce a new restricted/exclusion zone and publish maps for a new corridor, while shipping traffic through the strait hits the lowest level since May—raising insurance and freight risk as the US and Iran trade strikes on tankers. Oil Price Volatility: Goldman Sachs warns crude could jump toward $120 if attacks broaden, with Brent near $97 as markets price in longer disruption. Port & Customs Bottlenecks: Ghana’s ICC flags inspection delays at ports that add cost and time, urging more coordination and wider use of the AEO program to speed clearance. Energy Storage Meets Logistics Needs: FedEx is pushing AI and remote monitoring for 24/7 cross-border operations tied to the Johor-Singapore SEZ, while Malaysia’s Blueleaf Energy and Universal Peak secure financing for a 100MW/400MWh BESS project due mid-2027. Infrastructure & Trade Resilience: Panama canal limits due to water shortages are tightening global shipping capacity, and Russia-Ukraine strikes are hitting logistics warehouses—both adding pressure to routes and lead times. Green Warehousing Expansion: Northern Ireland’s SJH Fulfilment invests £3.5m in a bigger Belfast fulfilment site to expand warehousing capacity and jobs.

Maritime Security: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council chief says Tehran will announce an “exclusion zone” around the Strait of Hormuz, threatening sanctions for ships trying to transit, as the U.S. continues a naval blockade and recently struck Iranian-linked tankers—raising fresh risk for global energy and shipping flows. Shipping Disruption Watch: A separate report claims the Strait is “completely closed” to shipping, underscoring how quickly chokepoints can tighten. Trade & Finance: Egypt’s president says Egypt wants to further diversify cooperation with the AIIB, targeting financing for energy, transport, ports and logistics, with AIIB citing projects like Damietta Port’s container terminal. Energy Transition & Ports: Maersk and the ports of Charleston and Felixstowe are studying a “Pink Corridor” for nuclear-powered cargo ships, focusing on safety, emergency response, cyber protection and regulatory fit. Power Buildout: Karnataka plans to lift installed capacity from 39+ GW to 66 GW by 2030, driven by renewables plus grid and storage to meet demand growth from industry, EVs and data centers. Fuel Prices (US): GasBuddy reports show localized lowest prices across counties for premium, diesel and E85, with volatility still tied to global oil moves and Hormuz-related supply fears.

Hormuz Shipping Shock: The US says it struck three IRGC-linked crude tankers after Iran fired ballistic missiles at US warships, with one tanker (M/T Kylo) sinking in the Gulf of Oman; Iran calls the attacks “illegal, aggressive” and warns of wider action, while CENTCOM signals more could follow if US ships are targeted. Air Cargo Demand: Global air cargo tonnage rose 5% in August, but Hong Kong-to-Europe volumes fell sharply after EU de minimis changes, showing e-commerce shippers are rerouting and repricing low-value freight. Port & Network Investment: DP World plans major capacity buildout across the Middle East, Europe and Africa, investing about AED4bn and pushing integrated port-to-supply-chain growth. Regional Logistics & Trade: Odisha launches a UAE investment outreach focused on export industries and port-linked logistics parks, while Korea posts record exports in eight months, led by semiconductors. Energy Security Watch: Türkiye’s energy review flags fast-rising electricity demand and renewables growth, underscoring infrastructure and flexibility needs. Data & Compliance: Qatar’s NCSA reiterates personal data privacy principles, a reminder that logistics tech and cross-border operations increasingly hinge on regulation.

Maritime Security & Energy Costs: US Vice President JD Vance blamed Iran for higher fuel prices, pointing to attacks on commercial shipping and warning that US bases in the eastern Gulf are “no longer viable,” while Iran condemned US strikes as violations of international law. Shipping Disruption: The US Central Command said it disabled three Iranian crude oil carriers tied to an IRGC “shadow network,” escalating risks for Strait of Hormuz traffic. Food Supply Pressure: FAO reported global food prices rose to the highest level since late 2022 in August, citing adverse weather and shipping disruptions. Offshore Shipping/Assets: Clarity is emerging on a possible privatisation path involving Malaysia’s MISC and Yinson, focused on combining floater fleets. AI Infrastructure for Logistics: Magna AI partnered with Saudi ICT integrator MBUZZ to deliver AI infrastructure and transformation services across the Middle East and Africa. Energy Resilience Investments: Penticton approved nearly $9M for an electrical microgrid to keep critical infrastructure running during emergencies. Agriculture Value-Add: Sri Lanka launched a plan to build 250 king coconut villages by 2028 to expand exports and jobs.

Black Sea Logistics Crisis: Russia’s strikes are throttling Ukraine’s Black Sea exports, forcing higher costs and leaving millions of tonnes waiting as overland routes can’t fully replace port capacity. Energy & Shipping Risk: US missile activity near Iran’s Kharg Island and broader Hormuz mine threats are keeping oil and fuel markets jumpy, with shipping deterrence adding to volatility. Food Prices Surge: FAO reports global food prices hit the highest level since late 2022/early 2022, driven by Black Sea grain disruptions plus weather stress and wider shipping uncertainty. Port Operations Watch: Adani Ports will launch a dedicated empty container yard at Mundra to speed container handling and cut logistics friction. EU Gas Storage: Uneven gas storage levels across the EU are raising winter price concerns, with Germany and the Netherlands notably less full than peers. Energy Storage Push: Armenia’s solar expansion needs grid and energy storage investment, while Oman highlights continued transplant logistics capacity—both point to infrastructure readiness as a supply-chain theme. Counterfeit Crackdown: South Africa seized R1.5m in counterfeit Springbok goods from a Johannesburg storage site ahead of the All Blacks clash.

Maritime Risk & Fuel Costs: Oil prices are set for weekly gains as US-Iran tensions and Strait of Hormuz security fears raise the odds of shipping disruptions, keeping diesel and logistics costs in focus. Energy Prices at the Pump: US diesel hit a record all-time high of $5.85/gal nationally, while regional gasoline and diesel prices stayed volatile into the Labor Day run-up. Trade & Supply Chain Pressure: FAO says global food prices rose to the highest since late 2022, with climate shocks and war-linked trade disruptions pushing a risk premium back into staples markets. National Transport Planning: Nigeria unveiled a first national land transport policy aimed at integrating roads, rail, ports, inland waterways and aviation to move goods and connect production to markets. Public Transit Procurement: Alexander Dennis won a £57m Liverpool City Region order for at least 207 low/zero-emission buses, supporting fleet expansion and 2027 delivery. Weather Tech for Logistics: Google DeepMind launched WeatherNext 3, producing hourly global forecasts up to 5km resolution using real-time observations—built for sharper planning. Energy Storage Expansion: Grand County approved a variance for Mountain Parks Electric to add battery energy storage, boosting grid capacity for renewables. Shipping Finance: Star Bulk Carriers filed for a parallel listing on Euronext Athens and a Greece equity offering of up to €112.2m. Defense Logistics Training: US Coast Guard took part in CJLOTS with South Korea, practicing over-the-shore cargo discharge and temporary port setup in a simulated contested environment.