Jordan to restrict essential goods exports 

The government’s restrictions align with the Food Security Council’s recommendation to limit the trade activity for these items. Shutterstock
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Updated 28 December 2023
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Jordan to restrict essential goods exports 

RIYADH: Jordan has regulated the export and re-export of essential goods, including rice and sugar, amid soaring shipping costs following tensions in the Red Sea. 

Corn, sunflower, palm, and soybean oil were also among the main products covered in the ban. 

The government’s restrictions align with the Food Security Council’s recommendation to limit the trade activity for these items. 

The world’s top transportation companies, including container giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, stopped using Red Sea routes after Yemen’s Houthi militant group began targeting vessels earlier this month, disrupting global trade. 

However, Maersk earlier this week said that it has scheduled several dozen vessels to travel via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea in the upcoming weeks, signaling that global shipping firms are returning to the route. 

According to new industry data by Flexport, diverted journeys around Africa can take as much as 25 percent longer than the Suez Canal shortcut between Asia and Europe. 

Such costly trips could increase consumer prices on everything from sneakers to food and oil. 


Stc Group issues US dollar-denominated sukuk with a total value of $2bn

Updated 09 January 2026
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Stc Group issues US dollar-denominated sukuk with a total value of $2bn

RIYADH: Stc Group has issued US dollar-denominated sukuk with a total value of $2 billion across two tranches.

The group clarified that the issuance included the offering of $750 million in sukuk with a 5-year maturity at a yield of US Treasury plus 75 basis points, and an issuance of $1.250 billion with a 10-year maturity at a yield of UST plus 90 basis points, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It noted that the total order book exceeded $8 billion across both tranches, with a coverage rate exceeding 4 times, and participation from over 300 investors in the subscription.

The issuance garnered strong demand from a broad and diverse base of international investors, reflecting solid confidence in the robustness and efficiency of stc Group’s business model and strategy. 

This strategy is aimed at strengthening its digital leadership, seizing infrastructure opportunities, enabling massive projects, and contributing to the realization of Vision 2030 objectives, with a focus on achieving sustainable growth based on operational efficiency and maximizing shareholder value.

This issuance enhances stc Group’s access to international capital markets and solidifies investor confidence in the strength of its credit position. 

It also supports its strategic role in accelerating the pace of digital transformation in the Kingdom and building a thriving digital economy.