Saudi Economy Grows by 2.8% in Q3 2024

Saudi Arabia’s real GDP achieved a growth rate of 2.8% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year
Saudi Arabia’s real GDP achieved a growth rate of 2.8% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year
TT

Saudi Economy Grows by 2.8% in Q3 2024

Saudi Arabia’s real GDP achieved a growth rate of 2.8% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year
Saudi Arabia’s real GDP achieved a growth rate of 2.8% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year

Saudi Arabia’s real GDP achieved a growth rate of 2.8% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced Thursday.

In its flash estimates of the real GDP growth rate for Q3 of 2024, published on its official website, GASTAT said that oil activities grew by 0.3% in Q3 2024 compared to the same period of last year, while non-oil activities saw a positive growth of 4.2%.

Government activities also recorded a positive growth rate of 3.1% compared to the same quarter of last year.

The figures further indicated that seasonally adjusted real GDP for Q3 2024 rose by 0.8% compared to Q2 2024.



Maersk Rules Out Suez Canal Return Until 'Well Into 2025'

Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
TT

Maersk Rules Out Suez Canal Return Until 'Well Into 2025'

Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Danish shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday it expects strong demand for shipping goods around the globe to continue in the coming months, though does not expect to resume sailing through the Suez Canal until "well into 2025.”
Attacks on vessels in the Red Sea by Iran-aligned Houthi militias have disrupted a shipping route vital to east-west trade, with prolonged re-routing of shipments pushing freight rates higher and causing congestion in Asian and European ports.
"There are no signs of de-escalation and it is not safe for our vessels or personnel to go there ... Our expectation at this point is that it will last well into 2025," Chief Executive Vincent Clerc told journalists, according to Reuters.
Maersk, viewed as a barometer of world trade, said in January it was diverting all container vessels from Red Sea routes around Africa's Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future.
The company said on Thursday it had seen strong demand in the third quarter especially driven by exports out of China and Southeast Asia.
Clerc said he saw no signs of a slowdown in volumes from Europe or North America in the coming months.
Maersk also confirmed robust preliminary third-quarter earnings released on Oct. 21 driven by high freight rates, when it also raised its full-year forecasts citing solid demand and the continuing disruption to shipping in the Red Sea.
Maersk's shares rose 2.4% by 0957 GMT.