Saudi Arabian Fertilizers

What Saudi Arabian Fertilizers does

Saudi Arabian Fertilizers Company, now operating as SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company under Tadawul ticker SAFCO (2020), is one of the largest nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer producers in the Middle East, founded in 1965 and headquartered in Riyadh with manufacturing operations concentrated in Al-Jubail Industrial City and Dammam. The company manufactures granular and prilled urea (including treated granular urea), anhydrous ammonia, a portfolio of NPK compound fertilizers with proprietary grades such as 11-29-19+6S, 18-18-5+9S, and the Date Palm blend, plus DAP, MAP, 2-EH, and DOP, leveraging an integrated upstream-to-downstream production chain anchored on natural gas feedstock allocated by the Saudi Ministry of Energy. Current installed production capacity stands at approximately 4.8 MMTA and is sanctioned to expand toward 7.4 MMTA through the Plant 7 conventional ammonia and urea complex and the Plant 6 blue ammonia initiative, both disclosed in March 2026 alongside the merger with Ibn Al-Baytar and an extended MoU with SALIC.

The business model is commodity-volume-driven: roughly 87% of output is exported globally through fertilizer traders and agricultural buyers, with the remaining 13% serving the domestic Saudi market, and revenue is benchmarked against international urea, ammonia, and phosphate reference prices rather than negotiated enterprise contracts. Pricing power is therefore a function of global supply-demand balance, freight economics, and the company's structural cost advantage from subsidized feedstock, while mix optimization comes from specialty NPK grades and the emerging blue ammonia premium. The capital structure is anchored by 50.1% ownership from SABIC, which provides feedstock security, commercial reach, and strategic direction, while minority shareholders participate via the Tadawul listing. Leadership sits with Chairman Abdulrahman Saleh Al-Fageeh and CEO Fahad M. Al-Battar.

FY2025 financial performance showed revenue of SAR 13,077 million (approximately USD 3.49 billion) and net profit of SAR 4,322 million, up 29.91% year-over-year, with Q1 2026 net profit of SAR 1,227 million (+24.6% YoY) on revenue of SAR 2,874 million, indicating improving unit economics despite softer top-line in the quarter. The strategic agenda through 2026 emphasizes capacity-led volume growth, low-carbon product diversification, downstream consolidation through the Ibn Al-Baytar merger, and alignment with Saudi food-security priorities via SALIC and Ministry of Energy feedstock support.

Name

Saudi Arabian Fertilizers

Legal name

SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company

Website

https://safco.com.sa

Company type

Public

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Saudi Arabian Fertilizers (SAFCO / SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company) is a leading Saudi nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer producer manufacturing urea, ammonia, NPK, DAP, and MAP from integrated Al-Jubail plants, serving global agricultural markets with roughly 87% of output exported and the balance supplying the domestic Saudi market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nitrogenous Fertilizers

NAICS

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311), Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing (325312), Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing (325314), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia/Urea/UAN) (IMAEAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea, UAN, Ammonium Nitrate/Sulfate) (AFABABAA), NPK/Compound & Blended Fertilizers (Granular Blends, Bulk Blending) (AFABABAD), Fertilizer Production & Granulation Services (Tolling, Compaction, Prilling) (AFABABAI)

Keywords

• Nitrogenous fertilizers
• Urea production
• Ammonia manufacturing
• NPK compound fertilizers
• Phosphate fertilizers

Headquarters

HQ city

Jubail

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fertilizer Product Sales: SABIC Agri-Nutrients generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of fertilizer products including urea (granular, prilled, and technical grade), ammonia, NPK compounds, DAP, MAP, 2-Ethyl Hexanol, Dioctyl Phthalate, and Iso-butyraldehyde. Approximately 87% of production is exported to international markets, with approximately 13% sold domestically. Revenue is driven by both volume sold and average selling prices, with 2025 annual revenue of SAR 13,077 million and Q1 2026 revenue of SAR 2,874 million.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SABIC Agri-Nutrients manufactures and exports nitrogenous fertilizers and related chemicals from facilities in Al-Jubail Industrial City. Its product range includes urea (granular, prilled, and technical grade), anhydrous ammonia, compound NPK fertilizers, DAP, MAP, and industrial chemicals (2-Ethylhexanol and Dioctyl Phthalate). Approximately 87% of urea output is exported globally to agricultural buyers and fertilizer distributors, with the remaining 13% sold domestically.

