Riyadh Int’l Industry Week Connects 10,000 Leaders Worldwide

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalil bin Salamah speaks at the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalil bin Salamah speaks at the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Riyadh Int’l Industry Week Connects 10,000 Leaders Worldwide

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalil bin Salamah speaks at the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalil bin Salamah speaks at the event. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalil bin Salamah highlighted the Kingdom’s strong position in the industry globally, revealing that over 10,000 industrial leaders from around the world gathered at the Riyadh International Industry Week 2024, which kicked off on Monday.

Bin Salamah stressed that Saudi Arabia aims to boost its manufacturing sector, especially in specialized chemicals, which could greatly contribute to the economy by creating more jobs and increasing exports.

He said the strategy includes focusing on 39 priority commodities such as building chemicals and automotive components.

During the event's second day, held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center on Tuesday, the deputy minister emphasized Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the petrochemical industry, which plays a crucial role in driving economic growth and supporting related industries, such as automotive and pharmaceuticals.

Bin Salamah added that his ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Energy and other government bodies to strengthen the petrochemical supply chains in Saudi Arabia.

This involves ensuring a steady and competitive supply of petrochemical materials for producing specialized products, boosting growth, and exports in the sector.

They’re also focused on building specialized industrial complexes that link up with raw material sources or demand centers, offering infrastructure and services to specific industrial clusters.

They have various initiatives in place, including product development, promoting local content, and empowering exports.

“We aim to lead private sector investment in manufacturing industries and capitalize on the Kingdom’s rapid growth. Collaboration between basic and advanced companies is key to developing businesses, creating opportunities, and driving targeted transformation,” emphasized Bin Salameh.

“We're currently working on maximizing production capacities by integrating petrochemical supply chains. This involves addressing challenges related to petrochemical materials. We urge all sector companies to join us in tackling challenges and finding solutions,” he explained.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia aims to bolster its industrial base and diversify the economy, with private sector investment being crucial.



Oil Prices Edge up as Market Assesses Trump's Tariff Plans

FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo
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Oil Prices Edge up as Market Assesses Trump's Tariff Plans

FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A ship is moored near storage tanks at an oil refinery off the coast of Singapore October 17, 2008. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo

Oil prices picked up on Tuesday, after the previous session's sell-off, as the market assessed US President-elect Donald Trump's planned trade tariffs on Mexico and Canada and his aim to increase US crude production.

Oil prices had fallen more than $2 a barrel on Monday after multiple reports that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the terms of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. A senior Israeli official said Israel looks set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire on Tuesday, but some analysts said Monday's sell-off in oil prices had been overdone.

Brent crude futures were up 43 cents, or 0.6%, at $73.44 a barrel as of 1414 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $69.38 a barrel, up 44 cents, or 0.6%.

Brent crude futures fluctuated between $73.30 and $73.80 a barrel in afternoon trading.

"Today’s intra-day fluctuations are probably more of the function of assessing Trump’s overnight pledge to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China," PVM analyst Tamas Varga said.

On Monday, Trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the US from Mexico and Canada.

The vast majority of Canada's 4 million bpd of crude exports go to the US Analysts have said it is unlikely Trump would impose tariffs on Canadian oil, which cannot be easily replaced since it differs from grades that the US produces.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Trump's team is also preparing an energy package to roll out within days of his taking office that would increase oil drilling.

A senior executive at Exxon Mobil said on Tuesday that US oil and gas producers are unlikely to "radically increase'' production.

OPEC+ MEETING

Market reaction on Monday to the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire news was "over the top" as the broader Middle East conflict has "never actually disrupted supplies significantly to induce war premiums" this year, said senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva at Phillip Nova.

Elsewhere, OPEC+ at its next meeting on Sunday may consider leaving its current oil output cuts in place from Jan. 1. The producer group is already postponing hikes amid global demand worries.