Saudi Arabia's economic growth more than halved on a quarterly basis to 1.66% in the first quarter of this year, in line with expectations of only a modest pick up as oil production cuts weigh on the world's top crude exporter.
The Saudi oil sector grew 1% in the first quarter, government data showed on Sunday. This was almost twice the rate reached in the same period a year ago but a massive slowdown from the previous quarter, when the oil sector grew by almost 6% year-on-year.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its Russia-led allies agreed in December to slash oil production by more than the market had expected.
On Sunday, Saudi Energy MinisterKhalid al-Falih said the cuts would most likely be extended by nine months.
This is expected to weigh on oilsector growth this year, while non-oil sector growth is likely to pick upslightly, on the back of a boost in government spending.
"We estimate that the oilsector will contract on an annual basis in 2Q and for the subsequent quartersin 2019," Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, saidin a research note.
Non-oil sector growth in thefirst quarter was 2.13%, largely in line with the same period last year, but upfrom a 1.8% growth in last year's fourth quarter.
