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AI Chip Startup Groq Secures $1.5 Billion Investment From Saudi Arabia

Groq, a U.S.-based AI semiconductor startup, has secured a $1.5 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to expand its advanced AI chip delivery in the country. The startup, founded by a former Alphabet AI chip engineer, specializes in AI inference chips that optimize speed and execute commands for pre-trained models.

Groq already has a partnership with Aramco Digital, the tech arm of oil giant Aramco, through which they developed a key AI hub in the region in December. The investment will fund the expansion of Groq’s data center in Dammam, with the startup having obtained the necessary licenses to export its chips despite U.S. export controls.

The announcement was made at Saudi Arabia’s LEAP 2025 event, where the country also secured $14.9 billion in AI investments. One of the technologies supported by the Dammam Center is Allam, an AI language model developed by the Saudi government that operates in both Arabic and English.

In August, Groq raised $640 million in a funding round led by Cisco, Samsung, and BlackRock, bringing its valuation to $2.8 billion.

Cyprus Beer Deliveries Fall 2.3% In First Nine Months Of 2026

Beer deliveries in Cyprus fell by 1.2% year on year in September, as growth in domestic demand failed to offset a sharp decline in exports, according to the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).

Domestic Market Remains Resilient

Total beer deliveries reached 4.32 million litres in September, down from 4.37 million litres a year earlier. Domestic deliveries increased by 2.4% to 4.29 million litres, compared with 4.19 million litres in September 2025, highlighting the importance of local consumption to the sector.

Exports Drop Sharply

Exports fell by 84.4% year on year to 28,577 litres, from 183,503 litres in September 2025. The decline highlights the volatility of Cyprus’s beer exports, where relatively small volumes can lead to substantial percentage changes.

Deliveries Decline Month On Month

Compared with August 2026, total beer deliveries decreased by 2.2%, from 4.42 million litres. Domestic deliveries rose by 1.5% month on month to 4.29 million litres, up from 4.22 million litres, while exports dropped by 85.1% to 28,577 litres, compared with 192,313 litres in August.

Year-To-Date Deliveries Remain Below 2025 Levels

Between January and September 2026, total beer deliveries amounted to 33.60 million litres. Of this volume, 32.37 million litres went to the domestic market, while 1.23 million litres were exported.

Overall deliveries were approximately 2.3% lower than in the same period of 2025. Domestic deliveries remained broadly stable, declining by around 0.6% year on year, according to Cystat’s monthly percentage changes.

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