• Revenues hit a bumper $447mn for August. Takings have steadily climbed since the start of 2009. Buoyant revenues for 2011 provided a fillip to Egypt’s revolution-ravaged economy as receipts from tourism nosedived. At $5.22bn, 2011 revenues were the highest since 2008’s all-time record of $5.38bn. Total cargo was 65.6mn tons for August, close to August 2008’s all-time record of 68.4mn tons. Volumes for the first eight months of 2012 are up 9% on 2011 and on target to beat 2008’s record.

• Northbound crude shipments – mostly from the Gulf – hit 1.11mn b/d for August, topping 1mn barrels for only the second time since the start of 2011: the first time was in June. Over the last three months shipments have averaged 1.09mn b/d, up 56% on a year earlier. This comes despite European refiners halting purchases of Iranian crude since July. Buoyant gasoline and diesel volumes boosted total northbound petroleum shipments to a near-record 1.87mn b/d. Gasoline shipments were almost 500,000 b/d whilst diesel at 330,000 b/d was the highest this year. (CONTINUED - 221 WORDS)