Product overview

SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company (formerly Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Company, SAFCO) operates as a diversified nitrogenous agri-nutrients and chemical products manufacturer. Its core product portfolio centers on urea — produced in granular, prilled, and technical-grade forms — and anhydrous ammonia, which serves as the primary raw material for urea and other fertilizers. The company also manufactures a range of compound and specialty fertilizers including NPK products (11-29-19+6S, 18-18-5+9S, Date Palm NPK), DAP, and MAP. Beyond fertilizers, the portfolio includes industrial chemical products 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) and Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP). The company is expanding its production capacity through new ammonia and urea plants (Plants 6 and 7 in Jubail Industrial City), including a blue (low-carbon) ammonia project aligned with its 2040 growth strategy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Granular Urea Solid nitrogen fertilizer with 46% nitrogen content, the highest concentration among solid nitrogen fertilizers, used worldwide for wheat, barley, corn, fodder, and vegetables.
• Prilled Urea White, solid, water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer with 46% nitrogen content produced in prills form, popular and economical for worldwide agricultural use.
• Technical Grade Urea (TGU) High-purity nitrogen source used in the industrial sector, manufactured at SABIC Agri-Nutrients facilities.
• Anhydrous Ammonia Anhydrous ammonia (NH3) containing 82% nitrogen, used as the main raw material for urea, DAP, NP/NPK, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, and nitrogen solutions, as well as industrial applications including caprolactam, acrylonitrile, nitric acid, melamine, explosives, and glue.
• NPK 11-29-19+6S Compound fertilizer grade mainly used for tuber crops and fruits including potatoes, onions, and watermelon, providing balanced primary and secondary nutrients in one granule.
• NPK 18-18-5+9S Balanced fertilizer used on a wide range of vegetables and green landscapes, providing homogeneous primary and secondary nutrients in one granular throughout the season.
• Date Palm NPK Specialized fertilizer developed internally by SABIC after extensive research specifically for Middle East date palm trees, providing balanced levels of primary and secondary nutrients.
• DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) Contains 46% P2O5 and 18% ammoniacal nitrogen, providing the correct proportion of phosphate and nitrogen for farming wheat, barley, and vegetables, and applied in early-stage fruit orchard fertilization.
• MAP (Mono-Ammonium Phosphate) Contains 52% P2O5 and 11% ammoniacal nitrogen, used to add the required proportion of phosphate and nitrogen needed for farming clover, wheat, and barley, especially in sandy soil.
• SABIC 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) Clear, uniform, non-toxic liquid with a characteristic odor, insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents, obtained indirectly in OXO synthesis from propylene and synthesis gas, used in industrial chemical applications.
• SABIC Dioctyl Phthalate (DOP) Combustible, non-toxic, colorless oily liquid with a slight odor, used as a plasticizer in industrial applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Urea production capacity expansion of 54% from 4.8 million to 7.4 million tons/year through new conventional ammonia and urea project
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026SABIC Agri-Nutrients and SALIC have extended their Memorandum of Understanding for a period of three years from the expiration date (01/12/1447H corresponding to 18/05/2026). The MoU, originally signed on 03/03/2024, focuses on exploring and developing joint opportunities to enhance food security and address environmental challenges. The extension reflects continued commitment to strategic cooperation between both parties.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (Koch Fertilizer): North American nitrogen fertilizer producer and global trader of ammonia, urea, and UAN. Comparable to SAFCO as a major global nitrogen player with export-oriented operations and similar commodity product mix.
• CF Industries Holdings: One of the world's largest nitrogen fertilizer producers, manufacturing ammonia, granular urea, UAN, and ammonium nitrate primarily in North America. Directly comparable to SAFCO as a large-scale, globally traded nitrogen producer competing in the same urea/ammonia markets.
• PhosAgro: Russian vertically integrated producer of phosphate-based fertilizers (MAP/DAP/NPK) with adjacent nitrogen capacity. Comparable to SAFCO for its DAP/MAP/NPK production, similar export-driven model, and vertically integrated mineral-to-fertilizer value chain.
• Yara International ASA: Norway-based global nitrogen fertilizer leader producing ammonia, urea, NPK, and specialty crop nutrition products. Closely comparable to SAFCO as a globally traded nitrogen producer with a similar ammonia-to-urea value chain and NPK specialty portfolio.
• Nutrien Ltd: World's largest crop inputs provider with significant nitrogen, potash, and phosphate production, plus global retail. Comparable to SAFCO on the nitrogen side given its integrated ammonia-to-urea operations and global export footprint.
• OCI Global: Global producer of nitrogen, methanol, and hydrogen products with major ammonia and urea assets in the US, Netherlands, and Egypt. Comparable to SAFCO as a large-scale nitrogen/ammonia exporter with similar commodity exposure and growth ambitions in low-carbon ammonia.

Broad incumbents

• The Mosaic Company: Largest US producer of phosphate and potash fertilizers with global distribution. Comparable to SAFCO for its DAP/MAP phosphate-based fertilizer production, though Mosaic is phosphate/potash-led rather than nitrogen-led.
• ICL Group: Israel-based specialty fertilizers, potash, and phosphate producer serving agriculture and industrial markets globally. Comparable to SAFCO on specialty fertilizer formulations (NPK, coated/slow-release) and phosphatic products, but broader and more specialty-focused.

Regional players

• Ma'aden (Saudi Arabian Mining Company): Saudi national mining and fertilizer champion producing ammonia, urea, DAP, and phosphate-based fertilizers in the Kingdom. Regional peer operating in adjacent fertilizer categories within Saudi Arabia, with shared national-champion status and Vision 2030 alignment.

Emerging players

• LSB Industries: US-based producer of industrial and agricultural nitrogen products, including ammonia, urea ammonium nitrate, and industrial chemicals. Comparable to SAFCO on the nitrogen chemistry side (ammonia, urea, and adjacent industrial chemicals like 2-EH/DOP-equivalents), though at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saudi-arabian-fertilizer-company

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saudi Arabian Fertilizers