Saudi Aramco starts trading US crude that helps set Brent oil benchmark

Saudi Aramco starts trading US crude that helps set Brent oil benchmark
Aramco, the world's largest oil company, has been expanding its trading activity. Shutterstock
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Updated 13 February 2024
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Saudi Aramco starts trading US crude that helps set Brent oil benchmark

Saudi Aramco starts trading US crude that helps set Brent oil benchmark

LONDON: Saudi state oil company Aramco has started trading a US crude oil grade that underpins the global Brent benchmark in a process run by S&P Global Commodity Insights, the publisher said on Monday, according to Reuters.

Aramco, the world's largest oil company, has been expanding its trading activity. The company could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters on Monday after Saudi business hours.

On Monday, Aramco sold a cargo of US WTI Midland crude to Total in the Platts Market on Close process, known as the Platts window, trade sources said. Aramco had last Thursday sold another cargo of the US crude.

These were Aramco's first WTI Midland trades in the MoC, Joel Hanley, S&P global director of crude and fuel oil markets, said via email. In December, Aramco bought a cargo of North Sea crude DUC, its first deal since joining the process, he said.

US WTI Midland is one of six crude oil grades assessed by Platts that can set the value of dated Brent, part of the wider Brent complex used to price over three-quarters of the world's traded oil.


Saudi Arabia’s Q3 budget deficit decreases to $8bn

Saudi Arabia’s Q3 budget deficit decreases to $8bn
Updated 15 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia’s Q3 budget deficit decreases to $8bn

Saudi Arabia’s Q3 budget deficit decreases to $8bn

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia reported a budget deficit of SR30.23 billion ($8.06 billion) for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 15 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Finance. This brings the total deficit for the nine months ending in September to SR57.96 billion, remaining in line with the ministry's previous forecasts.


Pakistan central bank cuts key rate by 250 bps to 15%

Pakistan central bank cuts key rate by 250 bps to 15%
Updated 04 November 2024
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Pakistan central bank cuts key rate by 250 bps to 15%

Pakistan central bank cuts key rate by 250 bps to 15%
  • Monday’s move follows cuts of 150 bps in June, 100 in July and 200 in September
  • It takes the total policy rate cuts in the country to 700 bps in under five months

KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 250 basis points to 15 percent on Monday, it said in a statement, for a fourth straight reduction since June, as the country keeps up efforts to revive a sluggish economy with inflation easing.
Most respondents in a Reuters poll last week expected a cut of 200 bps after inflation moved down sharply from a multi-decade high of nearly 40 percent in May 2023, saying reductions were needed to bolster growth.
Average consumer price index inflation in the South Asian country is 8.7 percent in the current financial year, which started in July, the statistics bureau says. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects inflation to average 9.5 percent for the year ending June.
Monday’s move follows cuts of 150 bps in June, 100 bps in July, and 200 in September that have taken the rate from an all-time high of 22 percent, set in June 2023 and left unchanged for a year. It takes the total cuts to 700 bps in under five months.
October inflation came in at 7.2 percent, slightly above the government’s expectation of 6 percent to 7 percent. The finance ministry expects inflation to slow further to 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent in November.
However, inflation could pick up again in 2025, driven by electricity and gas price increases after a new $7-billion IMF bailout, and the potential impact of taxes on the retail, wholesale and the farm sector announced in the June budget to take effect in January 2025, some analysts say.
 


Mobily partners with Telecom Egypt to launch 1st Saudi submarine cable

Mobily partners with Telecom Egypt to launch 1st Saudi submarine cable
Updated 04 November 2024
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Mobily partners with Telecom Egypt to launch 1st Saudi submarine cable

Mobily partners with Telecom Egypt to launch 1st Saudi submarine cable

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications company, Mobily, has entered into a cooperation agreement with Telecom Egypt to establish the first Saudi-owned subsea cable connecting the two nations across the Red Sea.

The agreement includes the installation of the subsea cable, which will be fully owned by Mobily, with landing stations in Duba, Saudi Arabia, and Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, as stated by Mobily on X.

This cable will serve as a link between Asia and Africa, creating a route to Europe by connecting Saudi Arabia with Egypt.

It will enhance connectivity options for Gulf countries and neighboring regions through Mobily’s digital network, integrating with Egyptian landing stations in the Mediterranean.

Additionally, it will provide new routes to improve service reliability and meet customer needs within the Kingdom and beyond.

“The new cable represents a significant milestone in strengthening Saudi Arabia's position as a leading international hub for telecommunications services and data traffic, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030,” said Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Badran, CEO of Mobily.

He added: “The signing of the agreement underscores our commitment to expanding our infrastructure and enhancing our capabilities both regionally and internationally, as Mobily’s new cable will connect Saudi Arabia to Egypt and improve communication flexibility between the Middle East and Europe.”

This agreement aligns with Mobily’s strategy to bolster its infrastructure and network capabilities. Building on its previous investments in subsea cables that connect global regions, the new cable will expand Mobily’s international reach and capacity.

“Complementing the newly established landing station in Sharm El-Sheikh, we are developing new crossing routes to connect Sharm El-Sheikh to the Mediterranean Sea,” stated Mohamed Nasr, managing director and CEO of Telecom Egypt.

He further said: “We are confident that this commercial agreement will be a valuable addition to our ongoing efforts to support this critical sector and cater to the rising demand for capacity and connectivity.”

