Iraq Yields $100 Mn in Revenues after Expelling Militias from Frontier

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)
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Iraq Yields $100 Mn in Revenues after Expelling Militias from Frontier

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)

Iraq's Border Ports Authority announced record financial revenues from customs duties as a result of the measures taken by the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at all border crossings to combat customs corruption, impose order and expel armed factions from the country's frontier.

Head of Iraq's Border Ports Authority Omar al-Waeli said the revenues amounted to $100 million in July despite customs exemptions on several goods and closure of the outlets due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He indicated that the revenues came from seven or eight crossings out of Iraq’s 21, stressing that the authority intends to achieve more revenues to support the state treasury in light of the country’s financial issues.

During his visit to Mandali crossing with Iran last month, Kadhimi vowed to pursue the “ghosts” who were transporting cargo trucks across the border without paying customs fees.

He ordered a team from the Emergency Response Division to take over the crossing, saying they are authorized to use live fire to stop anyone from attacking people working at the border.

Meanwhile, an informed source at the Ports Authority confirmed that the measures taken by the government have made a total difference in terms of increasing the financial revenues achieved and imposing the law.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the source said that units of the armed factions were present at the ports under the pretext of supervising religious groups arriving from Iran during the pilgrimage season, but their presence became permanent.

They used the ports for trade operations, customs clearance, and illegally imposing fees and royalties, he added.

The source said that the government recently expelled all the factions and groups working outside the customs area, and dismissed several employees cooperating with those groups.

He also said he expects the revenues to increase in the coming months compared to previous years, noting that over half of the border ports are shut due to the COVID-19, and operating crossings are not at full capacity.



Primary Listings Maintain Strategic Allure in Saudi Market Despite Slower Momentum

A trader monitors the stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange (AFP). 
A trader monitors the stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange (AFP). 
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Primary Listings Maintain Strategic Allure in Saudi Market Despite Slower Momentum

A trader monitors the stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange (AFP). 
A trader monitors the stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange (AFP). 

Despite a noticeable slowdown in the pace of initial public offerings (IPOs) during the first five months of 2025, the Saudi stock market continues to attract strategic listings, reinforcing its commitment to the economic diversification goals of Vision 2030.

The lull follows an exceptional year in 2024, with analysts attributing the current deceleration to a combination of global factors. Chief among them are the 7% decline in the Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) since the start of the year and intensifying geopolitical and trade tensions, particularly in the Middle East.

Nonetheless, investor sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, buoyed by quality offerings in high-impact sectors. A case in point is the recent IPO of flynas, which debuted on the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) amidst heightened regional instability, notably the escalating Iran-Israel conflict.

The airline’s listing garnered strong institutional interest, generating an oversubscription of over SAR 409 billion ($109 billion). However, its first trading session reflected market nervousness, with shares dropping as much as 12% before recovering to close at SAR 77.80, a 2.75% loss. The debut saw a flurry of trading activity, with over 12 million shares exchanged in under an hour, valued at nearly SAR 900 million.

The challenges facing regional carriers, ranging from airspace closures to route changes, have significantly inflated operational costs. Still, the IPO marked the first major listing on the main market since the outbreak of recent military tensions, underlining investor interest in key sectors despite a turbulent backdrop.

flynas floated 51.3 million shares, representing 30% of its post-offer capital, with 80% allocated to institutional investors and 20% to retail. The company’s market cap at listing was SAR 13.7 billion.

The broader IPO landscape has been quieter compared to 2024, which saw 40 offerings totaling SAR 15.2 billion, including 14 listings on the main market and 26 on the parallel market (Nomu). The Saudi bourse ranked 9th globally in IPO volume and 7th in IPO returns last year, according to the Capital Market Authority’s (CMA) board member Abdulaziz bin Hassan.

Yet despite fewer IPOs this year, the focus has shifted toward strategic sectors. The March listing of Umm Al Qura for Development & Construction (Masar), which soared 30% on its debut, highlights investor appetite for real estate plays tied to national projects. Masar’s shares climbed from SAR 15 at IPO to SAR 23 by early June.

In contrast, United Carton Industries Company, which listed in late May at SAR 50, fell to SAR 41.35 amid a 46% drop in first-quarter profits. Still, experts note the firm’s market niche in corrugated packaging gives it long-term relevance.

Commenting on market dynamics, Mohammed Al-Farraj, Senior Head of Asset Management at Arbah Capital, emphasized the resilience of the Saudi exchange. He noted that Vision 2030 continues to drive economic diversification and investor confidence, even as oil prices exert a more contained influence, mainly on energy giants like Aramco.

Al-Farraj also pointed to macroeconomic factors such as inflation and interest rates, stressing that elevated costs in housing and construction materials are pressuring real estate margins. However, expectations of interest rate cuts later in 2025 could provide a much-needed boost to real estate and financial services.