Aramco, SABIC Plan Strategic Organization of Product Sales, Marketing

SABIC announces first-quarter earnings jump and discloses a reorganization of marketing activity with Saud Aramco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SABIC announces first-quarter earnings jump and discloses a reorganization of marketing activity with Saud Aramco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Aramco, SABIC Plan Strategic Organization of Product Sales, Marketing

SABIC announces first-quarter earnings jump and discloses a reorganization of marketing activity with Saud Aramco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
SABIC announces first-quarter earnings jump and discloses a reorganization of marketing activity with Saud Aramco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

On the same day it announced a plan to realign product sales and marketing with Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) reported first-quarter net profit of around SAR 4.8 billion ($1.2 billion).

Meanwhile, the sales and marketing for a number of Aramco petrochemicals and polymers products will move to SABIC, and the offtake and resale responsibility of a number of SABIC products will transfer to Aramco Trading Company (ATC) under a plan revealed on Thursday.

The effect of these changes, planned to be implemented on a phased basis during 2021 will focus SABIC on petrochemicals products and ATC on fuel product, said a joint statement.

“The transfers reflect our shared commitment to capitalize on the complementary nature of Aramco and SABIC’s respective product portfolios as we strive to create added value for our customers and shareholders,” said Ibrahim Al-Buainain, Aramco Trading Company President and CEO.

It represents the latest move to integrate the strategies of both companies following Aramco’s acquisition of a 70% stake in SABIC in June 2020.

Aramco and SABIC will continue to review options for further global marketing and sales transfers across product-producing companies within the Aramco group portfolio, they said.

The changes will drive further operational efficiencies, strengthen the brands of both companies and their combined products and services offering, and help to maintain competitiveness. Customers will benefit from improved product range and availability, ordering and points of sale, supply chain, shipping reliability, and after-market services and solutions.

“By leveraging and optimizing our complementary combined product portfolios we will create a one-stop shop for the benefit of our customers globally, including in strategically important geographies, especially across Asia,” said SABIC Executive Vice President Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh.

“These marketing and sales transfers and operational changes are intended to put us closer to market, driving greater agility and flexibility to deliver added value to customers and power their ambition,” he added.



Saudi Arabia Advances to Become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Mining

The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Advances to Become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Mining

The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is pushing to become a global hub for critical minerals, aiming to be the “Silicon Valley” of mining. At the fourth Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, the kingdom announced new deals, investment plans, and discoveries.
Industry Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef said Saudi Arabia will explore mineral opportunities across 50,000 square kilometers this year. The Kingdom also unveiled a $100 billion mining investment plan, with $20 billion already in advanced stages or under construction.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced that Aramco has identified “promising” lithium concentrations exceeding 400 parts per million in its operational areas, with lithium production in the kingdom expected to begin as early as 2027.
In line with this, Aramco revealed a joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) to explore and produce minerals critical to the energy transition, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits.
The latest edition of the Future Minerals Forum brought together over 20,000 participants from 170 countries and featured 250 speakers across more than 70 sessions.
Saudi ministers and international officials highlighted key challenges facing the mining sector, including the need for increased private sector investment, advanced technology, regulatory frameworks, supply chain issues, carbon emissions from production, and a shortage of skilled talent.
In early 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources raised its estimate of the kingdom’s untapped mineral resources from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion, driven by new discoveries.
At last year’s forum, the ministry launched a $182 million mineral exploration incentive program to reduce investment risks, support new commodities, promote green projects, and empower small-scale mining operators.
Additionally, Al-Khorayef launched the Mining Innovation Studio at the Future Mineral Forum 2025.
In his opening remarks, Al-Khorayef stated that the new studio was designed to attract global talent and accelerate cutting-edge technology, in alignment with Riyadh’s vision to become the “Silicon Valley of mining”.
He clarified that the Kingdom is promoting upcoming exploration opportunities across 5,000 square kilometers of mineralized belts in 2025 as it continues its steadfast growth in the mining sector.
Al-Khorayef further noted that the Saudi mining sector is the fastest growing globally, and affirmed that its mineral potential stands at an estimated $2.5 trillion.
He elaborated that the allocation of new exploration sites to tap mineral wealth is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish mining as the third pillar of the Kingdom’s industrial economy.