By increasing capacity and expanding its global reach through new collaborations, Mobily is dedicated to enhancing its subsea network infrastructure both domestically and internationally.

“I am pleased with our cooperation with Telecom Egypt, which will enable us to offer the best services to all our customers around the world,” Al-Badran noted.

“Telecom Egypt is dedicated to advancing the international telecommunications infrastructure by enhancing the geographical diversity of the global subsea cable networks,” Nasr added.

This commitment aims to provide cutting-edge digital solutions to customers and support the sustainable growth of the Kingdom’s ICT sector through advanced infrastructure.


Saudi Arabia, Turkiye sign 10 cooperation agreements at business forum in Istanbul 

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye sign 10 cooperation agreements at business forum in Istanbul 
Updated 04 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia, Turkiye sign 10 cooperation agreements at business forum in Istanbul 

Saudi Arabia, Turkiye sign 10 cooperation agreements at business forum in Istanbul 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Turkiye deepened commercial ties by signing 10 cooperation agreements at an event in Istanbul, advancing strategic initiatives across diverse sectors.   

The Saudi-Turkish Business Forum spotlighted opportunities for joint ventures in agriculture, food, and tourism, along with potential collaborations in advanced manufacturing, construction, and infrastructure. Other key areas included technology, innovation, and logistics, the Saudi Press Agency reported.   

Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye, the event attracted over 450 companies and several government agencies from both nations.   

This comes as the trade volume between Riyadh and Ankara reached SR25.4 billion ($6.76 billion) in 2023, marking a 15.5 percent growth. Saudi exports to Turkiye represented SR15.6 billion, while Turkish imports to the Kingdom accounted for SR9.8 billion.    

Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat said: “Turkiye aims to raise the volume of its bilateral trade with the Kingdom to $30 billion in the medium and long term, and diversify its fields, especially tourism, health, infrastructure, information technology, and the defense industry.”    

The minister praised the strong bilateral relationship, the quality of Turkish products, and the success of the country’s services sector, encouraging mutual benefit from these strengths. He also highlighted the Kingdom’s transformations across sectors such as mining, health, technology, and communications.   

“Today in Istanbul, I met with my brother, His Excellency the Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat, and we discussed strengthening relations and expanding trade partnerships for the good and interest of the two brotherly countries,” Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi said in a post on X.     

Fayez Al-Shaili, vice president of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, noted a qualitative shift in Saudi-Turkish relations. He stated that the establishment of the business council has played a critical role in enhancing economic relations, positioning the Kingdom among Turkiye’s eight largest trading partners. 

The number of Saudi companies operating in Turkiye has surged from 11 in 2011 to over 1,400 in 2023, with total investments reaching SR18 billion, according to Al-Shaili. 

Sami Al-Osaimi, chairman of the Saudi-Turkish Business Council, highlighted that around 390 Turkish companies are now investing in the Saudi market, with the council targeting a trade exchange volume of $10 billion in the short term. 

The forum showcased investment prospects for Turkish investors within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in tourism infrastructure, industrial zones, healthcare, digital services, and energy. 

Additionally, the business council met on the sidelines of the forum to discuss plans, initiatives, and the government support needed to address challenges faced by investors from both countries.


SABIC sees turnaround as it reports $266.2bn Q3 profit

SABIC sees turnaround as it reports $266.2bn Q3 profit
Updated 04 November 2024
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SABIC sees turnaround as it reports $266.2bn Q3 profit

SABIC sees turnaround as it reports $266.2bn Q3 profit

RIYADH: Petrochemical firm Saudi Basic Industries Corp. reported a net profit of SR1 billion ($266.27 million) for the third quarter of 2024, a marked improvement from a loss of SR2.87 billion in the same period last year.

SABIC attributed its positive results to various factors, including higher income from operations by SR797 million, bolstered by a heightened gross profit margin offset by raised operating costs.

The company’s revenue rose 3 percent year on year to SR36.88 billion, primarily driven by increased average selling prices despite a slight decrease in sales volume.

The firm also benefited from gains related to divesting its Functional Forms business and favorable currency exchange fluctuations.

According to the London Stock Exchange Group, the third quarter profit missed analyst forecasts of SR1.6 billion, as reported by Reuters.

A notable factor was SABIC’s reduced losses from discontinued operations, amounting to SR3.3 billion, mainly stemming from a fair value reassessment of the Saudi Iron and Steel Co., known as Hadeed.

The reclassification of Hadeed as a discontinued operation will continue until the completion of its sale, which was previously announced by the company.

When compared with the second quarter of 2024, however, net profit fell from SR2.18 billion due to a lower gross profit of SR194 million, attributed to softer selling prices and higher feedstock costs.

The quarter also saw a rise in operating expenses by SR223 million and a decline in profits from associates and joint ventures by SR313 million, following a fair value assessment related to the firm’s agreement to sell its shares in Alba, announced in September.

Despite these challenges, SABIC’s total revenue for the first nine months of 2024 reached SR105.28 billion, with a net profit of SR3.43 billion, a sharp turnaround from the SR1.04 billion loss in the same period last year.

This was aided by reduced discontinued operation losses and lower Zakat expenses by SR1.05 billion, stemming from regulatory-driven provision adjustments in June.

In September, Saudi Arabia’s Mining Co. completed the acquisition of SABIC’s 20.62 percent shareholding in Aluminium Bahrain, also known as Alba, marking a significant milestone in its strategy for regional growth.

According to a press statement, the transaction valued between SR3.62 billion ($960 million) and SR3.97 billion.