Egypt’s Natural Gas Export Revenue Spikes 171%

Liquefied natural gas complex in Damietta, Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Liquefied natural gas complex in Damietta, Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt’s Natural Gas Export Revenue Spikes 171%

Liquefied natural gas complex in Damietta, Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Liquefied natural gas complex in Damietta, Egypt (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla said on Wednesday that Egypt’s output of petroleum products amounted to around 79.5 MT in 2022, including around 50.6 MT of natural gas.

Egypt’s exports of natural gas rose to $8.40 billion in 2022, a surge of 171 percent from around $3.50 billion in 2021.

The leap in Egypt’s revenues from natural gas sales was attributed to a global increase in export prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

El-Molla revealed that the oil sector managed to benefit from the Egyptian government's plan to rationalize gas consumption in electricity, in order to provide additional quantities for export and benefit from the high LNG global prices.

He further assured that the domestic market demand was met, noting a spike of six percent in consumption.

According to the Minister, Egypt achieved 53 new oil and gas discoveries in 2022. The discoveries include 42 oil wells and 11 gas wells in the Western Desert, the Suez Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Nile Delta.

This is paying off with new international companies working in Egypt, specifically ExxonMobil and Chevron.

The minister confirmed that Egypt is becoming a regional hub for gas and petroleum trade, encouraging the European Union and neighboring countries to bolster cooperation and foster economic ties with Egypt in the energy sector.



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.