Saudi Arabia Plans to Privatize Grain Silos

Saudi Grain Silos (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Grain Silos (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Plans to Privatize Grain Silos

Saudi Grain Silos (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Grain Silos (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is planning to sell its grain silos as part of the kingdom's privatization drive after the sales of the flour mills last month were completed with great success.

Bloomberg reported that the state-owned Saudi Grains Organization (SGO) aims to start selling silo sites as soon as this year.

SAGO will seek bids from foreign and local firms; however, no decisions have been made and SAGO may retain the assets, according to people familiar with the matter.

In April, the National Center for Privatization (NCP) and SAGO announced that the third milling company was sold to investors, bringing the total sale of the four companies to $2 billion.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources launched a digital platform Monday, which it said facilitates access to all services through several channels and electronic services in the easiest way and the latest technology.

The Ministry pointed out the digital platform comes as the ministry seeks to facilitate the work of industry and mining partners.

The platform has several advantages: the speedy completion of services, saving time and effort, making the latest information and statistics available to researchers and investors, and facilitating access to the ministry’s services, according to the Ministry.

In other news, Almarai company announced new investments worth $1.7 billion aiming to double the production operations in poultry in the Kingdom through three phases until 2026.

These investments will increase the company’s share of chilled chicken, along with increasing its production and share of frozen poultry.

The company’s market share currently stands at about 34 percent in chilled poultry, and 12 percent of the total sector.

The production after investment will increase to 450 million birds per year, while the Kingdom's imports of the poultry sector are nearly 45 percent.



Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
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Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters

The credit rating agency “Moody’s Ratings” upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to “Aa3” in local and foreign currency, with a “stable” outlook.
The agency indicated in its report that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification and the robust growth of its non-oil sector. Over time, the advancements are expected to reduce Saudi Arabia’s exposure to oil market developments and long-term carbon transition on its economy and public finances.
The agency commended the Kingdom's financial planning within the fiscal space, emphasizing its commitment to prioritizing expenditure and enhancing the spending efficiency. Additionally, the government’s ongoing efforts to utilize available fiscal resources to diversify the economic base through transformative spending were highlighted as instrumental in supporting the sustainable development of the Kingdom's non-oil economy and maintaining a strong fiscal position.
In its report, the agency noted that the planning and commitment underpin its projection of a relatively stable fiscal deficit, which could range between 2%-3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Moody's expected that the non-oil private-sector GDP of Saudi Arabia will expand by 4-5% in the coming years, positioning it among the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, an indication of continued progress in the diversification efforts reducing the Kingdom’s exposure to oil market developments.
In recent years, the Kingdom achieved multiple credit rating upgrades from global rating agencies. These advancements reflect the Kingdom's ongoing efforts toward economic transformation, supported by structural reforms and the adoption of fiscal policies that promote financial sustainability, enhance financial planning efficiency, and reinforce the Kingdom's strong and resilient fiscal position.