Oil Updates – crude extends weekly gains, up 1 percent as Red Sea tension persists

Brent crude futures were up 86 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $80.25 a barrel by 7:09 a.m. Saudi time. Shutterstock.
Short Url
Updated 22 December 2023
Follow

Oil Updates – crude extends weekly gains, up 1 percent as Red Sea tension persists

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose as much as 1 percent on Friday as tensions persisted in the Middle East following Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, according to Reuters.

Brent crude futures were up 86 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $80.25 a barrel by 7:09 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 81 cents, or 1.1 percent, at $74.70 a barrel.

Both the contracts are also up over 4 percent for a second consecutive week, as concern over shipping in the Red Sea buoyed prices.

Oil prices could see a rebound “due to the geopolitical conflicts and the imminent implementation of OPEC’s (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) production cuts,” said Leon Li, an analyst at CMC Markets in Shanghai.

“So a small supply gap is likely to occur in January next year, and WTI crude oil may rise to $75-$80 per barrel.”

More maritime carriers are avoiding the Red Sea due to vessel attacks carried out in support of Palestinians by Yemeni Houthi militant group, causing global trade disruptions through the Suez Canal, which handles about 12 percent of worldwide trade.

Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and Hong Kong’s OOCL were the latest companies to say they would avoid the Red Sea by rerouting ships or suspending sailing.

The US on Tuesday launched a multinational operation to safeguard commerce in the Red Sea, but the Houthis said they would continue to carry on attacks.

Analysts say the impact on oil supply so far has been limited, as the bulk of Middle East crude is exported via the Strait of Hormuz.

Capping further gains though, Angola’s oil minister said on Thursday that the country’s OPEC membership was not serving its interests. Angola had previously protested a decision by the wider OPEC+ group to reduce the country’s oil output quota for 2024.

The producer group in recent months has been rallying support to deepen output cuts and boost oil prices.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other members of OPEC+, who pump more than 40 percent of the world’s oil, agreed to voluntary output cuts totalling about 2.2 million barrels per day for the first quarter of 2024.


Saudi Maaden reports 156% surge in annual net profit to $2bn on strong commodity prices and record production

Updated 8 sec ago
Follow

Saudi Maaden reports 156% surge in annual net profit to $2bn on strong commodity prices and 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.