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Shoppers in Qatar can now buy from the world's biggest online stores — even those that refuse to ship here — and have the parcels land at their doorstep, thanks to a revamped version of CONNECTED launched by Qatar Postal Services Company (Qatar Post).The integrated international shipping service gives customers a seamless global shopping experience from leading retailers worldwide, using dedicated international addresses and secure home delivery through a reliable logistics network.CONNECTED is built for stores that do not ship directly to Qatar. It receives, processes, and forwards purchases from the United States, United Kingdom, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan, before sending them on to Qatar through flexible options and competitive rates — with plans to add more origin countries.Customers are given dedicated shipping addresses in each country to receive their orders, which are then consolidated, processed, and re-shipped to Qatar. Shipments can be tracked and managed through the digital platform, which also offers shopping guides, store links, and multiple shipping options per country to widen choice and ease the process.The service bundles flexible shipping solutions, competitive pricing, home delivery, and both online and cash-on-delivery payment options, while simplifying international purchasing from checkout to final delivery.Adding to the value, customers earn Avios with every shipment, which can be redeemed for flight tickets, cabin upgrades, and exclusive rewards through the Qatar Airways Privilege Club.Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Post Hassan Jassim al-Sayed said the enhanced version reflects the company's commitment to developing innovative logistics solutions that support e-commerce growth and let customers reach global markets with ease, while improving speed, transparency, and cost efficiency.He added that the launch is part of Qatar Post's ongoing efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure and expand its service portfolio in step with the fast-evolving e-commerce sector, reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading regional hub for postal and logistics services.CONNECTED, he said, represents Qatar Post's strategic push toward integrated digital solutions that keep pace with the rapid growth of e-commerce at local, regional, and global levels. 

The global energy market may never return to its previous state following the disruption caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the head of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), who says the crisis has fundamentally reshaped priorities in global energy security.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), GECF Secretary-General Dr Philip Mshelbila said the crisis had exposed vulnerabilities extending far beyond physical energy supplies, affecting shipping routes, financing, insurance costs, commodity markets and investor confidence.The new reality places reliability of supply, resilience, diversification of energy sources and transport routes, and infrastructure security ahead of price considerations as the primary determinants of energy security, he said.The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors, normally carries around 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies.Mshelbila said disruptions since March had significantly affected Gulf exporters and triggered widespread volatility across international energy markets.He noted that tensions in the Middle East had pushed LNG prices to their highest levels in years, particularly in Asia, which receives roughly 84% of LNG exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Buyers were forced to compete for alternative cargoes on spot markets, while some countries turned to coal and oil to compensate for reduced gas supplies.He warned that recurring geopolitical shocks were becoming a persistent feature of the global energy landscape and could accelerate structural changes in energy demand. These changes may include greater energy efficiency, faster adoption of alternative fuels and increased electrification, especially in price-sensitive importing nations.Despite these trends, he said natural gas would continue to play a central role in the global energy mix due to its ability to support renewable energy integration, reduce emissions and facilitate a balanced energy transition.He called for technology-neutral energy policies that recognize natural gas as an essential component of energy security and industrial development, particularly for developing economies seeking reliable and affordable energy supplies.The GECF chief also stressed that diversification of supply sources and transport routes had become a strategic necessity rather than a policy choice. Expanding interconnections between pipeline networks and investing in storage capacity would help strengthen resilience against future supply disruptions, he said.Countries with substantial gas storage reserves had demonstrated greater ability to absorb supply shocks and avoid severe price fluctuations, he added.Mshelbila proposed the creation of a global framework for gas security and emergency response, alongside stronger protection of critical energy infrastructure and improved sharing of market data on supply, demand and investment.He also urged greater cooperation between producing and consuming nations and called for increased investment across the entire gas value chain, including exploration, production, pipelines, LNG facilities, storage sites and cross-border infrastructure.Protecting critical energy assets - including pipelines, LNG terminals, electricity systems and maritime shipping routes - would be essential to reducing vulnerabilities and maintaining confidence in global markets, he said.Mshelbila warned against the politicisation of energy, arguing that international partnerships should be based on open and non-discriminatory cooperation. 

