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Saudis Buy 90,000 Tons of Rice for Zakat al-Fitr

Rice is the common benefactor's choice for end-of-Ramadan charity in Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al-Awsat
Rice is the common benefactor's choice for end-of-Ramadan charity in Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudis Buy 90,000 Tons of Rice for Zakat al-Fitr

Rice is the common benefactor's choice for end-of-Ramadan charity in Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al-Awsat
Rice is the common benefactor's choice for end-of-Ramadan charity in Saudi Arabia, Asharq Al-Awsat

Around 30 million individuals are heading to markets in Saudi Arabia to buy rice for Zakat al-Fitr, charity taken for the poor a few days before the end of fasting in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Rice, a prominent commodity in Saudi Arabia, is the benefactor’s choice to give out as charity.

Usually each individual donates three kilograms of rice for Zakat al-Fitr, which is amounting this year to over 462 million Saudi rials ($123 million). Over 90,000 tons of rice are being distributed to the poor.

According to rice importers, the value of spending fluctuates according to the quality of rice being bought. Most consumers opt to buy rice that sells between 5 and 8 Saudi rials per kilogram.

Mohammed Shalan, the chairman of the board of directors at Abdul Rahman Al Shalan Sons Trading Co, confirmed that rice is the commodity of choice when it comes to distributing Zakat al-Fitr. Estimations indicate that 30 million individuals will be giving out 3 kilograms of rice each this year, Shalan said.

Shalan, whose company is one of the lead rice suppliers in the Kingdom, said that for the two months linked to Ramadan the consumption of rice rises significantly in the Kingdom. During those 60 days, rice consumption rates make up around 30% of the annual consumption volume which is estimated at 1.4 million tons.

The spike in consumption is a reflection of multiple factors. Families in Saudi Arabia consume more rice around Ramadan.

The commodity is integral to Suhoor meals, charity, Eid feasts and Zakat al-Fitr.

As for supply, Shalan reassured that market demand is covered despite the coronavirus pandemic. Demand was secured early on by authorities, who supported the private sector and backed the entry of goods into the Kingdom, which has stabilized the market, Shalan said.

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China’s Economy Grows at a 5.4% Annual Pace in Jan-March Quarter 

People walk past a clothing shop in Beijing on April 16, 2025. (AFP)
People walk past a clothing shop in Beijing on April 16, 2025. (AFP)
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China’s Economy Grows at a 5.4% Annual Pace in Jan-March Quarter 

People walk past a clothing shop in Beijing on April 16, 2025. (AFP)
People walk past a clothing shop in Beijing on April 16, 2025. (AFP)

China's economy expanded at a 5.4% annual pace in January-March, supported by strong exports ahead of US President Donald Trump’s rapid increases in tariffs on Chinese exports, the government said Wednesday.

Analysts are forecasting that the world’s second largest economy will slow significantly in coming months, however, as tariffs as high as 145% on US imports from China take effect.

Exports were a strong factor in China’s ability to attain a 5% annual growth rate in 2024 and the official target for this year remains at about 5%.

Beijing has hit back at the US with 125% tariffs on American exports, while also stressing its determination to keep its own markets open to trade and investment.

In quarterly terms the economy grew 1.2% in January-March.

Chinese exports surged more than 12% in March and nearly 6% in the first quarter, as companies rushed to beat Trump’s tariffs. That has supported robust manufacturing activity in the past several months.

But despite relatively fast growth by global standards, the Chinese economy has struggled to regain momentum since the COVID-19 pandemic, partly due to a downturn in the property market resulting from a crackdown on excess borrowing by developers.

The tariffs crisis looms as another massive blow at a time when Beijing is striving to get businesses to invest and hire more workers and to persuade Chinese consumers to spend more.

Both private and public sector economists have remained cautious about what to expect, given how Trump has kept switching his stance on the details of his trade war.

"Given the events over the past two weeks, it is extremely difficult to predict how the US and China tariffs on each other might evolve," Tao Wang and other UBS economists said in a report.

The International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank have stuck with more optimistic forecasts of about 4.6% growth this year.

After taking office, Trump first ordered a 10% increase in tariffs on imports from China. He later raised that to 20%. Now, China is facing 145% tariffs on most of its exports to the United States.

UBS estimates that the tariffs, if they remain roughly as they are, could cause China’s exports to the United States to fall by two-thirds in coming months and that its global exports could fall by 10% in dollar value. It cut its forecast for economic growth this year to 3.4% from an earlier 4%. It expects growth to slow to 3% in 2026.

China has stepped up efforts to spur more consumer spending and private sector investment over the past seven months, doubling down on subsidies for auto and appliance trade-ins and channeling more funding for housing and other cash strapped industries.