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Saudi Corporate Confidence at Highest Rate in Two Years

Saudi Arabia is increasing exploration of mining sites as part of the mineral wealth exploitation project across the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is increasing exploration of mining sites as part of the mineral wealth exploitation project across the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Corporate Confidence at Highest Rate in Two Years

Saudi Arabia is increasing exploration of mining sites as part of the mineral wealth exploitation project across the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is increasing exploration of mining sites as part of the mineral wealth exploitation project across the Kingdom. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The level of confidence among companies in the non-oil-producing private sector in Saudi Arabia rose to its highest rate in two years during January, according to the data of the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), issued by Riyad Bank.

The Kingdom’s Purchasing Managers’ Index touched 58.2 in January 2023, the second-highest since September 2021. According to the data published on Sunday, the companies presented strong expectations for the next year, supported by strong flows of new orders, high production capacity, increased activity, declining cost pressures, and accelerating production growth and new business during the month.

In December, the Kingdom’s PMI stood at 56.9, while in November, the index hit 58.5, the highest in the last 16 months.

The rise was driven by the positive effects of the sub-indicators of production, new orders, and stocks of purchases. The three indices witnessed an increase in growth rates since the previous study period. The slow rise in employment and the larger decline in delivery times led to the main indicator not growing at a greater pace.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources revealed on Sunday that the number of mining complexes in the Kingdom reached 377 until the end of 2022, with a total area of ​​44,000 square kilometers distributed over 13 regions.

Makkah Region came at the top with 76 complexes, followed by Riyadh with 60 complexes, Al-Madinah with 53, and Asir with 34 complexes.

Eastern Province followed with 25 complexes, Najran (24), Qassim (23), Al-Jouf (20), Al-Baha (17), Hail (16), Tabuk (14), Jizan (11) and the Northern Borders Province (4).

The ministry added that the value of mineral raw wealth was estimated at five trillions of riyals.

In terms of type of minerals, the complexes include more than 20 different minerals, such as gold, iron, copper, granite and marble.

On a different note, the Saudi Methanol Chemicals Company, Chemanol, announced on Sunday, the latest developments regarding the non-binding memorandum of understanding signed with the Global Company for Downstream Industries (GDI), to supply methanol and explore future opportunities in the field of petrochemical products.

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said it signed a joint venture agreement with Global Company for Downstream Industries (GDI) to establish a national firm to produce specialty chemicals.

This includes the production of Methyl Diethanolamine, Choline Chloride Dimethyl Disulfide, Dimethyl Sulfate, Chlorine Derivatives, Poly Alpha Olefins and Aromatic Solvents, according to the statement.

Chemanol will own a 60% stake in the new company, while GDI will own the remaining 40%. The new JV will be based in Jubail Industrial City.

The statement added that through the agreement, Chemanol aims to become one of the largest producers of specialty petrochemicals in the region.

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Business

Bolivia Approves $1.9 Billion IMF Deal, Eliminates Diesel Subsidies

A person is counting dollars in La Paz, Bolivia, 10 July 2026. (EPA)
A person is counting dollars in La Paz, Bolivia, 10 July 2026. (EPA)
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Bolivia Approves $1.9 Billion IMF Deal, Eliminates Diesel Subsidies

A person is counting dollars in La Paz, Bolivia, 10 July 2026. (EPA)
A person is counting dollars in La Paz, Bolivia, 10 July 2026. (EPA)

Bolivian lawmakers approved a $1.9 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund on Friday, delivering the conservative government a key victory in its efforts to ease the country's deep economic crisis as unions threatened renewed protests.

Just hours after Congress approved the loan, President Rodrigo Paz announced an immediate end to subsidies for the diesel powering Bolivia’s trucks, buses and tractors — a step toward meeting IMF demands. Gasoline, used mainly in private cars, would remain subsidized for now, though Paz had already scaled back that support in recent months, The Associated Press said.

The Senate ratified the IMF agreement a day after the lower house approved it, clearing the final legislative hurdle for the three-year financing program aimed at replenishing dwindling foreign reserves and stabilizing the ailing economy marked by high inflation and weak growth. The IMF first announced the staff-level agreement in July after months of negotiations with Paz’s market-friendly government, which took power last year after nearly two decades of socialist rule as part of a wave of new Latin American leaders allied with the Trump administration.

