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.
The Drewry World Container Index reached $4,434 per 40ft container in early October 2026, marking a roughly 154 percent year-on-year increase. Despite an easing of Red Sea routing and a 68 percent rebound in Suez transits, China-to-Gulf shipping rates remained elevated due to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Ocean carrier Maersk has implemented emergency surcharges, constraining capacity between Chinese ports and Gulf hubs like Jebel Ali.
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