Volume of Saudi-Chinese Trade Exchange Amounts to $320Bln

The FSC issued an economic report on the occasion of the Chinese president’s visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
The FSC issued an economic report on the occasion of the Chinese president’s visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
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Volume of Saudi-Chinese Trade Exchange Amounts to $320Bln

The FSC issued an economic report on the occasion of the Chinese president’s visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
The FSC issued an economic report on the occasion of the Chinese president’s visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

The Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) said the volume of trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and China between 2017 and 2021 amounted to SAR1.2 trillion ($320 billion).

This figure reflects the strength and durability of the strategic economic partnership and the diversity and multiplicity of trade and investment opportunities in the two countries.

The FSC issued an economic report on the occasion of the Chinese president’s visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

It pointed out that the growing bilateral economic ties provide wide opportunities for economic cooperation and establish trade and investment partnerships between the business sectors of the two countries.

The report underlined the opportunities for economic integration between Riyadh and Beijing in light of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Silk Road, which are consistent in many of their aspects with the Kingdom Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia seeks to benefit from its strategic location that connects three continents and become a global logistical hub, which enhances opportunities for cooperation and partnership between the two sides and helps accelerate the pace of development and its sustainability.

The report further referred to the steady growth in the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, which amounted to SAR304.3 billion in 2021, compared to SAR221.6 billion in 2020, up 37%.

Also in 2021, Saudi exports to China increased by 59% and imports went up by 12%, the report showed.

China exports to the Kingdom electrical appliances, equipment, heavy machinery, furniture, vehicles, clothing, plastics, iron and steel, ceramic products, rubber and ready-made construction equipment.

Meanwhile, oil, chemical industries, plastics and their products, and rubber are the most prominent Saudi commodities exported to China.



Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Wednesday, after a gain of 4% in the previous session, as markets weighed up the chance of supply disruptions from the Iran-Israel conflict and as they ponder a direct US involvement.

Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 1.2%, to $75.52 a barrel by 0918 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 88 cents, also 1.2%, to $73.96 per barrel.

US President Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that US patience was wearing thin, and called for an "unconditional surrender" from Iran.

While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader Ali Khamenei "for now," his comments suggested a tougher stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement.

A source familiar with internal discussions said one of the options Trump and his team are considering included joining Israel on strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

A direct US involvement threatens to widen the confrontation further, putting energy infrastructure in the region at higher risk of attack, analysts say.

"The biggest fear for the oil market is the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz," ING analysts said in a note.

"Almost a third of global seaborne oil trade moves through this chokepoint. A significant disruption to these flows would be enough to push prices to $120 [a barrel]," the bank added.

Iran is OPEC's third-largest producer, extracting about 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

Meanwhile, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Ali Bahreini said on Wednesday that Tehran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign.

Markets are also looking ahead to a second day of US Federal Reserve discussions on Wednesday, in which the central bank is expected to leave its benchmark overnight interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%.

However, the conflict in the Middle East and the risk of slowing global growth could potentially push the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points in July, sooner than the market's current expectation of September, said Tony Sycamore, market analyst with IG.

Lower interest rates generally boost economic growth and demand for oil.

Confounding the decision for the Fed, however, is the Middle East conflict's potential creation of a new source of inflation via surging oil prices.

US crude stocks fell by 10.1 million barrels in the week ended June 13, market sources told Reuters, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Official Energy Information Administration data is due later on Wednesday.