S. Arabia's SABIC Profits Fall

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC), the world’s fourth-biggest petrochemicals company, reported an 18.6% drop in fourth-quarter net profit, missing analysts’ forecasts, as sales dropped and its steel business was hit by writedowns.

Last week, SABIC bought a 25% stake in chemicals group Clariant, ending the Swiss company’s fight with activist investors, Reuters reported.

SABIC has said it has no current plans to launch a full takeover of Clariant but the acquisition has prompted uncertainty about Clariant’s future as Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil.

SABIC chief  Yousef al-Benyan, speaking at a news conference on Sunday, said, “At this point we are going to work with Clariant management on how we can leverage the existing relationship that we have.”

He said the company could build on an existing 50/50 joint-venture between SABIC and Clariant on scientific design.

”So by leveraging our existing relationship and leveraging our new positions in this company we will see where are the synergies that is going to benefit both parties.”

He also said SABIC could self-finance the Clariant stake acquisition, but did not rule out the possibility of inviting banks to part-finance the deal, adding “We have our options, we will look into our best one”.

Benyan said there were still challenges in the steel market, but he was optimistic about the company’s outlook for 2018, saying an increase in oil prices reflected positively on petrochemical prices.

SABIC’s results are closely tied to oil prices and global economic growth because its products -- plastics, fertilizers and metals -- are used extensively in construction, agriculture, industry and the manufacturing of consumer goods.

Benyan said the company expects to cut costs between 5 to 7% in 2018, somewhat similar to 2017.

SABIC booked impairments of 350 million riyals ($93.34 million) on its Hadeed steel unit in the fourth quarter, bringing 2017 writedowns on the business to a total of 1.4 billion riyals.

SABIC made a net profit of 3.67 billion riyals in the three months to December 31, down from 4.51 billion riyals in the year-earlier period, the company said in a bourse statement. SABIC shares were down 2.09% in early trade.