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SABIC Loses $739 Million over Challenging Operating Environment

SABIC revenues dropped by 22.69% to SAR141.5 billion at the end of 2023. (Photo: SABIC website)
SABIC revenues dropped by 22.69% to SAR141.5 billion at the end of 2023. (Photo: SABIC website)
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SABIC Loses $739 Million over Challenging Operating Environment

SABIC revenues dropped by 22.69% to SAR141.5 billion at the end of 2023. (Photo: SABIC website)
SABIC revenues dropped by 22.69% to SAR141.5 billion at the end of 2023. (Photo: SABIC website)

The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the largest petrochemical companies in the world, recorded a net loss of SAR2.77 billion ($739 million) for the year 2023, at a time when the company faces a challenging operating environment.

“The petrochemical industry navigates a challenging operating environment,” SABIC Chief Executive Officer Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh said on Tuesday.

He added: “Underwhelming demand within our target market led to lower year-end product prices.”

On the other hand, Al-Fageeh noted that SABIC achieved profits from its main ongoing operations, amounting to SAR1.31 billion, compared to SAR15.79 billion during the previous year, which reflects the company’s financial strength in light of the current economic conditions and the impact of the sale of the Hadeed steel company last year.

These numbers highlight the extent of the challenge facing petrochemical companies as they grapple with market weakness, slow economic growth, and falling prices.

SABIC’s financial results coincided with the announcement by Moody’s credit ratings agency that SABIC, stc and SEC were rated at A1 with “positive” outlooks, while Maaden was assigned a Baa1 with a “stable” outlook.

SABIC said in its financial results statement published on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) website that the net loss was due to discontinued operations amounting to around SAR4 billion, driven mainly from the fair valuation of its subsidiary Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed) amounting to SAR2.93 billion, as well as its lower financial performance during the current year.

The company achieved profits from ongoing main operations, amounting to SAR1.3 billion, compared to SAR15.7 billion during 2022, mainly due to several factors, including: the drop in profit margins for most of the main products and the impairment charges and write-offs of certain capital and financial assets, as well as provisions for the restructuring program in Europe and constructive obligations.

Al-Fageeh noted that the petrochemical industry was going through a challenging operating environment, pointing to “considerable uncertainty heading into the first quarter of 2024.”

He said that the company was committed to deploy between $4 and $5 billion in capital expenditure in 2024, adding that SABIC would strive to maintain dividend distributions to shareholders without compromising the robust balance sheet.

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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.