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Saudi SABIC Expected to Achieve $1.2 Billion in Profits in 2024

SABIC Manufacturing Site in Jubail, Saudi Arabia (Company's Website)
SABIC Manufacturing Site in Jubail, Saudi Arabia (Company's Website)
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Saudi SABIC Expected to Achieve $1.2 Billion in Profits in 2024

SABIC Manufacturing Site in Jubail, Saudi Arabia (Company's Website)
SABIC Manufacturing Site in Jubail, Saudi Arabia (Company's Website)

Economic analysts expect Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) to achieve a net profit of approximately $258 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing its total annual earnings to around $1.2 billion. However, the petrochemical sector continues to face challenges, including declining global demand, rising operational costs, and shrinking profit margins.

SABIC, one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies, returned to profitability in the third quarter of 2024, reporting $266 million in profits compared to a $765 million loss in the same period of 2023. The company is set to announce its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 in a press conference on Wednesday.

According to Dr. Suleiman Al-Humaid Al-Khalidi, a financial analyst and member of the Saudi Economic Association, SABIC’s expected fourth-quarter profit of $258 million (SAR969 million) marks a significant recovery from its $500 million (SAR1.7 billion) loss in the same quarter of 2023.

He noted that the company performed better in 2024, recording a nine-month profit of $915 million (SAR3.43 billion) compared to a $373 million (SAR1.40 billion) loss in the same period of 2023.

Despite its stock price declining from a high of SAR139 in 2022 to SAR65 on Monday, SABIC has continued to distribute dividends. This resilience is attributed to increased operational income, reduced losses from discontinued operations, and lower zakat expenses.

Al-Khalidi highlighted key factors influencing SABIC’s financial performance, including fluctuations in petrochemical prices, global market volatility, and rising raw material and operational costs, all of which impact profit margins.

He stressed the importance of expanding into emerging markets, increasing global market share, investing in green technologies, diversifying its product portfolio, and forming strategic partnerships to enhance competitiveness.

Mohammed Hamdi Omar, CEO of G-World Research, emphasized that commodity price fluctuations and varying demand for petrochemical products will affect SABIC’s fourth-quarter results.

He noted that market conditions, particularly oil prices and supply chain dynamics, will play a crucial role in shaping the company’s financial performance. Despite rising operational costs, SABIC is expected to maintain or improve profit margins, with its core business units—basic chemicals, intermediates, and polymers—playing a key role.

SABIC’s third-quarter 2024 profit of $267 million (SAR 1 billion) was driven by higher gross profit margins, despite increased operational costs. Gains from selling its functional forms business, foreign exchange differences, and reduced losses from discontinued operations, particularly the revaluation of Saudi Iron and Steel Company (Hadeed), also contributed. However, finance income declined due to the revaluation of equity derivatives.

Despite market challenges, analysts believe SABIC’s focus on efficiency, cost management, and strategic expansion will help it navigate the volatile petrochemical sector in 2024.

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Aljadaan: Emerging Markets Account for 70% of Global Growth

Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
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Aljadaan: Emerging Markets Account for 70% of Global Growth

Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan stressed Sunday that the world economy is going through a “profound transition,” saying emerging markets and developing economies now account for nearly 60 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in purchasing power terms and over 70 percent of global growth.

In his opening remarks at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the IMF in AlUla, the minister said these economies have become an increasingly important driver of global growth with their share of global economy more than doubling since 2010.

“Today, the 10 emerging economies in the G20 alone account for more than half of the world growth. Yet, they face a more complex and fragmented environment, elevated debt levels, slower trade growth and increasing exposure to geopolitical shocks.”

“Unfortunately, more than half of low income countries are either in or at the risk of debt distress. At the same time global trade growth has slowed at around half of what it was pre the pandemic,” Aljadaan added.

