Partnerships Worth $80 Million Aim to Strengthen Supply Chains in Saudi Arabia

The MoUs will focus on building capabilities and fostering growth across various sectors. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The MoUs will focus on building capabilities and fostering growth across various sectors. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Partnerships Worth $80 Million Aim to Strengthen Supply Chains in Saudi Arabia

The MoUs will focus on building capabilities and fostering growth across various sectors. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The MoUs will focus on building capabilities and fostering growth across various sectors. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

ASMO Logistics, a joint venture of DHL and Saudi Aramco, has signed 16 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with various companies to strengthen cooperation in energy, chemicals, refining, manufacturing, healthcare, aviation, and supply chains across the Middle East and North Africa.

The partnerships, worth over 300 million riyals (about $80 million), aim to digitize and develop the supply chain and procurement sectors in Saudi Arabia, collaborating with firms like Aramco Digital, Oracle, and SAP.

Salem Al-Huraish, Chairman of ASMO, highlighted that these partnerships will boost economic growth by creating a more flexible and efficient supply chain.

He noted that ASMO helps clients focus on their core business while benefiting from superior services, reducing carbon emissions, and improving operational efficiency.

ASMO plans to use innovative solutions to enhance supply chain services, financial operations, and human resource management through these partnerships.

The company will also establish procurement monitoring towers and create an online marketplace to aid businesses in making better decisions and improving productivity.

The MoUs will focus on building capabilities and fostering growth across various sectors. In chemicals and refining, ASMO has partnered with companies like Luberef and Petro Rabigh.

In energy, partners include Baker Hughes and Halliburton. For manufacturing, ASMO collaborates with ArcelorMittal and others.

Additionally, the company has signed MoUs with Aloula Aviation and the Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Center in the aviation and healthcare sectors.



Oil Steadies after Fall as Middle East Uncertainty Persists

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
TT

Oil Steadies after Fall as Middle East Uncertainty Persists

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

Oil steadied on Wednesday, supported by OPEC+ cuts and uncertainty over what may happen next in the Middle East conflict, although an outlook for ample supply next year added downward pressure.

Crude fell more than 4% to a near two-week low on Tuesday in response to a weaker demand outlook and after a media report said Israel would not strike Iranian nuclear and oil sites, easing fears of supply disruptions.

Brent crude oil futures were down 33 cents, or 0.4%, at $73.92 a barrel by 1110 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost 38 cents, or 0.5%, to $70.20, according to Reuters.

Still, concern about an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah persists. OPEC+ supply curbs remain in place until December when some members are scheduled to start unwinding one layer of cuts.

"We would be somewhat surprised if the geopolitical risk premium has disappeared for the time being," said Norbert Ruecker of Julius Baer.

"We see the market heading towards a supply surplus by 2025," he added.

On the demand side, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Energy Agency this week cut their 2024 global oil demand growth forecasts, with China accounting for the bulk of the downgrades.

Economic stimulus in China has failed to give oil prices much support. China may raise an additional 6 trillion yuan ($850 billion) from special treasury bonds over three years to stimulate a sagging economy, local media reported.

"Monetary and fiscal efforts to revive the Chinese economy are proving a damp squib," said Tamas Varga at oil broker PVM.

Coming up is the latest US oil inventory data. The American Petroleum Institute's report is due later on Wednesday, followed by the government's figures on Thursday. Both reports are published a day later than normal following a federal holiday.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected crude stockpiles rose by about 1.8 million barrels in the week to Oct. 11.