Saudi exports in 1999

This figure constituted an increase of 31 percent compared to the value of exports in 1998, according to the Bulletin of Export Statistics, issued by the Department of General Statistics at the Planning Ministry.

The Bulletin reported that, in 1999,

- the group of Asian countries, which includes non-Arab and non-Muslim countries, received 43 percent of Saudi exports (worth SR81,118 million)

- the North American countries received 20 percent Saudi exports (worth SR38,467 million);

- the West European countries received 17 percent of the Saudi exports (worth SR31,789 million);

- the GCC member states received seven percent of the Saudi exports (worthSR13,310 million);

- the Muslim non-Arab countries five percent of the Saudi exports (worth SR9,696 million);

- the Arab countries received three percent of the Saudi exports (worth SR5,425 million);

- the rest of the countries of the world received five percent of the Saudi exports (worth approximately SR9,500 million).

The USA was the top recipient of Saudi exports, taking 20 percent of total Saudi exports ( SR37,185 million), of which crude oil exports constituted 92 percent (SR34,338 million). Japan was second, taking 15 percent (SR28,496 million) of total Saudi exports, of which crude oil constituted 70 percent (SR20,070 million). South Korea was third, taking 11 percent (SR20,429 million) of total Saudi exports, of which crude oil exports constituted 79 percent (SR16,046 million). Fourth was Singapore, which received six percent (SR11,107 million) of total Saudi exports, of which crude oil constituted 83 percent (SR7,038 million). The bulletin noted that the biggest exporting countries to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia received 71 percent of the total Saudi exports.

In 1999 export of the petroleum mineral products, worth SR168,298 million, amounted to 89 percent of the total Saudi exports. In 1998 they amounted to SR121,972 million. The Saudi crude oil exports in 1999 amounted to SR138,342 million, compared with SR 98,840 million in 1998. In 1999 the Kingdom exported SR 9,189 million worth petrochemicals, which is equivalent to five percent of total exports.

In 1998 the Kingdom exported SR 9,961 million worth of petrochemicals. In the same year the Kingdom exported SR3,529 million worth of plastic, equivalent to two percent of the total exports. In 1998 the Kingdom exported SR 4,152 million worth plastic. In 1999 the Kingdom exported SR2,175 million worth metals and their products. That was equivalent to one percent of the total exports. In 1998 it exported SR2,200 million worth metal and their products

In the same year the Kingdom exported SR873 million worth of machineries, devices and electric equipment. That was equivalent to 0.5 percent of its total exports, while in 1998 it exported SR1,022 million worth of machineries, devices and electric equipment The value of the Kingdom's other exports in 1999 amounted to SR6,020 million, while in 1998 the value of its other exports amounted to SR6,081 million.

SDI exports to the GCC member states in 1999, from the national and non-national commodities, amounted to SR 13,310 million, while in 1998 the Saudi exports to the GCC member states amounted to SR12,443. Bahrain was the top GCC importer of Saudi goods, receiving SR5,560 million worth; second was the United Arab Emirates (SR 4,710 million). The other GCC member states, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, accounted for SR3,040 million worth of Saudi exports.

Source: SPA

Eleven new RVF cases reported

Source: SPA

SFD to help fund the building of Krakanda-Istanah road in Kazakhstan

The project involves re-establishing the 183 kilometers long road, which is part of the major national highway grid linking the new capital with the old one. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the government of Kazakhstan will also contribute in financing the project.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, Aviation and Inspector General, the Prime Minister Kasym Zhomart Tokayev and a number of senior officials from the two sides.

Source: SPA

Progress on the al-Hawayah gas plant

Following the tour, the Minister said this project was part of the effort of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince to utilize the natural gas in the Kingdom in generating electricity and for industry, water desalination and the petrochemical industries, leading to improvement of economic growth and industrial development in the Kingdom.

The Minister stated that the gas plant in al-Hawayah was one of Saudi Aramco projects to increase the company's capacity to process gas to meet local demand.

Al-Hawayah would be Saudi Aramco's fourth gas processing plant after the gas plants in Albari, Shodqum and Othmaniah, which currently produce up to a total of four billion standard cubic feet of dry gas daily, Al-Noaimi said.

The gas plant in al-Hawayah would also be the company's first gas plant designed to process only unaccompanied gas, he said, adding that the plant would receive crude gas from gas deposits from al-Hawayah and Hars in Alghwar field. The new plant will produce about 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sweet dry gas in addition to 170,000 barrels of hydro carbonic condensates and one thousand metric tons of liquid sulphur per day.

He concluded that the success achieved by contractors, working side by side with work teams of Saudi Aramco, had helped to bring forward the scheduled date of operation from April 2002 to December 2001.

Source: SPA