China's diesel exports jumped last September by 262.3 percent year-on-year, reaching their highest level since February 2023, while exports of refined petroleum products overall rose 39.4 percent, with supplies from the Middle East and Russia declining due to the Iran war and other conflicts.
Chinese customs data showed on Sunday that exports of refined petroleum products, which include diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and marine fuel, rose 19 percent compared to August, to 7.16 million tons, continuing the strong growth recorded in the previous month.
Diesel exports reached 1.85 million tons, an annual increase of 262.3 percent, while gasoline, diesel and jet fuel exports combined rose to 4.41 million tons, an increase of 56 percent from September of last year, exceeding their 2025 monthly average of 3 million tons.
This increase comes after Beijing imposed restrictions on exports of refined products, including diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel, in mid-March, with the aim of protecting domestic supplies in light of the risks associated with developments in the Middle East, before easing the restrictions in mid-July.
In contrast, aviation fuel exports rose 16.7 percent year-on-year to 1.94 million tons in September, while gasoline exports fell 4.1 percent to 620 thousand tons.
Over the first nine months of the year, China's exports of refined petroleum products amounted to 41.4 million tons, a decrease of 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year. Diesel exports increased during the period by 31.6 percent to 6.68 million tons, while aviation fuel exports fell by 11 percent to 13.7 million tons, and gasoline exports fell by 51.9 percent to 3.04 million tons.
On the import side, China's imports of liquefied natural gas decreased 1.4 percent year on year to 5.61 million tons in September, while total imports during the first nine months reached 44.62 million tons, a decline of 5.8 percent from the corresponding period of the previous year.
The Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, Ayman Al-Sayyari, confirmed that the diverse energy infrastructure and logistics networks have enabled the Kingdom to continue oil supplies and regional trade, at a time when the global economy is facing the expanding repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East, extending from energy markets and shipping lanes to inflation, food and finance.
Al-Sayari said, in his speech before the International Monetary and Financial Affairs Committee of the International Monetary Fund, headed by Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, during its meetings in Bangkok, that the Saudi economy continues to adapt to the repercussions of the conflict from a position of strength, supported by prudent policy frameworks and large financial and non-financial margins, in addition to a banking sector that enjoys strong levels of capital and liquidity. He stressed the Kingdom's continued efforts to support economic activity and maintain monetary and financial stability, while maintaining the sustainability of public finances.
Al-Sayyari stressed that energy security is not limited to the availability of supplies, but rather includes the ability to deliver them to markets reliably and at an appropriate cost, calling for continued investment in the various links of the energy chain, from production and refining to storage and diversification of transportation methods, and in all energy sources, including oil and gas, as this is an essential element of global economic and financial stability.
He explained that the initial repercussions of the conflict were concentrated in energy markets and major shipping lanes, before spreading to broader sectors, including trade, transportation, inflation, financing conditions, and investor confidence. He added that the pressures extended from oil and gas to refined petroleum products, especially transportation fuels, fertilizers and basic production inputs, exacerbating the risks of rising prices and putting pressure on food security and production.
He warned that redirecting supplies and withdrawing from stocks contributed to mitigating the immediate impact of the unrest, but reduced the ability to cope with additional outages, noting that continued pressures may weaken global growth prospects in the medium term.
Saudi banking sector
Speaking about the ability of the Saudi economy to confront shocks, Al-Sayyari pointed out that the banking sector enjoys strong capitalization and high liquidity, and that financial safety indicators are still among the strongest in the region. He added that asset quality has improved, and stress tests confirm the banking system's ability to withstand severe shocks.
Al-Sayyari attributed the Kingdom's ability to maintain local stability to decades of prudent economic management, risk management and strategic investment, in addition to the diversification of energy infrastructure and logistics services, which contributed to supporting the continued supply of oil and regional trade, and mitigating the impact of the global energy shock.
He stressed that Saudi Arabia continues to adapt its response to developments in the conflict to support economic activity and maintain monetary and financial stability, while maintaining room to move in the face of any additional developments, without disturbing the sustainability of public finances.
“Vision 2030” and promoting growth
The Governor of the Saudi Central Bank pointed out that “Vision 2030”, as it enters its tenth year, has strengthened the economic foundations of the Kingdom by expanding the non-oil economy, increasing private sector participation, and strengthening institutions and the ability to implement reforms.
He stressed the Kingdom's continued commitment to reforms that raise productivity and expand private investment opportunities, while improving spending efficiency and maintaining financial sustainability. He added that the next phase will witness continued efforts to diversify the economy, deepen financial markets, and develop human capital, in addition to developing infrastructure and institutional capabilities to support sustainable and comprehensive growth.
