A new Saudi marketing technique
Aramco dips into the wild world of the spot market
SAUDI Arabia has been ripping up its own rulebook. In April, the kingdom sold a cargo on the Asian spot market to one of China’s independent refineries – the “teapots”. Throughout Ali al-Naimi’s tenure, the kingdom only sold to blue-chip buyers, and rarely on the spot market. The 0.73m-barrel cargo will be lifted from an Aramco facility in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture and shipped to Shandong, according to reports. It was sold to Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals at a differential to the Oman/Dubai benchmark crude, though the exact price is unknown. It signals that the kingdom is expanding beyond its state-owned customers, catering for new buyers who want more flexibility. It’s also a recogniti
Also in this section
11 February 2026
Panellists from three LNG buyers at LNG2026 in Doha outlined their evolving procurement strategies as they navigate heightened market volatility
11 February 2026
North African producer plans to boost output by early 2030, with Europe its number one priority as export destination
11 February 2026
Maritime leaders at LNG2026 warned of the dangers of over-regulation on competitiveness, sustainability and innovation
10 February 2026
The country has opened bidding on 50 blocks in a new licensing round but will face competition for attention and will need to address concerns about security and legislation
