OCBC has lifted its end-2026 aluminium price forecast to roughly US$3,150 per tonne due to subdued recovery across Gulf smelters. GCC smelter production growth slowed to 2 percent month-on-month in August, while Chinese output rose 4.7 percent year-on-year. Chinese unwrought aluminium and product exports also increased by 17.3 percent during the month.
In 2025, Oman exported 4,500 tonnes of squid worth US$11.6 million across 19 countries, with China ranking among the top buyers alongside Vietnam and Malaysia. Total domestic squid landings reached approximately 14,000 tonnes, dominated by traditional artisanal fishing. Oman also imported about 485 tonnes of squid during the year, with Yemen, China, and the UAE serving as the leading suppliers.
Iran has approved 10 foreign investment projects worth over $130 million in Isfahan Province during the first half of the current Iranian year. The approved ventures include investors from China, the UAE, Afghanistan, Oman, the Netherlands, and Germany-based Iranians. Projects span multiple sectors including solar power, steel production, cotton yarn, clinic construction, and POS terminals.
Dubai-based real asset firm ROX Capital Group has launched the ROX Gulf Energy Storage Platform to advance utility-scale and commercial storage projects in the UAE and Oman. The platform will identify and deploy diverse battery chemistries and long-duration storage technologies while assessing regional assembly and manufacturing opportunities. ROX plans to partner with established technology providers to participate in upcoming regional storage tenders.
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