The Finance Minister stressed that the Saudi experience over the past decade has reinforced three lessons that may be relevant to the discussions at the two-day conference, which brings together a select group of ministers and central bank governors, leaders of international organizations, leading investors and academics.

“First, macroeconomic stability is not the enemy of growth. It is actually the foundation,” he said.

“Structural reforms deliver results only when institutions deliver. So there is no point of reforming ... if the institutions are unable to deliver,” he stated.

Finally, he said that “international cooperation matters more, not less, in a fragmented world.”

Business

Georgieva from AlUla: Growth Still Lacks Pre-pandemic Levels

Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Georgieva from AlUla: Growth Still Lacks Pre-pandemic Levels

Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Sunday that world growth still lacks pre-pandemic levels, expressing concern as she expected more shocks amid high spending and rising debt levels in many countries.

Georgieva spoke at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the IMF in AlUla.

The two-day conference brings together a select group of ministers and central bank governors, leaders of international organizations, leading investors and academics to deliberate on policies to global stability, prosperity, and multilateral collaboration.

Georgieva said that the conference was launched last year in recognition of the growing role of emerging market economies in a world of sweeping transformations.

“I came out of this gathering .... With a sense of hope for the pragmatic attitude and determination to pursue good policies and build strong institutions,” she said.

Georgieva stressed that “good policies pay off,” and said that growth rates across emerging economies reached four percent this year, exceeding by a large margin those of advanced economies that are around 1.5 percent.

Business

Saudi Arabia’s flynas, Syrian Civil Aviation Authority Partner to Launch 'flynas Syria'

The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)
The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)
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Saudi Arabia’s flynas, Syrian Civil Aviation Authority Partner to Launch 'flynas Syria'

The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)
The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)

Saudi budget carrier flynas has signed an agreement with the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport to establish a new commercial airline under the name "flynas Syria," with operations scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Saturday’s agreement comes within the framework of bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Syria, as well as the strategic investment agreements between the two countries, coordinated with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport.

The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards, meeting the highest safety and aviation security requirements. All licensing and operational procedures will be completed in coordination with the relevant authorities.

The carrier will be established as a joint venture, with 51% ownership held by the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport and 49% by flynas.

The new airline will operate flights to several destinations across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This expansion aims to bolster air traffic to and from Syria, enhance regional and international connectivity, and meet growing demand for air travel.

"This step is part of our commitment to supporting high-quality cross-border investments. The aviation sector is a key enabler of economic development, and the establishment of 'flynas Syria' serves as a model for constructive investment cooperation,” said Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih.

“This partnership enhances economic integration and market connectivity and supports development goals by advancing air transport infrastructure, ultimately serving the mutual interests of both nations and promoting regional economic stability,” he added.

President of the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport Omar Hosari also stated that the establishment of flynas Syria represents a strategic step within a comprehensive national vision aimed at rebuilding and developing Syria's civil aviation sector on modern economic and regulatory foundations.

“This will be achieved while balancing safety requirements, operational sustainability, investment stimulation, and passenger services. The partnership reflects the state's orientation toward smart cooperation models with trusted regional partners, ensuring the transfer of expertise, the development of national capabilities, and the enhancement of Syria's air connectivity with regional and international destinations, in line with global best practices in the air transport industry."

flynas Chairman Ayed Al-Jeaid stated that the company continues to pursue strategies aimed at growth and international expansion, describing the agreement as a historic milestone in the company's journey and a promising investment model in partnership with Syria.

flynas CEO Bander Al-mohanna said the step represents a qualitative leap in the company's strategy and financial performance, highlighting the transfer of the company's low-cost aviation experience to the Syrian market to support regional and international air connectivity.

flynas currently operates 23 weekly flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam to Damascus, including two daily direct flights from Riyadh, one daily flight from Jeddah, and two weekly flights from Dammam.

The airline made history on June 5, 2025, by adding the Syrian capital to its network, becoming the first Saudi carrier to resume scheduled flights to Damascus.