The program still requires approval from the IMF’s executive board before funds can be disbursed. Economy Minister Christian Morales told senators that the deal would give other lenders, including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, greater confidence in the government and help it secure about $5 billion in additional financing.

But the assistance is conditioned on tough economic measures, including the elimination of fuel subsidies, that threaten to reignite unrest in Bolivia, where weeks of road blockades in June and July paralyzed much of the South American nation as demonstrators demanded Paz’s resignation. Congress on Thursday extended for another 90 days a state of emergency that Paz had declared to clear roads during the protests. It allows for military intervention and the suspension of some civil liberties.

The Bolivian Workers’ Central, the country’s main labor federation, and other unions have voiced fierce opposition to the IMF loan, warning that the government spending cuts required under the deal would drive up living costs and deepen hardship for struggling families.

Although Paz’s Christian Democratic Party lacks a majority in Congress, the centrist and right-wing lawmakers that dominate both chambers rallied behind the deal. The Movement Toward Socialism, the party that dominated Bolivian politics after the former coca growers’ union leader Evo Morales won the presidency in 2005, now holds just two of the 130 seats in the lower house and none in the 36-member Senate.

Declining natural gas exports have deprived Bolivia of dollars needed to import gasoline and diesel, contributing to chronic fuel shortages that began in 2023 and have persisted under Paz. The Iran war has pushed up global fuel costs, making fuel subsidies an even greater burden on public finances.

“No one can buy something expensive and sell it cheap,” Paz said in his late-night declaration that diesel in Bolivia would now be sold at international prices.

To cushion the blow, he announced about $79 million in cash assistance for 2.9 million Bolivians, along with loans on preferential terms for truckers, small businesses and producers facing higher diesel costs. He pledged to redirect subsidy spending toward schools, hospitals and roads.

Business

IMF Says Lebanon Economic Activity to Contract Sharply in 2026 as Conflict Weighs

FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
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IMF Says Lebanon Economic Activity to Contract Sharply in 2026 as Conflict Weighs

FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the International Monetary Fund logo at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., US, November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

The International Monetary Fund said on Friday that Lebanon's economic activity is expected to contract significantly in 2026 ‌as the ‌conflict in ‌the ⁠Middle East and broader ⁠regional security tensions continue to damage economic activity, infrastructure ⁠and living conditions, Reuters reported.

The ‌IMF ‌said inflation ‌remained in ‌the double digits and the country's current account deficit ‌had widened, largely due to higher ⁠energy ⁠costs, while infrastructure damage, internal displacement, and deteriorating living standards had added to economic pressures.

Business

Oil Prices Fall on Easing Fears Over Saudi Supply Disruption

FILE PHOTO: Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
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Oil Prices Fall on Easing Fears Over Saudi Supply Disruption

FILE PHOTO: Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, September 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Oil prices fell 2% on Friday, extending losses for a third straight session as easing concerns over Saudi supply disruptions outweighed anxiety about a widening of conflict across the Middle East.

Brent crude futures fell by $2.14, or 2%, to $102.68 a barrel by 0806 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate futures fell $1.83, or 1.8%, to $100.08, Reuters reported.

Benchmark Brent prices are on track for their first weekly loss in three.

Prices climbed to close to four-month highs earlier in the week after sources said crude loadings ⁠at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export hub of Yanbu had been suspended and Riyadh cancelled some deliveries to Europe after its East-West pipeline was damaged in an attack last week.

However, prices have cooled since on reports that Saudi Arabia was seeking to restore about half the capacity of its East-West oil pipeline within days.

Saudi Arabia has sold about 60 million barrels of crude from its Gulf port of Ras Tanura inside the Strait of Hormuz for loading via ship-to-ship transfer at the Omani port of Sohar this month and next, multiple trade sources said on Friday.

The rebound in Saudi Aramco's exports from inside the Gulf to between 1 million to 1.5 million barrels per day on average, similar to or slightly higher than August's levels, has cooled global oil prices as it could make up for some of the ⁠volume lost at its port of Yanbu.

Chinese and South Korean refiners are among the top buyers of the spot supplies, while some volumes will be going to India and Japan, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Recent efforts ‌to restore Saudi export capacity have reduced some of the immediate supply ‌anxiety," said Priyanka Sachdeva, head of market insights at Phillip Nova.