分类： business

The Gulf steel industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by decarbonization efforts, rising infrastructure demands, and the strategic integration of mining and manufacturing value chains. As global iron ore flows and pricing trends evolve, regional producers are leveraging advanced technology, renewable energy, and backward integration to establish themselves as leaders in low-carbon steel production. In 2025, global seaborne iron ore loadings reached 1.247 billion metric tonnes, remaining virtually unchanged year-on-year, with Australia and Brazil accounting for nearly 78% of the total volume. China continues to dominate as the primary importer, receiving 74% of global shipments. This concentration highlights the need for Gulf producers to diversify sourcing and secure raw materials amidst volatility caused by carbon-adjusted costs and trade measures like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The global iron ore market is projected to grow from $290 billion in 2024 to $397 billion by 2032, reflecting a 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), though price fluctuations are expected to persist. Gulf steelmakers are capitalizing on competitive access to raw materials, the region’s energy cost advantages, and modern Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technologies to produce low-carbon steel at scale. Major projects, such as Oman’s Vulcan Green Steel and Saudi Arabia’s Essar Group facility at Ras Al-Khair, exemplify this strategic shift. Producers are also recalibrating operations to meet sustainability goals without compromising competitiveness. Mineral Technologies Group (MTG) is pioneering hydrogen-fueled direct ore-to-metal routes and cost-effective solutions for processing lower-grade ores. Jindal Steel Oman is embedding sustainability into its strategy through efficiency, technology, and community engagement, with significant investments in renewable energy and hydrogen-ready steel complexes. The Gulf’s push to integrate mining and downstream metallurgical value chains is reshaping its industrial landscape, supported by policy frameworks like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which allocates $186.5 billion for renewables. Digital transformation is further enhancing competitiveness, with predictive analytics and AI-driven maintenance improving equipment uptime by 20–25%. With $2.5 trillion in GCC infrastructure investments planned by 2030, the Gulf steel industry is poised to become a global hub for sustainable industrial production, turning the green challenge into a competitive advantage.

In a high-stakes legal battle, Joby Aviation has filed a lawsuit against its competitor, Archer Aviation, accusing the latter of corporate espionage and the theft of trade secrets. The case, lodged in a Santa Cruz, California court, revolves around allegations that Archer utilized confidential information obtained from a former Joby employee to secure a partnership with a U.S. real estate developer. Both companies are in the advanced stages of testing their electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with plans to launch commercial aerial taxi services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi next year.

Joby Aviation claims that George Kivork, its former U.S. state and local policy lead, unlawfully transferred sensitive company files to a personal email account and altered security permissions to access hundreds of documents after leaving the company. Joby alleges that Archer used this stolen information to undercut a contract bid in August 2025. According to the complaint, the developer informed Joby that Archer had knowledge of confidential details from their agreement, implicating Kivork in the alleged espionage.

Archer Aviation has vehemently denied the accusations. Eric Lentell, Archer’s chief legal and strategy officer, dismissed the lawsuit as ‘bad faith litigation,’ asserting that Archer has no deal with the developer in question and that Kivork did not bring any Joby confidential information to the company. Lentell emphasized Archer’s commitment to advancing aviation technology and accused Joby of resorting to litigation to stifle competition.

The case, scheduled for a hearing on March 20, 2026, highlights the intense rivalry in the emerging eVTOL market. Joby is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a court order to prevent Archer from using its trade secrets. This legal dispute underscores the challenges of protecting intellectual property in a rapidly evolving industry, where innovation and competition are fiercely contested.

Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), representing approximately 55,000 employees, have reached a preliminary agreement to halt a nationwide strike that has severely disrupted mail services across the country. While specific details of the deal remain undisclosed, both parties confirmed that the main points of contention have been resolved, and strike activities have been suspended pending a union vote. The union emphasized that it retains the right to strike if the final collective agreement fails to meet member approval. The strike, which began on September 25, escalated into a rolling strike due to unresolved disputes over wages and benefits. Negotiations between Canada Post and CUPW have been ongoing for nearly two years, with the federal government recently authorizing significant operational changes to address the postal service’s financial struggles. These proposed measures include ending door-to-door delivery for four million households, shifting non-urgent mail to ground transportation, closing rural post offices, and granting flexibility in pricing. Canada Post reported a staggering loss of C$1 billion in 2023, with projections indicating a further loss of C$1.5 billion this year. The decline in letter mail, direct-marketing mail, and parcel mail revenues, coupled with fierce competition from private couriers, has exacerbated the financial crisis. This strike follows a similar labor dispute in November 2024, highlighting ongoing tensions between postal workers and management.