Up to $12 Billion Potential Collaboration between UAE’s ADNOC and Wanhua

FILE PHOTO: Staff are seen at the Panorama Digital Command Center at the ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE May 12, 2018. REUTERS/Satish Kumar/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Staff are seen at the Panorama Digital Command Center at the ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE May 12, 2018. REUTERS/Satish Kumar/File Photo
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Up to $12 Billion Potential Collaboration between UAE’s ADNOC and Wanhua

FILE PHOTO: Staff are seen at the Panorama Digital Command Center at the ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE May 12, 2018. REUTERS/Satish Kumar/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Staff are seen at the Panorama Digital Command Center at the ADNOC headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE May 12, 2018. REUTERS/Satish Kumar/File Photo

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, signed on Tuesday, a Partnership Framework Agreement with Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd.,Wanhua Chemical, to explore the collaborative development of new opportunities in the downstream sector in the United Arab Emirates and China.

ADNOC and Wanhua Chemical also signed a shipping Joint Venture,JV, agreement building on the 10-year LPG supply contract signed in November 2018.

The potential total value of the collaboration between ADNOC and Wanhua is estimated to be up to $12 billion, further solidifying the strong business and investment ties between the companies, but also reflecting the strong partnership across the energy sector between the two countries.

The Agreements with Wanhua Chemical were signed by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, and Zengtai Liao, Chairman of Wanhua Chemical Group.

Dr. Al Jaber said: "The bilateral nature of our planned joint cooperation into both the UAE and China is unique, as it will allow the combined platforms to benefit from ADNOC’s competitive feedstock availability in Abu Dhabi, as well as capture the promising growth opportunities in China."

Under the terms of the JV Contractual Agreement, ADNOC Logistics and Services, ADNOC L&S, and Wanhua Chemical will establish a LPG Shipping Joint Venture, building on the existing 10-year LPG supply contract, which was signed in Shanghai, China, in November 2018. The JV includes the operation of two VLGC vessels,Very Large Gas Carriers vessels. Both companies will optimize their respective supply programs and maximize value through the operation and management of these vessels. Through the JV, ADNOC will maximize the value of its LPG portfolio.

In an additional Partnership Framework Agreement, ADNOC and Wanhua Chemical have agreed to explore and develop JV opportunities in both the UAE and in China. The UAE JV would be focused on producing downstream derivatives, including polyurethanes value chain chemicals at ADNOC’s integrated refining petrochemicals complex in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi. The China JV would focus on exploring investment opportunities for the development and production of petrochemical and derivative products in Yantai, Shandong Province, China. These JVs will yield increased feedstock supplies from ADNOC to Wanhua and further strengthen the existing long-term relationship between both companies. The opportunities will allow ADNOC and Wanhua Chemicals to combine and leverage their market leadership and expertise in technology, marketing and competitive feedstocks.



Japan's Core Inflation Rate Slows in September

FILE PHOTO: Media members observe the stock quotation board at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Media members observe the stock quotation board at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo
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Japan's Core Inflation Rate Slows in September

FILE PHOTO: Media members observe the stock quotation board at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Media members observe the stock quotation board at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Japan, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo

Japanese inflation slowed in September with prices up 2.4 percent on-year, not including volatile fresh food, official data showed Friday.
The core Consumer Price Index eased from 2.8 percent in August as the pace of increase in electricity and gas prices relented, the internal affairs ministry said.
Despite the slowdown, the rate remained above the Bank of Japan's two percent target, set over a decade ago as part of efforts to boost the stagnant economy, reported AFP.
The target has been surpassed every month since April 2022, although the bank has questioned to what extent that is down to temporary factors such as the Ukraine war.
"The resumption of electricity subsidies resulted in a plunge in headline inflation in September," said Marcel Thieliant, head of Asia-Pacific at Capital Economics.
Thieliant predicted a further deceleration of core inflation in October, but noted that the subsidies "should be phased out completely by December, which should lift inflation".
The Bank of Japan raised interest rates in March for the first time since 2007 and again in July, in initial steps towards normalizing its ultra-loose monetary policies.
New Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said this month that the environment was not right for another interest rate increase.
After Ishiba took office in early October, perceptions that he favored hiking borrowing costs and the possibility that he could raise taxes triggered a surge in the yen and stock market volatility.
One dollar bought 150 yen on Friday morning after the Japanese currency weakened from levels around 149.35 the day before.
Excluding both fresh food and energy, Japanese prices rose 2.1 percent in September.
"We expect inflation excluding fresh food and energy to remain around two percent until early next year, when it should gradually fall below two percent," Thieliant said.
"Accordingly, we still expect the Bank of Japan to press ahead with another interest rate hike before year-end."