Saudi Oil Exports Reach $25.5 Bln in Oct.

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo
The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo
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Saudi Oil Exports Reach $25.5 Bln in Oct.

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo
The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo

The value of Saudi oil exports during October 2022 reached 95.8 billion riyals ($25.5 billion), compared to 82.1 billion riyals ($21.9 billion) during October 2021, with an increase of (14 billion riyals), a percentage of 17.

According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), oil exports represented 77.5 percent of the overall exports of the Kingdom in October compared to 79.4 percent during the same month of last year.

Oil prices rose for the fourth day in a row on Thursday as US inventories of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel dwindle just as a winter storm hits the United States and travel spikes into the holiday season.

Brent futures rose $1.16 percent, or 1.96 percent, at 1201 GMT, up about 2.7 percent from the previous session.

Futures for US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $1.51, or 1.93 percent, to $79.80 a barrel.

Both benchmark oil contracts jumped on Wednesday after government data showed US crude inventories fell by much more than analysts had expected, posting a drop of 5.89 million barrels for the week ending Dec. 16.

Distillate stocks, which include heating oil and jet fuel, also declined, going against expectations for a build.

Stockpiles fell as demand for heating oil was set to soar because of the powerful winter storm in the US.

"The crude market is finely balanced," said National Australia Bank's head of commodity research Baden Moore.

"As we look into 2023, we see China's re-opening and a likely continued steady roll-up in global jet demand (towards 2019 levels) will tighten global crude markets and drive prices higher," he said.

China may be struggling to keep a tally of COVID-19 infections as the country experiences a big spike in cases, a senior World Health Organization official said on Wednesday.



Saudi Energy Minister Emphasizes Importance of Balancing Growth, Energy Security

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
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Saudi Energy Minister Emphasizes Importance of Balancing Growth, Energy Security

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Photo: Energy Ministry account on X

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz participated in the Energy Transitions Working Group meetings, the 15th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 9th Mission Innovation Ministerial, held this week in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, where he emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth and energy security.
The meetings focused on sustainable energy policies and equitable energy transitions within G20 efforts to enhance international cooperation aimed at achieving environmental sustainability and supporting innovations in clean energy technologies.
Prince Abdulaziz emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth, energy security, and climate change mitigation. He highlighted the Kingdom's leadership in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, as well as its commitment to leading by example in leveraging circular carbon economy technologies, and affirmed the Kingdom's ambition to become a global leader in the production and export of clean energy.
Prince Abdulaziz also outlined Saudi Arabia's efforts to increase its renewable energy capacity, which is expected to reach approximately 44 gigawatts by the end of 2024, and touched upon the establishment of a hydrogen production hub in Ras Al Khair Industrial City, along with a major carbon capture and storage project, which will have a capacity of 9 million tons annually by 2027.