Riyadh Hosts GCC-UK Trade Summit 2021 on Tuesday

A night view of Riyadh on Saudi National Day in 2020. (SPA file photo)
A night view of Riyadh on Saudi National Day in 2020. (SPA file photo)
TT

Riyadh Hosts GCC-UK Trade Summit 2021 on Tuesday

A night view of Riyadh on Saudi National Day in 2020. (SPA file photo)
A night view of Riyadh on Saudi National Day in 2020. (SPA file photo)

The biggest names from the region’s business world will meet with top experts and decision-makers at the GCC-UK Trade Summit 2021 that will be hosted by Riyadh on Tuesday. They will meet virtually in the Saudi capital to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investment and take economic relations between the two regions to the next level.

The GCC-UK Trade Summit 2021 is the most important forum for businesses and investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UK to connect with each other, exchange ideas and experiences, discuss investment opportunities and forge strategic partnerships.

The event aims to promote bilateral trade and facilitate foreign direct investment between the two regions by providing a platform for businesses on both sides to expand into new markets and explore collaboration opportunities.

As the GCC experiences a period of rapid growth and economic diversification, it is witnessing a corresponding upswing in its trade and economic relations with the UK.

This is evidenced by the fact that the Gulf region accounts for as much as $50.8 billion out of the estimated $57.2 billion annual trade between the UK and the Middle East.

The GCC-UK Trade Summit aims to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties and is envisioned as a platform that will catalyze a new era of collaboration between the two regions by bringing together on one stage high-profile investors, exporters, consultants, experts, service providers, and key private and public sector decision-makers.

The summit will provide updates on the most important projects currently underway in the GCC, explore ways to build technical capacities and networks of collaboration for entrepreneurs, and discuss opportunities to stimulate bilateral trade and investment over the next decade.



OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters
TT

OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters

OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and next on Tuesday, highlighting weakness in China, India and other regions, marking the producer group's fourth consecutive downward revision in the 2024 outlook.

The weaker outlook highlights the challenge facing OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, which earlier this month postponed a plan to start raising output in December against a backdrop of falling prices.

In a monthly report on Tuesday, OPEC said world oil demand would rise by 1.82 million barrels per day in 2024, down from growth of 1.93 million bpd forecast last month. Until August, OPEC had kept the outlook unchanged since its first forecast in July 2023.

In the report, OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.54 million bpd from 1.64 million bpd, Reuters.

China accounted for the bulk of the 2024 downgrade. OPEC trimmed its Chinese growth forecast to 450,000 bpd from 580,000 bpd and said diesel use in September fell year-on-year for a seventh consecutive month.

"Diesel has been under pressure from a slowdown in construction amid weak manufacturing activity, combined with the ongoing deployment of LNG-fuelled trucks," OPEC said with reference to China.

Oil pared gains after the report was issued, with Brent crude trading below $73 a barrel.

Forecasts on the strength of demand growth in 2024 vary widely, partly due to differences over demand from China and the pace of the world's switch to cleaner fuels.

OPEC is still at the top of industry estimates and has a long way to go to match the International Energy Agency's far lower view.

The IEA, which represents industrialised countries, sees demand growth of 860,000 bpd in 2024. The agency is scheduled to update its figures on Thursday.

- OUTPUT RISES

OPEC+ has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022 to support prices, most of which are in place until the end of 2025.

The group was to start unwinding the most recent layer of cuts of 2.2 million bpd from December but said on Nov. 3 it will delay the plan for a month, as weak demand and rising supply outside the group maintain downward pressure on the market.

OPEC's output is also rising, the report showed, with Libyan production rebounding after being cut by unrest. OPEC+ pumped 40.34 million bpd in October, up 215,000 bpd from September. Iraq cut output to 4.07 million bpd, closer to its 4 million bpd quota.

As well as Iraq, OPEC has named Russia and Kazakhstan as among the OPEC+ countries which pumped above quotas.

Russia's output edged up in October by 9,000 bpd to about 9.01 million bpd, OPEC said, slightly above its quota.