Egytrans Approves NOSCO Acquisition Deal

An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)
An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)
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Egytrans Approves NOSCO Acquisition Deal

An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)
An Egyptian truck transports a giant blade for a wind turbine. (Reuters)

Egytrans, a leading provider of transport and logistics solutions, approved a deal to acquire the National Transport and Overseas Services Company (NOSCO), one of the leading companies in the transport field, particularly land transport and specialized transport for mega-projects.

The move comes as part of the company’s strategy for local and regional expansion.

Egytrans’ acquisition deal serves as a means of geographical expansion in Egypt, as well as a first step in the company's plans to expand into Arab markets, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The provider has plans to unlock markets in Africa later.

The company plans to penetrate the Saudi market by forming partnerships with Saudi investors in the equipment and machinery transportation sector for power stations, wind farms, oil and gas projects, according to Egytrans CEO Abir Leheta.

“Through this step, we aim to maintain the leadership position of both companies within the transport and logistics sector and build on it, all while strengthening the executive and operational capabilities of the group,” said Leheta.

“We strive to leverage NOSCO’s capabilities, especially its extensive fleet and technical experience to achieve maximum operational growth and target larger logistics opportunities and projects, in addition to expanding geographically and operationally across local, regional and global markets,” added Leheta.

Working across nine branches in Egypt, Egytrans aims to make integrated transport easy, safe, timely and cost-effective.

Egytrans enables and facilitates global and national supply chains through its extensive range of services including Sea Freight, Air Freight, Land Transport, Customs Clearance, Project Logistics, Exhibitions, and Storage.

It has developed several subsidiary and affiliate brands consisting of Egytrans Depot Solutions (EDS), Egyptian Transportation & Logistics S.A.E. (ETAL), Wilhelmsen Ports Service Egypt and Scan Arabia.

Gamal Moharam, Chairman of Egytrans, believes the transaction with NOSCO will be completed smoothly as all parties believe in the potential of this deal and its benefit for the ambitious growth and expansion strategies of both companies.



Oil Prices Set to End Week Higher after US Rate Cut

The US last week announced a 10-nation coalition to counter the attacks in the Red Sea. - File Photo
The US last week announced a 10-nation coalition to counter the attacks in the Red Sea. - File Photo
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Oil Prices Set to End Week Higher after US Rate Cut

The US last week announced a 10-nation coalition to counter the attacks in the Red Sea. - File Photo
The US last week announced a 10-nation coalition to counter the attacks in the Red Sea. - File Photo

Oil prices eased on Friday, but were on track to register gains for a second straight week following a large cut in US interest rates and declining global stockpiles, Reuters reported.

Brent futures were down 50 cents, or 0.67%, at $74.38 a barrel at 1004 GMT while US WTI crude futures fell 48 cents, or 0.65%, at $71.47.

Still, both benchmarks were up 3.7% and 4% respectively on the week.

Prices have been recovering after Brent fell below $69 for the first time in nearly three years on Sept. 10.

"US interest cuts have supported risk sentiment, weakened the dollar and supported crude this week," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

"However, it takes time until rate cuts support economic activity and oil demand growth," he added, regarding crude's more muted performance so far on Friday.

Prices rose more than 1% on Thursday following the US central bank's decision to cut interest rates by half a percentage point on Wednesday.

Interest rate cuts typically boost economic activity and energy demand, but some also see it as a sign of a weak US labor market.

The Fed also projected a further half-point rate cut by year-end, a full point next year and a half-point trim in 2026.

"Easing monetary policy helped reinforce expectations that the US economy will avoid a downturn," ANZ Research analysts said.

Also supporting prices were a decline in US crude inventories, which fell to a one-year low last week.

A counter-seasonal oil market deficit of around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) will support Brent crude prices in the $70 to $75 a barrel range during the next quarter, Citi analysts said on Thursday, but added prices could plunge in 2025.

Crude prices were also being supported by rising tensions in the Middle East. Walkie-talkies used by Lebanese armed group Hezbollah exploded on Wednesday following similar explosions of pagers the previous day.

Security sources have said the Israeli spy agency Mossad was responsible, but Israeli officials have not commented on the attacks.

China's slowing economy also weighed on market sentiment, with refinery output in China slowing for a fifth month in August and industrial output growth hitting a five-month low.