While Saudi Arabia is famously riding the tides of its monumental oil and gas wealth—with Aramco's net income hitting $121.3 billion last year—the kingdom's industrial landscape is quietly undergoing a profound diversification, building everything from sprawling petrochemical empires and vast mining operations to future-focused cities and a booming manufacturing sector.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia's oil production reached 9.44 million barrels per day (bpd) in December 2023, down from 9.64 million bpd in November due to voluntary cuts
- Saudi Aramco's proven crude oil reserves stood at 258.6 billion barrels as of end-2023, representing about 17% of global reserves
- Natural gas production in Saudi Arabia averaged 3.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023, with plans to increase to 9.3 Bcf/d by 2027 under Master Gas System expansion
- Saudi Aramco's petrochemicals joint venture with TotalEnergies at Amiral complex produces 1.65 million tpa ethylene in 2023 ramp-up
- SABIC's ethylene production capacity reached 8.5 million tons per annum (mtpa) in 2023 across 12 plants
- Yanbu National Petrochemical Co (YANSAB) produced 4.2 million tons of ethylene, propylene, and polyethylene in 2023
- Manufacturing sector GDP contribution in Saudi Arabia was SAR 240 billion in 2023, 11.5% of total GDP
- Saudi industrial cities host 7,500 factories employing 1.2 million workers as of 2023
- Cement production totaled 38 million tons in 2023, with local consumption at 32 million tons
- Construction sector contracts awarded totaled SAR 250 billion in 2023
- NEOM mega-project construction spending reached SAR 100 billion in 2023, employing 60,000 workers
- Riyadh Metro project completed 70% by end-2023, with 176 km track laid
- Gold mining production at Ma'aden's Mahd Ad Dhahab mine reached 198,000 oz in 2023
- Phosphate rock output totaled 11 million tons in 2023 from Ma'aden facilities
- Bauxite mining at Az-Zabirah mine produced 4.2 million tons in 2023
Saudi Arabia continues to diversify its massive industrial and energy sector growth.
Construction Sector
- Construction sector contracts awarded totaled SAR 250 billion in 2023
- NEOM mega-project construction spending reached SAR 100 billion in 2023, employing 60,000 workers
- Riyadh Metro project completed 70% by end-2023, with 176 km track laid
- Saudi housing construction starts hit 200,000 units in 2023 under Sakani program
- Qiddiya entertainment city groundwork covered 334 sq km with SAR 50 billion invested in 2023
- Red Sea Project constructed 50 hotels with 8,000 rooms by 2023
- Airport expansions added 20 million passengers capacity in 2023, including Riyadh's Terminal 5
- Desalination plants construction added 2 million m3/day capacity in 2023
- High-speed rail Haramain line carried 2 million passengers post-2023 upgrades
- Road network expanded by 5,000 km in 2023, total now 70,000 km highways
- Stadium construction for 2034 World Cup began on 15 sites in 2023
- Power generation plants added 10 GW capacity via construction in 2023
- Industrial cities infrastructure developed 500 hectares new land in 2023
- Sewerage and wastewater treatment plants built for 5 million population equivalent in 2023
- Port expansions at Jeddah Islamic Port added 2 million TEU capacity in 2023
- King Salman Park construction progressed to 40% completion in 2023, 16 sq km area
- Diriyah Gate development built 10 km walkways and 5 museums in 2023
- Sports Boulevard project constructed 135 km linear park by 2023
- AlUla infrastructure included 50 new hotels and 1,000 km roads in 2023
Construction Sector Interpretation
While the numbers themselves are predictably colossal, they reveal a nation less engaged in mere construction than in a breathtakingly comprehensive and swift act of self-reassembly.
