Japan

Industry News

UAE and Kuwait Expand Naphtha Exports to Asia via Offshore Transfers

The UAE and Kuwait have increased naphtha exports to Asian petrochemical producers using ship-to-ship transfer operations conducted outside the Strait of Hormuz. Between August and September, ADNOC and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation exported approximately 1.6 million metric tons of naphtha, more than doubling shipments from the March-April period. The surge reflects growing utilization of alternative loading and offshore transshipment hubs including Fujairah and waters off Oman and India.

China–UAE News

DP World and MOL Sign Term Sheet for Dubai Vehicle Logistics Hub

DP World and Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines have signed a term sheet to develop an automotive logistics and processing facility at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. The planned hub aims to combine vehicle storage, pre-delivery inspections, and value-added services to support trade flows between Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. China ranks as the leading source of vehicle imports handled at Jebel Ali Port.

Policy & Legal Updates

Japan Imposes Sanctions on Russian Oil Fleet and UAE-Based Entities

Japan has introduced additional sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet of oil-transporting vessels, according to the Foreign Ministry. The measures restrict maritime services to 35 ships and impose export bans on four entities located in the UAE and Turkey. Restrictions also apply to 33 Russian-linked entities, nine individuals, and 102 export items.

China–UAE News

Chinese Autonomous Driving Startup Momenta Targets Thousands of Robotaxis and Dubai Launch

Mercedes-backed Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta plans to expand its robotaxi fleet from over 100 vehicles today to several thousand by the end of next year. The company is currently testing vehicles in Abu Dhabi and Munich, with Dubai scheduled as its next deployment market. To cut costs, Momenta is working with XHeart on custom computing chips as an alternative to Nvidia hardware.