A call to activate IMF reforms
At the level of international cooperation, Al-Sayyari called on the International Monetary Fund to focus on the actual implementation of the institutional reforms whose review was recently completed, including economic oversight, program design and conditions, financial sector assessments, and the debt sustainability framework for low-income countries.
He stressed the need for the Fund's programs to take into account countries' circumstances, needs, and ability to implement reforms, and for the conditions to focus on the measures necessary for the success of the programs, while strengthening coordination between oversight, financing, and technical assistance. He also stressed the importance of addressing unsustainable debts in an organized and timely manner, and enhancing cooperation among creditors.
Al-Sayyari renewed Saudi Arabia’s support for the technical assistance provided by the Fund, including the Kingdom’s pledge to provide $279 million, in addition to its support for the Fund’s regional office in Riyadh.
The speech also touched on the risks posed by fluctuations in capital flows, the rise in sovereign bond yields, and the growing role of non-banking financial institutions, in addition to the repercussions of artificial intelligence and stable currencies on productivity and financial stability, stressing the importance of developing analysis and oversight to keep pace with these risks.
The net profits of the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) declined by 72.5 percent during the third quarter of 2026, despite a 7.8 percent increase in revenues, affected by increased costs of feed and feed materials, shipping, and additional fees associated with regional maritime disturbances.
The company announced (Sunday), in a disclosure to the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), recording a net profit of 30.4 million riyals ($8.1 million) in the third quarter, compared to 110.67 million riyals ($29.5 million) in the same period last year. Revenues rose to 909.72 million riyals ($242.6 million), compared to 843.61 million riyals ($225 million) a year ago.
“Nadec” explained that the increase in the ratio of cost of sales to revenues by 7.9 percentage points contributed to the pressure on profits, with the financial impact of the exceptional increase in costs reaching about 56 million riyals ($14.9 million) during the quarter. Selling and marketing expenses also increased by 12.9 percent, while treasury income decreased by about 10.93 million riyals ($2.9 million), as a result of the decline in Murabaha income.
Total profit decreased by 16.8 percent to 242.61 million riyals ($64.7 million), while operating profit fell 77.5 percent to 23.82 million riyals ($6.4 million), compared to 105.91 million riyals ($28.2 million) in the same quarter of the previous year.
On the other hand, the increase in sales of the protein sector, which recorded a growth of 100.2 percent, and the dairy and food processing sector, whose sales increased by 1.15 percent, supported the growth of overall revenues, which partially limited the impact of the decline in agricultural sector sales by 12.31 percent.
On a quarterly basis, net profit decreased by 52.9 percent compared to the second quarter, when it reached 64.56 million riyals ($17.2 million), despite a 3.8 percent increase in revenues. The company attributed this decline to the rise in sales costs and selling and marketing expenses, in addition to the previous quarter’s benefit from reversing losses in the impairment of receivables amounting to 33.35 million riyals ($8.9 million), which are non-recurring gains.
During the first nine months of the current year, net profit declined by 42.7 percent to 188.66 million riyals ($50.3 million), compared to 329.35 million riyals ($87.8 million) in the same period in 2025. Revenues increased slightly, by 0.69 percent, to 2.704 billion riyals ($721.1 million), compared to 2.686 billion riyals ($716.1 million). million dollars).
Total profit during the period decreased by 16.8 percent to 774.51 million riyals ($206.5 million), while operating profit declined 36.4 percent to 200.08 million riyals ($53.4 million).
The company attributed profit pressures during the nine months to higher costs of feed, feeding materials, shipping, and additional fees associated with regional maritime disturbances, with a total financial impact of 107.1 million riyals ($28.6 million). Selling and marketing expenses also increased by 6.68 percent, and treasury income decreased by 24.06 million riyals ($6.4 million), in addition to an increase in losses recorded from investment in the joint venture “Al-Rai National Livestock.”
On the other hand, the results during the period benefited from reversing impairment losses on old receivable balances that had been collected, which resulted in recording a non-recurring profit of 73.03 million riyals ($19.5 million), in addition to reversing a zakat provision of 9.23 million riyals ($2.5 million) after receiving the initial zakat assessments for the years 2021 to 2023.
The company recorded a loss in total comprehensive income attributable to shareholders amounting to 24.7 million riyals ($6.6 million) during the third quarter, despite achieving a net profit, as a result of the decline in the fair value of its investment in the shares of the “Arabian Mills for Food Products” Company, which resulted in recording a loss of 55.13 million riyals ($14.7 million) in other comprehensive income during the quarter.
