KOREA (SOUTH); SAUDI ARABIA —Saudi chemical manufacturer SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company has reached a final investment decision to construct an industrial manufacturing complex dedicated to ammonia and urea production in Saudi Arabia. Following board approval, the enterprise awarded the primary engineering, procurement, and construction contract to South Korean engineering firm Samsung E&A. The new facility will integrate an ammonia plant with an annual capacity of 1.2 million metric tons, two urea production units with a combined output of 2.6 million metric tons, and a carbon capture installation designed to reduce operational emissions intensity. Commercial production is scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2030 following commissioning in the third quarter.
SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company is a Saudi Arabia-based public manufacturer specializing in nitrogen fertilizers and chemical agri-nutrients, serving agricultural markets worldwide. Samsung E&A Co., Ltd. is a South Korea-headquartered engineering, procurement, construction, and project management company that provides industrial process facilities to the petrochemical, gas processing, and environmental sectors.
The expansion significantly scales domestic manufacturing capacity, boosting SABIC Agri-Nutrients' total annual urea output from 4.8 million metric tons to 7.4 million metric tons, representing a 54% operational increase. By incorporating commercial carbon capture technologies alongside high-efficiency synthesis processes, the facility aims to supply low-carbon nitrogen products to meet increasingly strict environmental standards in international export destinations. Lowering carbon intensity directly enhances market access in regions implementing import emissions regulations while securing long-term export volumes.
This major capital investment impacts global fertilizer supply chains, agricultural markets, and industrial engineering sectors. Expanding primary nitrogen production capacity strengthens supply reliability for international food production while aligning with broader economic diversification objectives under Saudi Vision 2030. For global engineering contractors and equipment suppliers, sustained investments in large-scale decarbonized chemical infrastructure across the Middle East indicate continued demand for specialized carbon capture and high-capacity processing technologies.
