SALIC acquires 10.7% of Brazilian poultry giant BRF

This investment is part of SALIC’s plans to widen its footprint globally and locally. (File)
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Updated 19 July 2023
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SALIC acquires 10.7% of Brazilian poultry giant BRF

RIYADH: The Kingdom is all set to make a mark in the global food industry space with Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co., or SALIC, acquiring 180 million shares of BRF, Brazil’s largest poultry producer. 

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Public Investment Fund-owned company acquired a 10.7 percent stake in BRF for SR1.27 billion ($340 million), demonstrating its commitment to the food security of the Kingdom. 

The SPA report stated that this investment is part of the company’s plans to widen its footprint globally and locally. It also emanates from the Saudi Vision 2030 to support long-term national development to ensure the sustainability of targeted basic food commodities. 

As poultry is one of the essential commodities in the Saudi market, SALIC sought to access the strategic food supply directly using its network of global investments and partnerships. 

However, Saudi Arabia has been planning to raise the percentage of its annual self-sufficiency in poultry, compared to the current rate, estimated at 43 kilograms per capita. 

The food company added that its investment in the BRF will also support its strategic directions to empower the local agri-food sector by bridging gaps along the value chain and benefiting from global expertise to raise the efficiency of local production. 

SALIC stressed that the investment in the poultry sector is an extension of its assets in major international companies to access animal protein sources to achieve food security goals in this sector at the local and global levels. 

The company added that it began a strategic investment and a qualitative partnership in 2016 with the Brazilian company Minerva Foods, one of the largest international companies in red meat, in addition to its acquisition of a 42.4 percent stake in the Saudi company Naqua, the world leader in aquaculture. 

BRF started its business 85 years ago and is the world’s third-largest poultry producer and the second-largest company in selling halal products worldwide. It is also the No. 1 brand of poultry products in Brazil, with an annual production capacity of over five million tons and over 90,000 workers in 130 countries. 

 


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.