Independent Intelligence on the
China-MENA Corridor
Weekly analysis, market data, and trade insight for investors, operators, and advisors navigating Chinese manufacturing and Arab markets.
The Person Behind
The Pipeline
I'm Leo. Lebanese-born, Arabic-fluent, Western-educated. I publish independent intelligence on the China-MENA trade corridor, weekly analysis, commodity data, and market insight. For companies that need to understand this corridor before they move in it, I offer a small number of advisory engagements each quarter.
The weekly brief covers commodity prices, shipping signals, regulatory changes, and deal flow across the corridor. The advisory work is custom research, market entry strategy, and cultural-commercial bridge services for investors, operators, and advisors.
What I Do
Silk Road Intel provides independent trade intelligence and advisory services for investors, operators, and advisors who move between Chinese manufacturing and Arab markets. Research, market entry strategy, and cultural-commercial bridge services.
Market Intelligence & Research
Custom research briefs on specific commodities, trade corridors, and market entry windows. Sourced from primary data, not public summaries. Delivered as a professional research brief with full source attribution.
Market Entry Advisory
Strategic advice for companies entering MENA or Chinese markets. Cultural context, regulatory landscape, distribution channel analysis, and a prioritised entry roadmap based on corridor-specific intelligence.
Trade Intelligence Systems
Custom intelligence pipelines monitoring commodity markets, shipping signals, and regulatory changes across the MENA-China corridor. Research infrastructure that runs continuously.
Cultural & Commercial Bridge
Arabic/English negotiation support, commercial translation, and relationship management for deals that require more than language. They require trust built on cultural fluency in both Arab and Chinese business contexts.
The Data Behind the Corridor
Price Comparison: Cement, Dubai Port
An indicative landed cost comparison illustrating the price gap between Turkish and Chinese cement at Dubai port. This is the type of primary analysis Silk Road Intel publishes weekly.
| Source | FOB Price | Freight est. | Landed Cost est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish supplier | $95–110 | $18–22 | $113–132 |
| CNBM / Conch (China) | $54–62 | $28–34 | $82–96 |
| Estimated saving | n/a | n/a | ~$30–50/MT |
* Estimates based on 2025–2026 spot rates. Actual figures vary by volume, port, and Incoterms. Contact for current verified pricing.
Live Data
China-MENA Trade Statistics
Live commodity flow data from the UN Comtrade API. Ceramic tiles, steel rebar, and cement. Updated weekly.
View Live Stats →June 14, 2026
The Monday Brief
Subscribe and receive the free guide: Why Arab Buyers Overpay for Turkish Cement, and What Chinese Factories Charge Instead. Then every Monday: commodity prices, shipping signals, factory capacity updates, and deal intelligence across the MENA-China corridor. No noise. No pitch. Just numbers that move deals.
Join trade professionals across Melbourne, Dubai, Shenzhen, and Riyadh.
Let's Talk
Whether you're an Arab importer looking for Chinese supply, a manufacturer seeking MENA buyers, or an investor building trade infrastructure. let's talk.