Saudi corporate lending fuels bank loans growth to near 2-year high of 12.46%

Saudi corporate lending fuels bank loans growth to near 2-year high of 12.46%
Wholesale and retail trade accounted for 13 percent of corporate lending. Shutterstock
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Updated 29 November 2024
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Saudi corporate lending fuels bank loans growth to near 2-year high of 12.46%

Saudi corporate lending fuels bank loans growth to near 2-year high of 12.46%

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s bank loans reached SR2.88 trillion ($768.93 billion) in October, a 12.46 percent annual growth and the highest in 20 months, official data showed.

According to figures from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, this growth reflects strong corporate and personal lending trends, driven by the Kingdom’s expanding economic activities.

Corporate loans were the main driver, surging 15.77 percent to SR1.54 trillion. This increase highlights the significant contribution of the real estate, wholesale, retail, and manufacturing sectors to the Kingdom’s economic dynamism.

Real estate activities led the charge, representing 20.29 percent of corporate lending and growing by 27.37 percent to SR312.4 billion.

Wholesale and retail trade accounted for 13 percent of corporate lending, reaching SR200.63 billion with an annual growth rate of 9.06 percent. 

The manufacturing sector, a key component of Vision 2030’s economic diversification goals, represented 11.68 percent of lending at SR180.05 billion.

Meanwhile, electricity, gas, and water supplies contributed 11.32 percent to the total, growing significantly by nearly 30 percent to reach SR174.57 billion.

Notably, professional, scientific, and technical activities, though holding a smaller 0.54 percent share of corporate credit, witnessed the most significant surge, with a 53.55 percent growth rate to SR8.27 billion.

On the personal loans side, which includes various financing options for individuals, the sector grew 8.89 percent annually to SR1.34 trillion. This expansion underscores the continued confidence in consumer lending and the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategies.

In October, Saudi banks’ loans-to-deposits ratio also increased to 80.73 percent, up from 79.69 percent in the same month of 2023, as per data from the SAMA.

The calculation includes loans minus provisions and commissions, providing a clearer view of actual lending capacity.

SAMA has set a regulatory limit of 90 percent for loans-to-deposits ratios, balancing banks’ lending capacity with liquidity stability while supporting economic growth through corporate and individual borrowing.

Compared to other GCC nations, such as the UAE where loans-to-deposits ratios can exceed 100 percent, SAMA’s cap reflects a more cautious approach, prioritizing liquidity stability in the banking sector.

Saudi Arabia’s corporate and real estate lending are experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by a combination of favorable economic conditions, government initiatives, and strategic investments under Vision 2030.

As the Kingdom accelerates its transformation, the demand for financing across key sectors, particularly real estate, has surged, reflecting its rapid urbanization and infrastructure development. 

The Saudi Central Bank’s decision to mirror the US Federal Reserve’s policies, reducing interest rates by 50 basis points in September and an additional 25 basis points in November, has created an attractive borrowing environment.

This rate adjustment is anticipated to further boost real estate lending, allowing developers and individuals to capitalize on lower financing costs.

Real estate development remains central to Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification goals. Under Vision 2030, initiatives to position Riyadh as a global business hub and the Regional Headquarters Program have significantly increased demand for commercial real estate.

These efforts are complemented by giga-projects like NEOM and Red Sea Global, which are redefining urban landscapes with sustainable and energy-efficient designs.

The Public Investment Fund’s commitment to green building practices, with over $19.4 billion allocated to eligible green projects, underscores the alignment between real estate growth and environmental sustainability.

In October, PIF highlighted its green bond investments, including $6.3 billion earmarked for green building projects. These investments aim to set new standards in energy efficiency, saving up to 20 percent of energy compared to conventional buildings and avoiding thousands of tons of carbon emissions annually.

Projects such as NEOM’s sustainable water infrastructure further illustrate how the Kingdom is integrating advanced sustainability measures into its development agenda.

Wholesale and retail market

The growing share of wholesale and retail trade lending by Saudi banks reflects the sector’s pivotal role in the Kingdom’s economic evolution. 

