The chemicals industry is the third pillar of Saudi Arabia’s industrialisation strategy
Oil’s finest hour still to come
Chemicals represent both an economic and environmental boon in the energy transition, according to Saudi Arabia’s Sabic and PIF
Saudi Aramco’s SAR259.1bn ($69.1bn) deal, completed in June 2020, to acquire a 70pc share of Saudi chemicals heavyweight Sabic from state investment vehicle the Public Investment Fund (PIF) was one of the biggest corporate transactions globally last year. For the buyer, it offered greater exposure to a key future demand for its core products. But what were the motivations for the seller and for the firm acquired? Petroleum Economist spoke to Yousef al-Benyan, vice-chairman, CEO and investment committee member at Sabic—as well as a chairman of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association and the Petrochemicals Manufacturers Committee—and Yazeed Alhumied, deputy governor of PIF and head o
Also in this section
24 January 2025
Domestic companies in Nigeria and other African jurisdictions are buying assets from existing majors they view as more likely to deliver production upside under their stewardship
23 January 2025
The end of transit, though widely anticipated, leaves Europe paying a third more for gas than a year ago and greatly exposed to supply shocks
23 January 2025
The country’s government and E&P companies are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to increase domestic crude output as BP–ONGC tie-up leads the way
22 January 2025
The return of Donald Trump gives further evidence of ‘big oil’ as an investable asset, with the only question being whether anyone is really surprised