Manufacturing Sector
- Manufacturing sector GDP contribution in Saudi Arabia was SAR 240 billion in 2023, 11.5% of total GDP
- Saudi industrial cities host 7,500 factories employing 1.2 million workers as of 2023
- Cement production totaled 38 million tons in 2023, with local consumption at 32 million tons
- Food and beverage manufacturing output value reached SAR 150 billion in 2023, growing 5%
- Saudi steel production hit 9.5 million tons in 2023, led by Hadeed with 5.2 million tons
- Aluminum production at Ma'aden's Ras Al Khair smelter reached 1.8 million tons in 2023
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing local content rose to 40% of market demand in 2023, value SAR 20 billion
- Plastic products manufacturing grew 12% to SAR 45 billion output in 2023
- Automotive assembly plants produced 250,000 vehicles in 2023, with localization at 45%
- Electrical equipment manufacturing exports reached SAR 10 billion in 2023
- Non-metallic minerals production value SAR 60 billion in 2023, including glass and ceramics
- Metal fabrication sector employed 150,000 workers with output SAR 80 billion in 2023
- Furniture manufacturing production doubled to SAR 15 billion under Vision 2030 incentives in 2023
- Chemical products excluding petrochemicals output SAR 30 billion in 2023
- Paper and cardboard production 1.2 million tons in 2023, 60% recycled content
- Textile and apparel manufacturing value added SAR 12 billion in 2023
- Machinery and equipment manufacturing grew 15% to SAR 25 billion in 2023
- Tobacco manufacturing output SAR 8 billion, with 90% local brands in 2023
- Printing and publishing industry produced 500 million units of packaging in 2023
- Jewelry manufacturing exports SAR 5 billion, employing 50,000 artisans in 2023
Manufacturing Sector Interpretation
Saudi Arabia's industrial revolution is marching forward, literally from the ground up—pouring foundations with mountains of cement, feeding a growing nation with billions in food production, and now even assembling its own vehicles and crafting fine jewelry, proving its economic vision is built on far more than just oil.
Mining and Other Industries
- Gold mining production at Ma'aden's Mahd Ad Dhahab mine reached 198,000 oz in 2023
- Phosphate rock output totaled 11 million tons in 2023 from Ma'aden facilities
- Bauxite mining at Az-Zabirah mine produced 4.2 million tons in 2023
- Copper concentrate production hit 130,000 tons from Jabal Sayid mine in 2023
- Industrial minerals like gypsum production 18 million tons in 2023
- Salt production from Red Sea evaporation ponds reached 2.5 million tons in 2023
- Dimension stone (marble/granite) quarrying output 5 million m3 in 2023
- Ma'aden aluminum smelter expansion to 2.4 million tpa completed phase in 2023
- Rare earth elements exploration identified 100 million tons resource in 2023
- Lithium brine deposits in Jizan estimated 10 million tons LCE, pilot extraction in 2023
- Zinc production from Ma'aden's sites totaled 45,000 tons in 2023
- Feldspar mining output 1.8 million tons for ceramics in 2023
- Non-oil mining GDP contribution rose to 2.5% or SAR 70 billion in 2023
- Silica sand production 12 million tons for glass industry in 2023
- Kaolin clay extraction 800,000 tons in 2023 for paper and ceramics
- Heavy mineral sands pilot plant processed 50,000 tons ilmenite in 2023
- National Industrial Development Center (NIDC) licensed 500 new mining projects in 2023
- Tourism industry revenue hit SAR 160 billion in 2023, with 100 million visitors
- Logistics sector handled 25 million TEU at ports in 2023
- Renewable energy projects under construction added 5.8 GW solar/wind capacity in 2023
Mining and Other Industries Interpretation
Saudi Arabia is no longer just drilling for oil; it's digging, smelting, and harnessing its way toward a diversified future, turning mountains of rock and sun into economic pillars as solid as the gold it pulls from the ground.