This expansion is underpinned by a combination of government incentives, private sector dynamism, and increased consumer demand.

The Saudi government has actively encouraged the growth of this sector through measures like tax exemptions, financing initiatives, and technology transfer programs.

These policies have created a fertile ground for local entrepreneurs and attracted foreign companies eager to capitalize on Saudi Arabia’s business-friendly environment.

Consumer demand is a key driver, with rising interest in diverse products such as electronics, apparel, and food items.

The emergence of e-commerce platforms has further revolutionized the sector, enabling online retailers to reach broader audiences with ease, thereby increasing market participation.

According to data from 6Wresearch, such initiatives have heightened competition, lowered prices, and benefited both consumers and traders, adding to the sector’s momentum.

The sector’s importance is also evident in employment trends. 

According to a report by DataSaudi, the wholesale and retail trade sector employed over 1.64 million people in the second quarter of 2024, making it one of the largest employers in the Kingdom, alongside construction and manufacturing.

This employment surge highlights the sector’s contribution to economic stability and growth.

However, challenges persist. Intense competition, pricing pressures, and the entry of international brands partnering with local retailers are sparking pricing wars that could erode profit margins for some players, according to 6Wresearch.

Despite these hurdles, ongoing government support and initiatives like Vision 2030 promise to create new investment opportunities, reinforcing the wholesale and retail trade sector as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s economic future.


Foreign reserves propel Saudi assets to $435bn

Foreign reserves propel Saudi assets to $435bn
Updated 22 sec ago
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Foreign reserves propel Saudi assets to $435bn

Foreign reserves propel Saudi assets to $435bn

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s official reserve assets saw a 2.22 percent year-on-year increase to SR1.63 trillion ($435.41 billion) in October, underscoring the Kingdom’s fiscal resilience.

Data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, revealed that these holdings include monetary gold, special drawing rights, the International Monetary Fund’s reserve position, and foreign reserves. 

The latter category comprises currency and deposits abroad as well as investments in foreign securities, and accounted for 94.34 percent of the total, reaching SR1.54 trillion in October – an annual rise of 2.32 percent.

Special drawing rights rose to SR78.42 billion, marking a 2.09 percent increase and accounting for 4.8 percent of Saudi Arabia’s total reserves. 

Created by the IMF to supplement member countries’ official reserves, SDRs derive their value from a basket of major currencies, including the US dollar, euro, Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, and British pound sterling. SDRs can be exchanged among governments for freely usable currencies when needed. 

In addition to providing supplementary liquidity, SDRs help stabilize exchange rates, act as a unit of account, and facilitate international trade and financial stability. 

The IMF reserve position totaled around SR12.41 billion but recorded an 8.03 percent decline during this period. This category represents the amount a country can draw from the IMF without conditions. 

Gold reserves remained steady at SR1.62 billion, a level unchanged since February 2008. 

Saudi Arabia’s reserve assets, underpinned by substantial foreign exchange reserves and sovereign wealth managed through entities like the Public Investment Fund, serve as a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s fiscal strength. 

These reserves provide the government with a robust financial buffer to navigate economic uncertainties, including fluctuating oil revenues, global financial market turbulence, and geopolitical risks. 

With significant reserve levels, the Kingdom is well-positioned to meet its financing requirements across short, medium, and long-term horizons. 

This financial resilience bolsters Saudi Arabia’s ability to secure favorable borrowing terms from both domestic and international markets, enhancing investor confidence and supporting fiscal sustainability. 

The strategic deployment of these assets aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which focuses on economic diversification, enhancing non-oil sectors, and ensuring sustainable long-term growth. 

This comprehensive strategy equips the Kingdom to mitigate risks while fostering stability and pursuing its ambitious economic objectives.


