Almarai's preliminary financial results showed a strong growth in revenues for the third quarter of 2026 by 11.43 percent on an annual basis, reaching 6.19 billion riyals ($1.65 billion), while net profits witnessed a slight decline during the first 9 months of the current year by 0.28 percent under the pressure of rising shipping and energy costs.
The net profit attributable to the company’s shareholders during the third quarter of the current year recorded a slight growth of 0.74 percent on an annual basis to reach 617.79 million riyals ($164.74 million) compared to 613.24 million riyals ($163.53 million) for the same quarter of the previous year, while net profit declined by 2.81 percent compared to the second quarter of the same year.
In the first 9-month period of 2026, net profit declined slightly by 0.28 percent to reach 1.99 billion riyals ($529.51 million), compared to 1.991 billion riyals ($531.01 million) in the same period last year. Earnings per share amounted to 2.01 riyals ($0.54).
Performance factors...and cost challenges
The company explained, in its disclosure to the Saudi Stock Exchange, that the noticeable growth in third-quarter revenues came as a result of an increase in sales volume across all categories and markets, supported by expansions in the poultry sector, growth in dairy sales in Egypt, and acquisitions in the water sector. However, this growth in sales was offset by inflation in operational costs, primarily the rise in shipping costs for feed destined for the dairy sector, and the increase in transportation expenses resulting from the rise in energy prices.
Performance of operating sectors
The profits of the company's main operating sectors varied as follows:
Dairy and Juice segment: recorded growth in net profits supported by improved revenue mix, despite pressure from feed shipping costs.
Bakery sector: continued to achieve positive results and an increase in net profits thanks to the improvement in sales mix.
Protein (poultry) sector: Its net profits decreased as a result of market supply conditions, high transportation costs due to energy pressure, and operating capacity expenses.
Cash flows and supply chains
Total revenues for the first nine months amounted to 18.22 billion riyals ($4.86 billion), a growth of 9.68 percent. In terms of cash movement, operating cash flows amounted to about 3.48 billion riyals ($928.41 million), while investment flows amounted to 3.18 billion riyals ($847.30 million).
Almarai affirmed its commitment to effectively manage supply chain risks to ensure reliability and provision of products to consumers, noting that it will continue to monitor regional developments and take advantage of strategic stock to reduce market fluctuations when needed.
ACWA has achieved a decisive step in its portfolio of strategic energy projects in Saudi Arabia, with its subsidiary, Al Marjan Second Electricity Company, announcing the financial closure of the expansion project of the Rabigh Second Electricity Production Plant, with huge financing of approximately 9.69 billion riyals ($2.58 billion), paving the way for the start of the actual implementation phase and achieving the financial impact by 2029.
The company explained that the combined cycle station in the Western Region, with a production capacity of 2,313.5 megawatts, was financed through a contract extending for approximately 34 years that it obtained on October 1, 2026. Aqua owns a 40 percent share of the project, with a limited guarantee limited to its share of reserve liquidity and the reserve account, in addition to the station’s readiness to build a carbon capture unit in the future.
The necessary financing to develop, build, own and operate the gas station was provided through a broad banking alliance that includes local, regional and international lenders, including Alinma Bank, Riyad Bank, First Saudi Bank, Saudi National Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Boubyan Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, and HSBC Bank Middle East, in addition to prominent Asian and European banking blocs.
The relevant parties in the project include the Saudi Energy Company and the Saudi National Bank, and it is expected that the financial impact of this financial closure will be reflected in the company’s financial statements starting from the second quarter of 2029.
The International Energy Agency announced on Saturday that member states have so far released 325 million barrels of oil and its derivatives from strategic reserves, out of 400 million they pledged to pump in March, shortly after the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
This comes the day after the G7 countries agreed, in agreement with the International Agency, to immediately release 100 million barrels of diesel fuel and crude oil to ease concerns about global energy supplies resulting from the repercussions of the war.
The G7 did not clarify whether the 100 million barrels included the remaining 75 million from the previous pledge, or whether it would be an addition to it.
