Saudi Electricity to settle $1.5bn in historical obligations to the state

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has launched the second round of its subscription-based savings product, Sah, for 2025, offering a competitive return of 4.94 percent for February.

Issued by the Ministry of Finance and organized by the National Debt Management Center, the Sah bonds are the Kingdom’s first savings product designed specifically for individuals. 

Structured within the local bond program and denominated in Saudi riyals, Sah offers attractive returns to promote financial stability and growth among citizens.

The product aligns with the Financial Sector Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to raise the savings rate among residents from 6 percent to the international benchmark of 10 percent by the end of the decade.

The Shariah-compliant, government-backed sukuk began at 10:00 a.m. Saudi time on Feb. 2 and will remain open until 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 4. Redemption amounts are expected to be paid within a year, as announced by the NDMC on X.

Sah offers fee-free, low-risk returns and is available through the digital platforms of various approved financial institutions. The bonds are issued monthly based on the issuance schedule, with a one-year savings period, fixed returns, and profits paid out at the bond’s maturity.

The minimum subscription amount is SR1,000 ($266), corresponding to the value of one bond, while the maximum total issuance per user during the program period is SR200,000. Returns are paid monthly per the issuance calendar.

The savings period lasts one year with a fixed return, and accrued profits are disbursed at the bond’s maturity. Future returns will be influenced by market conditions on a month-to-month basis.

The product is available to Saudi nationals aged 18 and older, who must open an account with either SNB Capital, Aljazira Capital, Alinma Investment, SAB Invest, or Al-Rajhi Capital.

Last month, NDMC announced the closure of the year’s first issuance with a total amount allocated of SR3.724 billion. It was divided into four tranches, with the first valued at SR1.255 billion to mature in 2029 and the second worth SR1.405 billion, maturing in 2032. The third tranche totaled SR1.036 billion to mature in 2036, while the fourth amounted to SR28 million and matures in 2039.

The initial 2025 issuance concluded on Jan. 7, offering a competitive return of 4.95 percent over its three-day subscription period.

RIYADH: Oman’s trade surplus rose 2 percent year on year by the end of November, reaching 7.14 billion Omani rials ($18.5 billion), up from 6.99 billion rials in the same period of 2023. 

The increase, driven largely by a surge in oil and gas exports, saw total merchandise exports grow 7.7 percent year on year to 22.23 billion rials, while imports rose 10.6 percent to 15.09 billion rials, according to preliminary data from the National Center for Statistics and Information. 

Oil and gas exports surged 19.7 percent to 14.99 billion rials, compared to 12.53 billion rials in the same period of 2023.   

Crude oil exports rose 2.5 percent to 9.13 billion rials, while refined oil exports saw a sharp increase of 174.9 percent to 3.57 billion rials. Liquefied natural gas exports, however, declined slightly by 1.1 percent to 2.30 billion rials.  

The UAE was Oman’s top trade partner in non-oil exports, with trade reaching 935 million rials, an 8.1 percent increase from November 2023.   

The UAE also remained the leading destination for re-exports from Oman at 526 million rials and was the top exporter to Oman, supplying 3.60 billion rials worth of goods.  

Saudi Arabia ranked second in non-oil exports from Oman, totaling 764 million rials, followed by South Korea with 611 million rials.   

Iran was the second-largest re-export destination at 335 million rials, followed by Kuwait at 110 million rials.   

Among exporters to Oman, China ranked second with 1.62 billion rials, followed by Kuwait at 1.49 billion rials.  

Oman’s trade surplus is part of a regional trend as the Gulf Cooperation Council continues to play a significant role in global trade.   

The latest data shows that the GCC achieved a total trade volume of $1.5 trillion, securing its position as the world’s sixth-largest trader and accounting for 3.4 percent of global trade in 2023.  

Oman’s non-oil merchandise exports declined by 16.6 percent to 5.64 billion rials in November, down from 6.77 billion rials a year earlier. Mineral products remained the largest category within non-oil exports at 1.62 billion rials, despite a 35.2 percent drop.   

Base metals and related products fell 1.1 percent to 1.20 billion rials, while plastics and rubber products grew 10.1 percent to 896 million rials.   

Exports of chemical industry products dropped 22 percent to 725 million rials, and live animals and animal products declined 12.3 percent to 320 million rials.  

Re-exports from Oman grew 18.3 percent to 1.59 billion rials. Transport equipment re-exports rose 2.1 percent to 385 million rials, while electrical machinery and equipment fell 4.1 percent to 346 million rials.   

Re-exported food, beverages, and liquids increased by 30.2 percent to 168 million Omani rials, and mineral product re-exports climbed 43.1 percent to 119 million Omani rials. However, re-exports of live animals and animal products declined 13.3 percent to 89 million rials.  

On the import side, mineral products accounted for the largest share, totaling 4.21 billion rials, up 9.5 percent.   

Imports of electrical machinery and equipment grew 26 percent to 2.61 billion rials, while base metals and related products declined 1.2 percent to 1.45 billion rials.   

Chemical industry imports rose 2.7 percent to 1.40 billion rials, and transport equipment imports increased by 13.1 percent to 1.35 billion rials. Other imported products totaled 4.07 billion rials.  

Oman’s crude oil exports totaled approximately 308.42 million barrels by the end of December, with an average price per barrel of $81.2.  

Oil exports accounted for 84.9 percent of the country’s total oil production, which stood at 363.29 million barrels for the year.   

However, total oil exports saw a slight decline of 0.6 percent compared to December 2023, when Oman exported 310.33 million barrels.   

This decrease aligned with a 5.1 percent drop in overall oil production, which fell from 382.77 million barrels in the previous year.