Pakistan stocks smash 113,000 mark on strong performance by energy, fertilizer sectors

Pakistan stocks smash 113,000 mark on strong performance by energy, fertilizer sectors
Updated 16 min 19 sec ago
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Pakistan stocks smash 113,000 mark on strong performance by energy, fertilizer sectors

Pakistan stocks smash 113,000 mark on strong performance by energy, fertilizer sectors
  • KSE-100 index climbed 2784.61, or 2.51 percent, to stand at 113,594.82 points at 2:48pm
  • Investors confident of significant interest rate cut at next monetary policy meeting on Dec. 16

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks continued their record-breaking streak on Thursday, crossing the 113,000-point mark for the first time during intra-day trading, with the strong performance of energy and fertilizer shares contributing to the gains. 

The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 2784.61, or 2.51 percent, to stand at 113,594.82 points at 2:48 pm, from the previous close of 110,810.21 points. 

“Lower T-Bill yields, leading up to next week’s monetary policy, are driving investor enthusiasm,” Head of Equities at Intermarket Securities Raza Jafri told Arab News. “Index heavyweight energy and fertilizer contribute most to today’s rise.”

Arif Habib Corporation Chief Executive Officer Ahsan Mehanti attributed the record-breaking streak to surging global crude oil prices, upbeat Pakistan Oil Fields sales, car sales, cement dispatches data for November 2024 and the Asian Development Bank raising the growth forecast to three percent for FY25.

“These factors played the role of a catalyst in the record surge,” he told Arab News. “Stocks showed record bullish activity after government bonds yields fell by up to 100bps in the State Bank of Pakistan auction expected to bring significant policy easing next week.”

Stocks have been performing well this week on the back of investor confidence of a significant interest rate cut by the central bank at the next monetary policy meeting on Dec. 16.

Pakistan’s central bank has already slashed interest rates by 700 basis points (bps) in four consecutive meetings since June, bringing it to 15 percent.

According to a poll by Topline Securities, 71 percent of participants expect the central bank to announce a minimum rate cut of 200bps next week. 

Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation also slowed to 4.9 percent in November, lower than the government’s forecast and the lowest in nearly six years. This is down from 38 percent last year.

Trade data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics also supports positive investor sentiment as the trade deficit narrowed by 7.39 percent during the first five months (July-November) of the current fiscal year, standing at $8.651 billion, compared to $9.341 billion during the same period last year.

Exports rose by 12.57 percent to hit $13.69 billion, while imports increased by 3.90 percent to $22.342 billion during this period. November’s trade deficit narrowed even further, dropping by 18.60 percent year-on-year to $1.589 billion compared to $1.952 billion in November 2023.


IEA predicts global oil market will remain well-supplied in 2025

IEA predicts global oil market will remain well-supplied in 2025
Updated 43 min 29 sec ago
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IEA predicts global oil market will remain well-supplied in 2025

IEA predicts global oil market will remain well-supplied in 2025

RIYADH: The global oil market is expected to be adequately supplied in 2025, even as OPEC+ extends its voluntary production cuts by an additional three months, according to the International Energy Agency.

In its latest report, the IEA raised its global oil demand growth forecast for 2025 to 1.1 million barrels per day, up from its previous estimate of 990,000 bpd. This upward revision is driven by rising oil demand in Asian markets.

The report comes just a day after OPEC revised its own global oil demand growth projection for 2025, cutting it to 1.4 million bpd. According to the oil producers’ group, total global oil demand is expected to reach 105.3 million bpd in 2025, an increase from 103.8 million bpd in 2024.

The IEA noted that OPEC+ decision to extend its voluntary production cuts for another three months and push back the ramp-up period by nine months, now extending to September 2026, has significantly reduced the potential supply surplus that was anticipated for next year.

However, the IEA cautioned that persistent overproduction from some OPEC+ members, strong supply growth from non-OPEC+ countries, and relatively modest global oil demand growth would still result in a comfortably supplied market in 2025.

Global oil consumption is projected to reach 103.9 million bpd in 2025, closely aligned with OPEC+ forecast.

The IEA also highlighted that oil demand growth next year would be largely driven by petrochemical feedstocks, while demand for transport fuels remains constrained by behavioral changes and advancements in technology.

