Forging Supplier for Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas: Saudi Aramco and SABIC Supply Chain

August 7, 2026


Saudi Arabia operates the world’s largest oil and gas production system Saudi Aramco’s upstream, midstream, and downstream operations span 2.5 million barrels per day of maximum sustained production capacity with the world’s lowest per-barrel production cost. SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, now Aramco subsidiary) operates 26 world-scale petrochemical complexes. Together, Saudi Aramco and SABIC procure substantial quantities of API 20B certified valve body forgings, pressure vessel nozzle forgings, and structural fittings annually through their approved vendor lists. Indian API 20B certified forging manufacturers are well positioned to supply this market.

Operator / OEMFacility / SystemKey ForgingStandard
Saudi AramcoGhawar, Khurais, Safaniyah upstreamWellhead valve bodies, choke bodies, pressure housingsAPI 20B PSL 2/3, SAES specs
Saudi AramcoRas Tanura, Jubail refineriesValve bodies, pressure vessel nozzles, flangesAPI 20B, ASME VIII, SAES
SABIC (Jubail, Yanbu)Petrochemical plantsPressure vessel nozzles, valve bodiesAPI 20B, ASME VIII
Saudi Aramco GasMaster Gas System, HasbahSour service valve bodies, 4130MAPI 20B, NACE MR0175
SWCC / NEOMDesalination, energy infrastructureTitanium flange forgings, duplex flangesAPI 20B, ASME B16.47

Saudi Aramco’s vendor qualification system — the Vendor Registration and Qualification (VRQ) process — is one of the most comprehensive in the global oil and gas industry. Saudi Aramco applies its own Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards (SAES) that supplement API 20B and ASME codes with Aramco-specific material restrictions, inspection requirements, and documentation formats. SAES-A-005 (safety requirements for pressure equipment) and SAES-W-011 (welding requirements) flow down to forging manufacturers as additional requirements beyond the API base standard.

Aramco’s Approved Vendor List (AVL) for forging manufacturers is maintained by the Vendor Registration Qualification (VRQ) department in Dhahran. Entry onto the Aramco AVL requires: API 20B license verification, on-site audit by Aramco’s Third Party Inspection (TPI) agency (Bureau Veritas, SGS, or Intertek), submission of a Technical Qualification Package (TQP), and production of qualification sample forgings for Aramco engineering review. Timeline: 18–30 months from initial registration to AVL approval.

SABIC — now an Aramco subsidiary following Aramco’s acquisition of a 70% stake in 2020 operates petrochemical facilities in Jubail Industrial City and Yanbu Industrial City. Pressure vessel nozzle forgings in A182 F316L stainless and 4140 alloy steel are the highest-volume SABIC forging categories.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 industrial diversification programme is driving new non-oil industrial investment NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya all involve substantial infrastructure with process engineering forging needs. SWCC (Saline Water Conversion Corporation) operates the world’s largest desalination network titanium and duplex stainless steel flange forgings for seawater desalination systems represent a growing procurement category.

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Vinir Engineering — Capability for this Market

  1. API 20B PSL 1–3.
  2.  4130M NACE MR0175 sour service for Aramco Master Gas System.
  3. A182 F316L and F51 duplex for SABIC petrochemical service.
  4. SAES-compatible documentation format.
  5. TPI by Bureau Veritas and SGS both on Aramco TPI approved list.
  6. Titanium Grade 2 and Grade 12 flange forgings for SWCC desalination.
  7.  NABL Charpy at -46°C.
  8. PMI on all CRA components.
  9. Ocean freight Chennai to Jubail or Dammam: 8–12 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.What are Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards (SAES) and how do they affect forging supply?+–
SAES are Aramco’s proprietary specifications that supplement international standards (API, ASME, ASTM) with Aramco-specific requirements. For forging manufacturers, relevant SAES include SAES-A-005 (safety requirements for pressure-containing equipment), which specifies additional material restrictions beyond API 20B PSL requirements. SAES documents are distributed to Aramco-approved suppliers through Aramco’s Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) portal they are not publicly available. Indian forging manufacturers seeking Aramco AVL approval receive applicable SAES documents as part of the technical qualification package.
2.What is Aramco’s Technical Qualification Package (TQP) and what does it require from Indian forging manufacturers?+–
Aramco’s TQP is a comprehensive submission that forging manufacturers prepare as part of the Aramco AVL qualification process. It includes: company profile and manufacturing capability description, API 20B license copy, quality management system summary, NABL accreditation certificates, heat treatment facility description, NDT capability details with personnel certifications, list of current major customers, and sample inspection reports from recent production lots. The TQP is reviewed by Aramco’s Materials and Corrosion Control Division before the on-site audit is scheduled.
3.What India–Saudi Arabia geographic advantage exists for forging supply?+–
Ocean freight from Chennai to Jubail or Dammam takes only 8–12 days compared to 22–26 days from Europe and 25–30 days from the US. This proximity means total lead time from purchase order to Saudi port is as low as 10–14 weeks for standard alloy steel forgings the shortest international supply lead time available to Saudi operators. Proximity also reduces freight cost significantly, improving the landed cost position of Indian forgings in Saudi Arabia beyond the ex-works price advantage.
4.What sour service requirements apply to Aramco Master Gas System forging supply?+–
Saudi Arabia’s Master Gas System (MGS) collects, processes, and distributes associated gas from Aramco’s oil fields the gas contains H₂S at concentrations making it a sour service environment. Valve body and pressure housing forgings for MGS service must comply with NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 – maximum hardness 22 HRC for carbon and low alloy steel, and SSC and HIC testing for high-strength grades. Aramco applies SAES-W-006 and specific material requirements for sour service that are more conservative than NACE MR0175 in some respects.
5.What is the NEOM project and what forging opportunities does it create?+–
NEOM is Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion giga-project a futuristic region in northwest Saudi Arabia including THE LINE, Sindalah, and OXAGON. NEOM’s infrastructure includes desalination plants, hydrogen production facilities, and extensive process piping. The desalination and hydrogen production systems use titanium, duplex stainless, and high-alloy forged flanges and fittings. NEOM’s procurement is managed through its own procurement organisation and approved contractor network Indian forging manufacturers can access NEOM forging procurement through EPC contractors (AECOM, Bechtel, Consolidated Contractors) managing NEOM’s infrastructure packages.