Oil and Gas Sector
- Saudi Arabia's oil production reached 9.44 million barrels per day (bpd) in December 2023, down from 9.64 million bpd in November due to voluntary cuts
- Saudi Aramco's proven crude oil reserves stood at 258.6 billion barrels as of end-2023, representing about 17% of global reserves
- Natural gas production in Saudi Arabia averaged 3.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023, with plans to increase to 9.3 Bcf/d by 2027 under Master Gas System expansion
- Saudi Aramco exported 7.1 million bpd of crude oil in 2023, primarily to Asia which accounted for 77% of exports
- The Ghawar oil field, world's largest, produced approximately 3.8 million bpd in 2023
- Saudi upstream capital expenditure reached $48 billion in 2023, focused on maintaining oil production capacity at 12 million bpd
- Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by Saudi Arabia totaled 1.2 million tons in 2023 to meet domestic demand
- Safaniya offshore field produced 1.3 million bpd in 2023, Saudi's largest offshore field
- Aramco's Jafurah shale gas project aims for 2 Bcf/d production by 2028, with initial gas discoveries of 300 trillion cubic feet in place
- Oil refining capacity in Saudi Arabia hit 3.3 million bpd in 2023 across 7 refineries
- Saudi Aramco's net income for 2023 was $121.3 billion, driven by oil sales of $436 billion
- The kingdom's average oil price realization was $82.24 per barrel in 2023
- Berri field incremental production reached 250,000 bpd after 2023 expansion
- Saudi gas processing plants handled 11.2 billion scfd of associated and non-associated gas in 2023
- Marjan and Zuluf fields combined output increased to 1 million bpd post-2023 upgrades
- Aramco's crude oil lifting costs were $3.02 per barrel in 2023, among the world's lowest
- Kingdom's oil export revenues contributed 40% to GDP in 2023, totaling SAR 1.2 trillion
- Shaybah field's Arab Extra Light crude production hit 1 million bpd in 2023
- Saudi Aramco drilled 1,450 wells in 2023, with 65% horizontal for enhanced recovery
- Unayzah development program added 100,000 bpd capacity in 2023
Oil and Gas Sector Interpretation
Even as Saudi Arabia tactically taps the brakes on daily oil output, its immense reserves, staggering profits, and relentless upstream spending make it clear they are not just guarding the crown jewels, but meticulously polishing every last one for a very long and lucrative reign.
Petrochemicals Sector
- Saudi Aramco's petrochemicals joint venture with TotalEnergies at Amiral complex produces 1.65 million tpa ethylene in 2023 ramp-up
- SABIC's ethylene production capacity reached 8.5 million tons per annum (mtpa) in 2023 across 12 plants
- Yanbu National Petrochemical Co (YANSAB) produced 4.2 million tons of ethylene, propylene, and polyethylene in 2023
- Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) exported 70% of its petrochemical output in 2023, valued at SAR 120 billion
- Jubail United Petrochemical Co (JUPCO) methanol production hit 3 million tons in 2023
- National Industrialization Co (Tasnee) peroxides plant produced 220,000 tons in 2023
- Saudi Aramco Base Oils Co (Luberef) produced 1.2 million tons of Group II+ and III base oils in 2023
- Petro Rabigh complex output reached 2.4 million tons of refined products and 750,000 tons polymers in 2023
- Sadara Chemical Co produced 1.3 million tons of performance plastics and chemicals in 2023
- United Petrochemical Co (UNITED) benzene production was 1.1 million tons in 2023
- SABIC Agri-Nutrients Co (SABIC Agri) urea production capacity expanded to 6.3 million tons in 2023
- Arabian Petrochemical Co (PETROKEMYA) produced 1.5 million tons ethylene glycol in 2023
- Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co styrene monomer output 900,000 tons in 2023
- Advanced Petrochemical Co propane dehydrogenation plant produced 430,000 tons propylene in 2023
- Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) polycarbonate production at 240,000 tons per year fully operational in 2023
- NOVA YASREF refining-petrochem integrated complex processed 400,000 bpd yielding 3.5 million tons polymers in 2023
- Total petrochemical exports from Saudi Arabia reached SAR 250 billion in 2023, growing 8% YoY
- SABIC's plastics recycling initiative processed 100,000 tons post-consumer waste in 2023
- Eastern Petrochemical Co (SHARQ) produced 2.6 million tons ethylene and derivatives in 2023
Petrochemicals Sector Interpretation
While Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical might is staggering in scale, producing mountains of ethylene and billions in exports, the kingdom is quietly stacking another floor onto its industrial skyscraper by pushing into higher-value chemicals, base oils, and even plastics recycling.
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