The report also indicated that crude oil production from OPEC could increase next year if countries such as Libya, South Sudan, and Sudan can maintain their production levels, along with the expansion of Kazakhstan’s Tengiz field.

On the global supply side, non-OPEC+ countries are expected to contribute the majority of production growth, with the US, Brazil, Canada, Guyana, and Argentina collectively adding over 1.1 million bpd.

Additionally, the IEA forecasted that Saudi Arabia’s oil supply would receive a boost in 2025 from the start-up of Saudi Aramco’s Jafurah gas project, which will increase the Kingdom’s natural gas liquid supply.

In June, Aramco finalized $25 billion worth of agreements for the second phase of its Jafurah gas field development and the third phase of its master gas system expansion.

These infrastructure upgrades are expected to increase the network’s capacity by 3.15 billion standard cubic feet per day.

 


Qatar records budget surplus of $27.43m in Q3, finance ministry says

Qatar records budget surplus of $27.43m in Q3, finance ministry says
Updated 12 December 2024
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Qatar records budget surplus of $27.43m in Q3, finance ministry says

Qatar records budget surplus of $27.43m in Q3, finance ministry says

CAIRO: Qatar recorded a budget surplus of 100 million Qatari riyals ($27.43 million) in the third quarter of 2024, the finance ministry said on Wednesday.

Qatar's total revenues registered around 51.3 billion riyals in the same quarter.


Egypt to bolster IPO program with 10 offerings in 2025: PM Madbouly

Egypt to bolster IPO program with 10 offerings in 2025: PM Madbouly
Updated 12 December 2024
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Egypt to bolster IPO program with 10 offerings in 2025: PM Madbouly

Egypt to bolster IPO program with 10 offerings in 2025: PM Madbouly

RIYADH: Egypt is set to accelerate its initial public offering program, with plans to propose stakes in at least 10 state-owned companies next year, according to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

In a Facebook post, the Egyptian prime minister’s office said that some of the companies which will float its shares include Wataniya Co., Safi Co., Silo Food Co, and 580-megawatt wind farm Gabal El Zeit.

The PM office added that shares of state-owned Alexandria Bank and Banque du Caire will also be included in the upcoming offerings. 

The announcement made by Madbouly indicates new efforts from the government to divest some of its assets to strengthen the country’s private sector and fiscal capabilities. 

Earlier this month, Egypt’s United Bank completed the public and private offering of 330 million shares, representing 30 percent of its issued capital. 

The United Bank offering raised a total of 4.57 billion Egyptian pounds ($90 million). 

Other companies that will be listed in 2025 include CID Pharma, Misr Pharma, and Alamal Alsharif Plastics.

Regarding tourism growth, Madbouly said that Egypt had a succesful year despite regional crises and geopolitical tensions. 

“This year, we will exceed 15 million tourists despite all the challenges that have affected the arrival of tourists in the region, but Egypt is on a good track in this area, and the numbers will be better next year,” said the prime minister. 

He added: “We are working in the tourism sector strongly, and we are moving ahead to increase hotel rooms, and improve the tourist experience in Egypt.” 

In the Facebook post, the PM’s office also highlighted the progress of the electricity connection project between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. 

He added that the work at the Badr converter station is 65 percent completed, with the first phase of the project’s wiring process expected to be completed before the next summer season. 

The prime minister further said that Egypt’s inflation rate fell to 25.5 percent in November, a significant decrease in this index over the past two years. 

In September 2023, the inflation rate in Egypt had increased to an all-time high of 38 percent. 

Madbouly added that the country’s reserve cash index has also improved, reaching $47 billion in November. 

Earlier this month, a report released by Fitch Ratings echoed the economic revival of Egypt. It highlighted that the general business and operating conditions for financial institutions in the country are expected to improve next year. 

The US-based agency added that falling inflation, improved investor confidence, and healthy foreign currency liquidity conditions are some of the major factors that could strengthen the banking sector in Egypt in 2025.