Kuwait’s economy relies heavily on hydrocarbons-related industries, and while plans are in place to transition to more renewable sources, medium-term development strategies will see oil and gas extraction, processing and capacities ramped up, with the revenue channelled into the government’s industrial diversification drive. Downstream chemicals and petrochemicals production forms the backbone...
Kuwait Industry
The economy of Kuwait has long been underpinned by the production and export of crude oil. Although the rise in energy prices in 2021-22 boosted government revenue and macroeconomic stability, the Covid-19 pandemic, which preceded the commodity price boom, underscored the risk of over-reliance on an industry subject to fluctuating global demand. This has created fresh impetus for economic diversification, with robust public finances providing a strong platform to...
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Chapter | Energy & Utilities from The Report: Kuwait 2022
Kuwait is largely reliant on oil for exports, government revenue and GDP contribution. The country is therefore particularly sensitive to fluctuating global hydrocarbons prices and the long-term financial risks associated with the global shift towards lower-carbon sources of energy. Transitioning towards a more diversified and sustainable energy mix is an ongoing challenge for the country, as...
The economy of Kuwait has long been underpinned by the production and export of crude oil. Although the rise in energy prices in 2021-22 boosted government revenue and macroeconomic stability, the Covid-19 pandemic, which preceded the commodity price boom, underscored the risk of over-reliance on an industry subject to fluctuating global demand. This has created fresh impetus for economic diversification, with robust public finances providing a strong platform to...
The non-hydrocarbons industrial sector has long played second fiddle to oil and gas in Kuwait. As the economy pivots towards easing its dependence...
With the sixth-largest proven oil reserves in the world, and an industry that dates back to the early days of oil and gas dominance in energy, Kuwait is among the world’s principal hydrocarbons powers. Yet, given the lower oil prices seen in global markets in recent years, initiatives outlined in the New Kuwait 2035 development plan come at a critical time in terms of enhancing the state’s competitiveness as a destination for foreign direct investment.
As Kuwait tries to curb its dependency on hydrocarbons, which accounted for over 90% of state revenues in 2017, other industries are coming into focus. Excluding refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel, manufacturing industries’ contribution to GDP rose by 6.2% in 2017 to $5.6bn, according to the central bank. Meanwhile, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel’s portion of GDP expanded by...
As hydrocarbons forms the backbone of Kuwait’s economy, the resurgence in global commodity markets bodes well for the future and has led to a renewed sense of optimism. The recovering market is also supporting the government’s diversification efforts under the auspices of the Kuwait National Development Plan, or New Kuwait.