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Saudi Arabia Expands Commercial Navigation by Connecting with 11 Global Ports

The Saudi Ports Authority continues to add new navigation services linking Saudi ports to the world. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Ports Authority continues to add new navigation services linking Saudi ports to the world. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Expands Commercial Navigation by Connecting with 11 Global Ports

The Saudi Ports Authority continues to add new navigation services linking Saudi ports to the world. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Ports Authority continues to add new navigation services linking Saudi ports to the world. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) announced on Monday a new service that will connect Jubail Port with 11 global ports in Türkiye, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa, and the Middle East.

To be operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Co., the new service will connect Jubail Port with 11 global ports via weekly sailings to Middle Eastern ports: UAE’s Khalifa and Jebel Ali, Hamad in Qatar, Karachi in Pakistan, Mundra and Hazira in India, Alexandria in Egypt, Tekirdag and Aliaga and Mersin in Türkiye, and King Abdullah port in Saudi Arabia.

The service will operate five vessels with an average carrying capacity of 8,000 containers.

The announcement meets Mawani’s strategic goal to improve the maritime navigation network’s connectivity index and global shipping services, and aligns with the objectives of the national strategy for transport and logistics services, which seeks to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub that connects three continents together.

The Jubail commercial port is one of the main ports that support the movement of Saudi exports and imports to global markets, in particular industrial and petrochemical products.

The port is characterized by its advanced equipment that enables it to receive various types and sizes of ships, which enhances the maritime transport sector and logistic services and supports economic activities in the eastern region due to its proximity to production centers.

In December, Mawani announced the addition of King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam to the Shaheen Express shipping service by container carrier giant Maersk in a bid to boost trade between the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Subcontinent.

The service links King Abdulaziz Port to regional hubs such as Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates and Mundra and Pipavav in India.

This comes within the framework of the initiatives launched by Mawani to develop the maritime sector, improve operational efficiency and the regulatory and legislative environment by re-engineering procedures, strengthening effective partnerships with the private sector, as well as increasing shipping lines and establishing integrated logistical areas.

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Trump Uncertainties Push Safe-haven Gold to Near all-time Highs

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Trump Uncertainties Push Safe-haven Gold to Near all-time Highs

FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An employee places ingots of 99.99 percent pure gold in a workroom at the Novosibirsk precious metals refining and manufacturing plant in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia, September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Gold prices soared to near three-month highs on Wednesday, trading below its record peak, fuelled by a soft dollar and lack of clarity around US President Donald Trump's policy plans, which investors fear could trigger trade wars and elevate market volatility.

Spot gold added 0.3% to $2,753.79 per ounce as of 9:45 a.m. ET (1445 GMT). Prices were at their highest since Oct. 31 when they hit their all-time-high of $2,790.15.

US gold futures gained 0.2% to $2,764.80.

The dollar index dipped to a more-than-three-week low, making greenback-priced bullion less expensive for holders of other currencies, Reuters reported.

"There are uncertainties with proposed tariffs and other things, and gold typically does well when there's a large or even a moderate amount of uncertainty in the market, it's a natural place where people gravitate to," said Ryan McIntyre, Senior Portfolio Manager at Sprott Asset Management.

Trump said his administration was discussing imposing a 10% tariff on goods imported from China on Feb. 1, the same day that he previously said Mexico and Canada could face levies of around 25%.

Gold is often viewed as a haven during times of economic and geopolitical turmoil, but Trump's proposed policies are broadly regarded as inflationary, potentially compelling the US Federal Reserve to sustain elevated interest rates for an extended period to rein in rising price pressures.

Trump has not provided many details about his proposed tariffs, making investors question the aggressiveness of the move, and the depth of its potential impacts.

"(Trump) has been perhaps just a shade less hawkish on tariffs as feared which helps - less/lower tariffs is taken to indicate lower inflation hence potential for more rate cuts," said Tai Wong, an independent metals trader.

Spot silver fell 0.6% to $30.68, but hovered near a one-month high hit on Jan. 16.

Platinum rose 0.3% to $946.50 and palladium gained 1.9% to $975.27.