Kuwait’s Agility Begins Major Expansion at Logistics Complex in Riyadh

Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait’s Agility Begins Major Expansion at Logistics Complex in Riyadh

Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Kuwaiti company Agility has announced plans to expand its logistics complex in Riyadh by adding 100,000 square meters of modern warehouses, bringing the total storage space to approximately 551,000 square meters.

The project, valued at SAR 250 million (around $66.58 million), aims to create 300 new job opportunities for Saudi citizens, with the first phase of the expansion set to be operational by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during the Global Logistics Forum in Riyadh, Agility CEO Tarek Sultan noted that the company had signed a new memorandum of understanding to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen the country’s logistical infrastructure.

Sultan emphasized Agility’s key role in improving services and linking railway networks to its foreign client base, which has shown growing interest in investing in the Kingdom. This comes as Saudi Arabia aims to become a global logistics hub by 2030.

Sultan also highlighted Agility’s commitment to developing the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector in Saudi Arabia, stating that the company, which is listed on both the Kuwait Stock Exchange and Dubai Financial Market, is looking to maximize opportunities for these businesses through investments in storage and logistics services.

On Sunday, during the Global Logistics Forum, the company announced major expansion plans for its logistics complex in Riyadh, expected to be completed within a year and a half. Sultan noted that there are additional projects currently under study and planning.

The CEO noted that Agility’s investments in Saudi Arabia amount to several billion riyals and are steadily increasing. It is noteworthy that the company’s profits decreased by 16% in the first half of 2024, totaling 24.70 million Kuwaiti dinars, due to a 24% rise in general and administrative expenses.



Gold Stalls as Buoyant US Dollar Keeps Gains in Check

A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk
A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk
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Gold Stalls as Buoyant US Dollar Keeps Gains in Check

A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk
A view shows ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom during production at Krastsvetmet precious metals plant in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, May 23, 2024. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk

Gold prices held steady on Tuesday as the US dollar remained near two-month highs, with markets caught between profit-taking and prospects for further rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Spot gold was steady at $2,652.72 per ounce at 1108 GMT while US gold futures nudged up 0.1% to $2,669.20.

"We've got a US dollar near two-month highs, higher Treasury yields and also the overwhelming temptation of profit taking as we go towards November after gold's nearly 30% gain so far this year, so in short gold's got some pretty fierce headwinds at the moment," independent analyst Ross Norman said, according to Reuters.

Gold prices hit a record high of $2,685.42 last month, but shed some of those gains as the dollar hovered near a more than two-month peak reached in the previous session, making bullion more expensive for other currency holders.

"Further rate cuts I think will continue to support gold and we'll probably see a fresh all-time high this side of the year end," Norman said.

Currently traders see about an 87% chance of a 25-basis-point cut in November, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Non-yielding gold thrives in a lower interest rate environment.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller called for "more caution" on rate cuts ahead but Fed Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said more rate reductions are likely as the Fed's 2% inflation target looms in sight.

Market participants are also watching out for US retail sales, industrial production data and weekly jobless claims this week.

Spot silver eased 0.1% to $31.14 per ounce. Platinum fell 1.2% to $980.78 and palladium was down 1.8% at $1,011.77.

"Scrap supply (for platinum) has disappointed in recent years, but we see room for a recovery next year. We still expect the platinum market to be under-supplied in 2025," UBS analysts said in an note.