Aramco & SABIC Reallocate Marketing & Sales Roles to Strengthen Petrochemical and Fuel Strategies

Saudi Arabia’s Aramco and SABIC have announced a strategic realignment of their marketing and sales functions. Under the new plan, Aramco will transfer the responsibility for marketing and selling a portfolio of Aramco petrochemical and polymer products to SABIC, while SABIC will hand over the offtake, resale, and sourcing of several of its fuel products to Aramco Trading Company (ATC). The transition, scheduled for phased implementation during 2021 and contingent on regulatory approvals, will enable SABIC to concentrate on petrochemicals and ATC on fuel products.

This move follows Aramco’s acquisition of a 70% stake in SABIC in June 2020 and represents a deeper alignment of the two companies’ global strategies. Both firms will continue to evaluate opportunities for additional cross‑sell and marketing synergies across the Aramco group’s portfolio.

The restructuring is expected to deliver operational efficiencies, strengthen the brands of both entities, and enhance competitiveness. Customers stand to benefit from a broader product range, improved availability, streamlined ordering and sales channels, a more reliable supply chain, and superior after‑market support.

The transfer of marketing and sales duties will initially cover key joint‑venture and affiliate entities, including Pengerang Petrochemical Company Sdn. Bhd. (PRefChem), Sadara Chemical Company (SADARA), and S‑Oil Corporation in South Korea.

Once the petrochemical portfolio is consolidated, SABIC will promote a diverse array of products: HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, PP copolymer, PP homopolymer, PP terpolymer, EVA, PMMA, nylon‑6, MEG, DEG, TEG, mono‑ethanolamine (MEA), di‑ethanolamine (DEA), tri‑ethanolamine (TEA), ethylene‑diamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), ortho‑toluenediamine, polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), propylene glycols, polyols, propylene oxide, MMA, butyl glycol ether, acetone, and phenol.

In parallel, ATC will assume responsibility for the global offtake, resale, and sourcing of SABIC’s fuel products, such as benzene, MTBE, gasoline blending components, and EU cracker feedstocks. Sales of Aramco para‑xylene will remain with ATC.

Commercial aspects of liquid bulk marine shipping services—including chemicals and feedstock—will be consolidated under ATC, whereas shipping of solid products and direct customer delivery will fall under SABIC’s purview.