Aramco pursues downstream agenda
The Saudi titan’s renewed plans to lock in demand through downstream developments coincide with consumers seeking to guarantee supply
As fears over energy security pushed oil prices towards $100/bl in early 2022, state oil giant Saudi Aramco doubled down on its strategic overseas downstream investment. It resurrected a refining and petrochemicals project in China, with its promise of a guaranteed outlet for exports to its largest crude buyer, while the part-acquisition of a Polish refiner spoke to ambitions to secure a larger slice of the European market. And a long-term sales and offtake agreement with an aspirant Egyptian downstream developer highlighted Aramco’s increasing emphasis in these and other recent deals on maximising petrochemical conversion rates. China is both the largest single importer of Saudi oil—averagi
Also in this section
26 April 2024
While the US has been breaking records for its premium grade crude, there are doubts over whether you can have too much of a good thing
26 April 2024
Slowing demand growth and capacity expansions will squeeze refiners in coming years
25 April 2024
Some companies with assets in Israel have turned towards Egypt as tensions escalate, but others are holding firm despite rising tensions
24 April 2024
But even planned exploration activity is unlikely to reverse declining output from mature fields