China Merchants Energy Shipping and COSCO Shipping Energy reported sharp net profit increases for the first three quarters of 2026. The financial gains were driven by an extraordinary surge in crude freight rates on shipping routes connecting the Gulf and China. In September, rates on the Middle East export TD34 route rose from $200,000 to over $800,000 per day.
China's energy supply chain is showing resilience against geopolitical conflicts impacting Gulf maritime trade routes and global energy flows. Higher domestic natural gas production, expanded strategic storage, and supplier diversification have cushioned the market from supply shocks. While exposure to Persian Gulf transit routes remains high, strategic reserves have mitigated immediate disruption risks.
Saudi national shipping carrier Bahri posted a net profit of SR5.09 billion ($1.36 billion) for the third quarter of 2026, up 890.7% year on year. The performance was driven primarily by oil transport operations as tanker rates on the route from the Middle East Gulf to China hit an all-time high. Revenue for the period increased by 503.7% to SR14.83 billion.
The Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF) launched the 2026 China-Arab Business & Investment Report during the Investopia Bridge 2026 forum in Abu Dhabi. Jointly produced with Investopia and backed by HSC Asset Management, the report tracks bilateral cooperation across traditional industries and emerging technologies. SIEF also announced a strategic climate resilience partnership with the World Bank.
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