Luberef’s listing to propel company’s growth strategy, says top official

Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani, senior vice president of downstream, Saudi Aramco. File
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Updated 29 December 2022
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Luberef’s listing to propel company’s growth strategy, says top official

RIYADH: Describing its listing on the Saudi Stock Exchange as “an important milestone,” the Saudi oil giant Aramco’s base oil supplier Luberef sees the move as an opportunity to propel its growth trajectory.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani, senior vice president of downstream, Saudi Aramco, said: “As an integral part of Saudi Arabia’s supply chain and a driving force in the Kingdom’s industrialization ambitions, Luberef’s listing will provide an important strategic dimension to propel the company’s growth strategy and help realize its vision to be the leading supplier of premium base oils and specialty products.”

The listing came amid a flurry of initial public offerings in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. Luberef received the Kingdom’s Capital Market Authority’s nod for registration and listing of its 50 million shares, equivalent to 29.656 percent of its share capital, last month. The IPO drew strong demand from local and international investors.

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Luberef received the Kingdom’s Capital Market Authority’s nod for registration and listing of its 50 million shares, equivalent to 29.656 percent of its share capital, last month.

It is the Kingdom’s third-largest IPO in 2022 after second-placed Nahdi Medical, Saudi Arabia’s biggest pharmacy chain, which raised $1.36 billion.

Earlier this year, Luberef announced that it intends to launch a new specialty production facility in Yanbu that will manufacture transformer oil and white oil used in power generation, pharmaceutical, and food businesses.

It is the Kingdom’s third-largest IPO in 2022 after second-placed Nahdi Medical, Saudi Arabia’s biggest pharmacy chain, which raised $1.36 billion.

“Furthermore, the listing of Luberef on the main market of the Saudi exchange is an important milestone for the company, and a mechanism to enable the next phase of growth in a dynamic marketplace with increasing opportunities for expansion in the Kingdom and beyond,” the top Aramco official said.




Officials ringing the bell during IPO ceremony at Tadawul. Supplied

Elaborating further Al-Qahtani said: “Luberef is already an integral part of the Saudi supply chain, with its products serving critical applications in vehicles, ships, machinery, and more.

“The listing will help fuel Luberef’s growth trajectory and unlock new opportunities for all stakeholders.”

State-led IPO programs in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai have helped equity capital markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, in sharp contrast to the United States and Europe, where global banks have been trimming headcount in a dealmaking drought.

With this move, Luberef joined the long list of several Aramco subsidiaries that are already listed on the Saudi stock exchange. These include Saudi Basic Industries Corp., and Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Co.

Commenting on Luberef’s relationship with Saudi Aramco, Al-Qahtani said: “Aramco currently owns 70 percent of Luberef’s issued share capital and will retain its entire 70 percent equity stake in Luberef after IPO.”

“Luberef has long-term agreements with Aramco for the provision of its feedstock,” he added.

Earlier this year, Luberef announced that it intends to launch a new specialty production facility in Yanbu that will manufacture transformer oil and white oil used in power generation, pharmaceutical, and food businesses.

Called Lube Hub, the facility will enable the localization of these specialty products in the Kingdom. The venture will attract producers and operators of base oil-related products.

“Luberef is also a member of the Aramco base oil alliance, formed in 2019, between Aramco and its base oil producing affiliates, including S-Oil and Motiva,” he continued. “This allows Luberef to supply base oils to key markets in Asia and the Americas through our network in order to benefit from demand in other markets.”


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.