RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s holding of US Treasury securities amounted to $127.3 billion in May 2021, according to new data from the US government.
The amount was down 3 percent compared to April but up 3 percent compared to May 2020. This year-on-year increase is in line with global trends, as countries around the world increased their holdings by 2.25 percent in the year leading up to May 2021.
However, analysis showed that Saudi holdings are still down from their peak of $184.4 billion in February 2020. As the global pandemic took hold in March last year, the Saudi government decreased its holding by 25 percent and by a further 33.8 percent in April, as the Kingdom’s reserves were hit by the collapse in oil prices.
“The decrease in Saudi holdings of US treasuries follows the larger trend of the Kingdom drawing down its total foreign reserves to support the economy’s rebound in the wake of the pandemic. The economy has gradually rebounded since pandemic-induced restrictions limited commercial and consumer spending,” Albara’a Al-Wazir, an economist at the US-Saudi Business Council, told Arab News.
“The increase in spending has brought a surge in imports to accommodate growing demand. In order to finance the growth in imports, Saudi Arabia targeted its foreign reserves, as was recently stated by the Saudi Central Bank’s governor,” he added.
In August last year, Saudi Arabia began to boost its holdings once again, peaking in November and then continuing to decline by low single percentages ever since.
“The rate of decline has recently slowed, with small additions depending on the vagaries of oil prices, which will continue to be the key parameter for either additions or drawdowns in the next few months. With oil prices forecast at around the $72-75 ranges, or even higher in the first quarter of 2022, there will be some expected Saudi T bill additions,” Mohammed Ramady, former professor of finance and economics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, told Arab News.
The Kingdom is the 14th largest holder of US debt. Japan remains number one, with $1266.2 billion in US bonds, followed by China ($1078.4 billion), the UK ($467.7 billion), Ireland ($304.9 billion) and Luxembourg ($287.6 billion).
The UAE holds $57.3 billion, an increase of nearly 100 percent year-on-year. Kuwait holds $45.9 billion, up just 5 percent year-on-year.
Saudi Arabia’s holding of US bonds amounted to $127.3bn in May
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Saudi Arabia’s holding of US bonds amounted to $127.3bn in May
- The Kingdom is the 14th largest holder of US debt. Japan remains number one
Saudi POS spending jumps 28% in final week of Jan: SAMA
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale spending climbed sharply in the final week of January, rising nearly 28 percent from the previous week as consumer outlays increased across almost all sectors.
POS transactions reached SR16 billion ($4.27 billion) in the week ending Jan. 31, up 27.8 percent week on week, according to the Saudi Central Bank. Transaction volumes rose 16.5 percent to 248.8 million, reflecting stronger retail and service activity.
Spending on jewelry saw the biggest uptick at 55.5 percent to SR613.69 million, followed by laundry services which saw a 44.4 percent increase to SR62.83 million.
Expenditure on personal care rose 29.1 percent, while outlays on books and stationery increased 5.1 percent. Hotel spending climbed 7.4 percent to SR377.1 million.
Further gains were recorded across other categories. Spending in pharmacies and medical supplies rose 33.4 percent to SR259.19 million, while medical services increased 13.7 percent to SR515.44 million.
Food and beverage spending surged 38.6 percent to SR2.6 billion, accounting for the largest share of total POS value. Restaurants and cafes followed with a 20.4 percent increase to SR1.81 billion. Apparel and clothing spending rose 35.4 percent to SR1.33 billion, representing the third-largest share during the week.
The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national surge. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 22 percent rise to SR5.44 billion from SR4.46 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital reached 78.6 million, up 13.8 percent week on week.
In Jeddah, transaction values increased 23.7 percent to SR2.16 billion, while Dammam reported a 22.2 percent rise to SR783.06 million.
POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia.
The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives.
The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital economy.
