Egyptian expat remittances reach $2.7bn in May: CBE

Remittances from Egyptians living abroad have risen again. Shutterstock
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Updated 09 July 2024
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Egyptian expat remittances reach $2.7bn in May: CBE

RIYADH: Remittances from Egyptians living abroad have continued their upward trajectory for the third consecutive month, rising by 26.6 percent to reach $2.7 billion in May. 

According to data from the Central Bank of Egypt, this marks a year-on-year growth of 73.8 percent, up from $1.6 billion.

Additionally, the monthly increase from April’s figure reached $2.2 billion, driven by economic reform measures introduced on March 6, including a currency devaluation of approximately 35 percent in response to a significant interest rate hike. 

This came as the International Monetary Fund projected Egypt’s foreign cash revenues to surge by $13.7 billion from five key sources this year, marking a 14.6 percent increase from the previous year. 

Net private transfers from abroad are anticipated to increase to around $23.1 billion in 2023-2024, up 5.5 percent from $21.9 billion in 2022-2023. The projections suggest these transfers will continue rising to $24.6 billion in 2024-2025. 

This anticipated growth is largely attributed to a landmark agreement signed in February by the UAE, represented by a private consortium led by ADQ, a sovereign investment fund based in Abu Dhabi. The agreement outlined a $35 billion investment in Ras El-Hekma, a region on the Mediterranean coast 350 km northwest of Cairo, marking the single largest foreign direct investment in Egypt to date. 

The IMF forecasted in May that foreign cash inflows from these five sources, including proceeds from commodity exports, tourism revenues, Suez Canal revenues, private transfers, and net foreign direct investment, will total around $107.3 billion for the fiscal year 2023-2024, up from approximately $93.6 billion in 2022-2023. 

Despite this positive outlook for the current fiscal year, the IMF expected a decline in foreign cash inflows for the next fiscal year, projecting a drop to approximately $91.2 billion, below the levels of 2022-2023. 

Specifically, the international firm predicted a decrease in commodity export revenues to $33.2 billion for the current fiscal year, down from $39.6 billion last year, a 16.2 percent decline, with a subsequent rise to $35.6 billion next year.  

Tourism revenues are expected to fall to around $12 billion in 2023-2024, down from $13.6 billion in 2022-2023, an 11.8 percent decrease, before increasing to about $12.6 billion in 2024-2025. 

Suez Canal revenues are projected to decline to $6.8 billion this fiscal year, compared to $8.8 billion last year, a 22.7 percent decrease, with an expected rise to approximately $10 billion next year.  

Net foreign direct investment inflows are projected to surge to around $32.2 billion this year, a significant increase from $9.7 billion in the previous fiscal year, marking a 232 percent rise. However, a decline to $8.4 billion is expected next year. 


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.