عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia Offers Freight Brokerage Services at Airports to Facilitate Trade

Cargo services at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Cargo services at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Offers Freight Brokerage Services at Airports to Facilitate Trade

Cargo services at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Cargo services at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government allowed freight brokers to provide services at airports to increase competitiveness and offer more options, which contributes to reducing import and export costs.

The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the National Transport and Logistics Strategy in 2021, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub connecting three continents. It also seeks to improve all transport services, promote sustainable economic development, and competitiveness adequate to the Vision 2030

Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) called on shipping agents to benefit from the customs services provided at the airports, most notably the availability of data submission, the issuance of delivery permissions, and the ability to split incoming shipments.

The authority said that, based on the services provided, the freight broker would be responsible before the customers until the shipment arrives, allowing the customer to deal with only one party.

The agent is the link in the global supply chain process, said the authority, stressing that the services it shall provide customers with constitute an opportunity to compete with the prices offered by transport companies and other agents.

This process would present the customer with more options and contribute to reducing import and export costs.

- Increasing operations efficiency

Recently, the authority allowed freight brokerage companies to obtain a license to practice customs clearance and enable them to activate their role in facilitating trade. It would also raise the efficiency of operations and logistics.

Through this step, ZATCA aims to enable freight brokers to provide distinguished services that align with its objectives towards boosting Saudi position as a global logistics platform by facilitating and developing procedures.

It would help achieve flexibility in the customs clearance process in cooperation and coordination with all relevant authorities.

- National strategy

The Saudi strategy focuses on developing infrastructure, launching several platforms and logistical areas, implementing advanced operating systems, and strengthening effective partnerships between the public and private sectors.

One of the strategy’s main objectives is to increase the contribution of the transport and logistics sector to the gross domestic product from six to ten percent by leading the industry to support the national economy, enable business growth, expand investments, and increase the annual non-oil revenues to $13 billion in 2030.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

European Oil and Gas Stocks Hit Record High, Surpassing 2007 Level

The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
TT
TT

European Oil and Gas Stocks Hit Record High, Surpassing 2007 Level

The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

The European oil and gas stocks index hit a record high on Monday, surpassing a previous record hit in 2007, helped in recent weeks by a rise in the price of oil, Reuters reported.

At 1450 in London the basket was up 1.5%. Oil and gas names have added 17% year-to-date versus a 6.5% rise for the pan-European STOXX 600 index.

Brent rose as high as $72.44 a barrel on Monday a six month high. It has risen nearly 19% so far in 2026 as investors worry about US military action in Iran.

Business

Oil Hovers Near Six-month High with Nuclear Talks and US Tariffs in Focus

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
TT
TT

Oil Hovers Near Six-month High with Nuclear Talks and US Tariffs in Focus

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

Oil prices steadied near a six-month high on Monday as the US and Iran prepared for a third round of nuclear talks while increased economic uncertainty was also in focus after the latest US tariff upheaval.

Brent crude futures were up 9 cents at $71.85 a barrel by 1308 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 15 cents to $66.63, Reuters reported.

Growing concern over potential military conflict between the US and Iran pushed Brent prices up more than 5% last week to their highest since July 2025 at $72.34.

"With the next, and possibly last, round of the Iranian nuclear talks not until Thursday, focus is on the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down import tariffs and the subsequent reaction from the government," said PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga.

The US Customs and Border Protection agency said it would halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday.

However, Trump said on Saturday that he would raise a temporary tariff from 10% to 15% on US imports from all countries, the maximum allowed under the law, after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.

"This morning’s weakness is a defensive move, and needless to say, with the uncertainty surrounding a US military intervention in Iran, the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and now the US Supreme Court’s decision, oil price direction is not (clear), but volatility is guaranteed," PVM's Varga said.

Iran has indicated it is prepared to make concessions on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, a senior Iranian official told Reuters ahead of Thursday's third round of nuclear talks between the two nations.

While prices on paper had moved higher, softer prompt spreads and weaker physical differentials pointed to pricing being based on geopolitical concerns rather than an actual lack of oil in the market, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note.

Business

Chevron, Iraq Agree to Exclusive Talks Over West Qurna 2 Oilfield 

A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Chevron, Iraq Agree to Exclusive Talks Over West Qurna 2 Oilfield 

A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)

Chevron has entered into exclusive talks with Iraq over the giant West Qurna 2 oilfield, moving closer to acquiring the field from sanctioned Russian oil firm Lukoil.

The talks, which Chevron said will include the exchange of confidential data, could expand the US oil major's footprint in ‌Iraq after ‌the country decided to nationalize the West ‌Qurna 2 ⁠field and unwind ⁠Lukoil's interest in the project.

Iraq nationalized the field last month after the US imposed sanctions on Lukoil to put pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION RIGHTS FOR ONE YEAR

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office confirmed the signing of the deal between Chevron and the Basra Oil Company.

The agreement between ⁠BOC, Lukoil and Chevron allows for the temporary ‌transfer of the West Qurna ‌2 contract to BOC, which will subsequently assign it to Chevron after ‌terms of the new contract are agreed, al-Sudani's office said in ‌a statement.

Chevron will have exclusive negotiation rights for one year, al-Sudani's office said.

Iraq's government must approve the agreements, and certain steps are contingent upon other approvals including from the US Office of Foreign ‌Assets Control, Chevron said.

Competitive economic terms will be essential to upcoming negotiations, Chevron added.

'AMICABLE SETTLEMENT' WITH ⁠LUKOIL

The Iraqi ⁠cabinet approved last week an "amicable settlement" with Lukoil over the transfer of operations of the oilfield to BOC. Lukoil has until February 28 to sell its assets under the sanctions.

West Qurna, one of the world's largest oilfields, accounts for about 0.5% of global oil supply and nearly 10% of Iraq's output.

A deal for Chevron in West Qurna 2 would mark a further push into Iraq for the US oil major.

It has agreed to develop several fields in the country as part of an international expansion since completing a deal to acquire US oil producer Hess for $53 billion in 2025.