Hamad Port has climbed three places to eighth in the world — and second among Gulf ports — in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), cementing its standing as one of the most efficient maritime gateways on the planet at a time of mounting disruption to global shipping.The index, published jointly by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, is regarded as one of the most authoritative benchmarks for container-port efficiency worldwide, ranking ports on vessel turnaround times, berth productivity, and the speed of cargo-handling operations.Hamad Port's continued ascent comes despite a period marked by geopolitical tension, shipping disruption, and rising pressure on global transport networks — and underlines Qatar's growing influence in international logistics and maritime trade.The achievement reflects years of sustained investment in infrastructure, digitalisation, and operational excellence. It also points to the port's ability to sustain productivity and reliability while many international ports continue to grapple with congestion, delays, and rising operating costs.Since its inauguration, Hamad Port has become a cornerstone of Qatar's economic and trade strategy, serving as the country's principal maritime gateway and a key driver of supply-chain resilience. More than 95% of Qatar's seaborne imports now pass through the port, making it one of the most strategically significant logistics assets in the country. It handles everything from food products and construction materials to industrial equipment and consumer goods, supporting both domestic activity and Qatar's broader development goals.The port's success is closely tied to its advanced infrastructure and substantial capacity. Built to accommodate some of the world's largest container vessels, it has an annual handling capacity of around 7.5mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), alongside the capability to process general cargo, livestock, vehicles, and bulk commodities. Its position along major shipping routes further strengthens its appeal as a regional transhipment and distribution hub linking Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.Operational efficiency has been central to the improved ranking. Recent indicators point to faster vessel turnaround and quicker cargo processing, allowing ships to spend less time at berth and return to service sooner. Faster loading and unloading cut costs for shipping lines and sharpen the competitiveness of supply chains linked to Qatar — an advantage that has grown in importance as operators seek to offset disruption across major trade corridors and maritime chokepoints.These gains have been underpinned by heavy investment in technology. Advanced port-management systems, automated processes, and integrated customs and logistics platforms have streamlined cargo clearance and improved co-ordination among stakeholders, delivering faster cargo movement, greater transparency, and better service for importers, exporters, and shipping lines. The shift towards smart-port technology aligns with Qatar's wider drive to harness innovation to strengthen economic competitiveness.The ranking also reflects the port's resilience amid evolving geopolitical and economic headwinds. Global maritime trade has faced considerable uncertainty in recent years, from regional conflict and supply-chain shocks to inflation and shifting trade patterns. Yet Hamad Port has maintained operational continuity and high service standards, reinforcing confidence among international shipping companies and global logistics operators.Beyond its operational record, the port continues to advance Qatar's economic diversification agenda, supporting the expansion of non-hydrocarbon sectors by facilitating trade, attracting investment, and deepening connectivity with global markets. It also acts as a catalyst for industrial growth, giving manufacturing, construction, and export-oriented industries efficient access to international supply chains.As global trade navigates an increasingly complex environment, Hamad Port's latest result sends a clear signal about Qatar's expanding capabilities in logistics and maritime services. Its rise to eighth globally and second in the Gulf reflects not only its current strengths but also its potential to play a still greater role in shaping regional and global trade flows in the years ahead. 

Seaborne shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China in November are set to drop for a 13th straight month on an annual basis, extending a slump in purchases as domestic output and piped imports remain strong.Deliveries are expected to be around 5.81mn tons, according to Kpler, an analytics firm that tracks shipping data to make forecasts. That’s about 5.5% lower than the same month last year, according to Chinese customs data.China’s LNG demand has been soft this year, with buyers shying away from expensive seaborne cargoes of the super-chilled fuel in favour of cheaper piped gas from Russia and Central Asia. Domestic production has also been robust.There will likely be no urgent need for China to dip into the spot market even as winter sets in. Early forecasts show normal to mild temperatures across the country, which has already secured the heating fuel it will need for the next few months via long-term contracts.China was the world’s top importer of the fuel last year, and sluggish demand is raising concerns about a global glut later in the decade as new projects come online in several countries. Even if lower prices entice Chinese importers, the country is still unlikely to absorb all the new LNG and an oversupply would persist in the coming years, according to analysts from Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

The State of Qatar participated in the opening ceremony of the North Bund International Shipping & Aviation Forum 2025, held in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. The State of Qatar's delegation to the forum was led by His Excellency Consul General of the State of Qatar in Shanghai, Rashed bin Mubarak Al Khater. The Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Municipality, Chen Jining, attended the ceremony, alongside the Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Liu Wei, and the Mayor of Shanghai, Gong Zheng, in addition to high-level international participation.

Shipping containers pass through the Suez Canal in Suez. Egypt's real gross domestic product grew by 4.5% in the 2024-25 financial year, up from 2.4% the previous year, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said Saturday, boosted by reforms tied to IMF financing and increased manufacturing activity, reports Reuters.The Arab world's most populous country has come under economic pressure from a currency devaluation in March 2024, high inflation, and the impact of the war in Gaza. Inflation, which peaked at a record 38% in September 2023, has begun to ease but remains high.Urban consumer price inflation fell to 13.9% in July from 14.9% in June. Egypt's fiscal year runs from July to the end of June. In the budget it had predicted GDP growth of 4.2%.Over the last year, the government accelerated economic reforms under an $8bn programme with the International Monetary Fund and secured $24bn in investment from the United Arab Emirates' sovereign wealth fund, including a major land deal on the Mediterranean coast.In a news conference reviewing Egypt's financial results, Kouchouk said the country lost 145bn Egyptian pounds ($2.99bn) in Suez Canal revenues in 2024-25 as a result of disruptions in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants on shipping. The previous year, revenues had reached $7.2bn.The minister also said Egypt imported 4.5mn metric tonnes of wheat, costing $1.2bn, down more than 21% from the previous year. Egypt, often the world's largest wheat importer, requires more than 8mn tonnes annually to produce subsidised bread for over 70mn citizens.The government bought just over 3.9mn tonnes locally this year, falling short of its 4mn-5mn tonnes target.

Mwani Qatar, which is responsible for managing the nation's seaports and shipping terminals, has hosted master’s students in Business Analytics from Qatar University as part of an academic partnership programme.The objective was to bridge academic knowledge with real-world applications in the ports and logistics sector, Mwani Qatar said on X.The students are working on applied projects aimed at generating practical recommendations to support the economy and advance Qatar’s strategic goals.