Chinese container carrier CU Lines has revised its China–Gulf Express service by replacing Sohar with a direct call at the Port of Duqm in Oman. The revised rotation connects major Chinese ports with Port Klang, Khor Fakkan in the UAE, and Duqm once every three weeks.
China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index declined to 49.3 in October from 50.1 in September, dropping below the 50-point threshold separating expansion from contraction. Weakening domestic and export orders drove the contraction, though high-tech and equipment manufacturing continued to expand. Non-manufacturing and composite gauges also slipped into contraction at 49.7.
The United Arab Emirates is hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough in indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, senior Emirati official Anwar Gargash said. Speaking at a conference in Bahrain, Gargash stated that another round of conflict is not in regional interests, though the UAE is braced for worst-case scenarios. The remarks come as Qatari mediators facilitate indirect talks amid renewed threats of military strikes.
Exports to Iraq from six major trading partners fell 29% year-on-year to $23.7 billion in the first half of 2026, according to customs data cited by economist Manar Al-Obaidi. Shipments from the UAE fell 25% to $10.6 billion, while Chinese exports dropped 42% to $5.2 billion. The sharpest contractions occurred in capital and investment goods, while consumer and food items proved more resilient.
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