Saudi Aramco Raises Asia Official Selling Price

View of the production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield (File Photo: Reuters)
View of the production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield (File Photo: Reuters)
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Saudi Aramco Raises Asia Official Selling Price

View of the production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield (File Photo: Reuters)
View of the production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield (File Photo: Reuters)

Saudi Aramco raised its May official selling price (OSP) to Asia for its flagship Arab Light crude to $9.35 a barrel above Oman/Dubai crude, its highest premium ever.

Oil jumped more than 3 percent on Monday to $108 a barrel as the release of strategic reserves by consuming nations failed to address supply concerns arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the failure of an Iran nuclear deal.

The invasion in February severely heightened supply concerns that were already supporting prices.

Sanctions against Russia and shunning buyers of Russian oil have already reduced production and raised fears of even more significant losses.

"Will liberating barrels from the strategic reserves fill the shortage caused by sanctions and buyer alienation from Russian oil? In short, no," said Stephen Brennock of BVM oil brokerage.

Brent crude rose $3.19, or 3.1 percent, to $107.58 a barrel. US West, Texas Intermediate crude rose $3.46, or 3.5 percent, to $102.73. Both contracts were down more than $1 earlier in the session.

Crude oil fell about 13 percent last week after US President Joe Biden announced a record release of US oil reserves, as members of the International Energy Agency pledged more wiretapping of the reserves.

The price of crude oil reached $139 last month, the highest level since 2008.

Oil also got a boost from stalled talks in Vienna to revive the Iran nuclear deal, which would allow sanctions on Iranian oil to be lifted.

On Monday, Iran blamed the United States for the ceasefire.

The downward pressure came from the armistice in Yemen, which may mitigate supply threats in the Middle East.

For the first time in the seven-year conflict, the United Nations-brokered a two-month truce between a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi movement. The Houthis attacked Saudi oil facilities during the fighting.



Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
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Saudi Non-Oil Exports Hit Two-Year High

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)
The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia. (“Mawani” port authority)

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports soared to a two-year high in May, reaching SAR 28.89 billion (USD 7.70 billion), marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase compared to May 2023.

On a monthly basis, non-oil exports surged by 26.93% from April.

This growth contributed to Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus, which recorded a year-on-year increase of 12.8%, reaching SAR 34.5 billion (USD 9.1 billion) in May, following 18 months of decline.

The enhancement of the non-oil private sector remains a key focus for Saudi Arabia as it continues its efforts to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues.

In 2023, non-oil activities in Saudi Arabia contributed 50% to the country’s real GDP, the highest level ever recorded, according to the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s analysis of data from the General Authority for Statistics.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan emphasized at the “Future Investment Initiative” in October that the Kingdom is now prioritizing the development of the non-oil sector over GDP figures, in line with its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

A report by Moody’s highlighted Saudi Arabia’s extensive efforts to transform its economic structure, reduce dependency on oil, and boost non-oil sectors such as industry, tourism, and real estate.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics’ monthly report on international trade noted a 5.8% growth in merchandise exports in May compared to the same period last year, driven by a 4.9% increase in oil exports, which totaled SAR 75.9 billion in May 2024.

The change reflects movements in global oil prices, while production levels remained steady at under 9 million barrels per day since the OPEC+ alliance began a voluntary reduction in crude supply to maintain prices. Production is set to gradually increase starting in early October.

On a monthly basis, merchandise exports rose by 3.3% from April to May, supported by a 26.9% increase in non-oil exports. This rise was bolstered by a surge in re-exports, which reached SAR 10.2 billion, the highest level for this category since 2017.

The share of oil exports in total exports declined to 72.4% in May from 73% in the same month last year.

Moreover, the value of re-exported goods increased by 33.9% during the same period.