10.05.2017 • News

Saudi Aramco Completes Buy of Shell’s Port Arthur Refinery Stake

Saudi Aramco has now taken full control of the Port Arthur refinery in Texas, which it up to now has operated as a 50:50 joint venture, Motiva Enterprises, with the Shell group. Plans for the transaction were announced last year. Port Arthur is the US market’s largest oil refinery.

Along with the refinery, Aramco is also acquiring from Shell full ownership of 24 distribution terminals, giving it the exclusive right to sell Shell-branded gasoline and diesel in seven Southern US states.

Global petrochemical markets are now seeing a string of new overseas investment by Saudi players as part of the Vision 2030 drive launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016 to diversify the Kingdom’s sources of income away from crude oil.

 

Virtual Event

Downstream Purification
Bioprocess Forum

Downstream Purification

Save the Date: November 21+25, 2025
Join leading scientists, process engineers, and biomanufacturing innovators for a two-day virtual event exploring the latest breakthroughs in downstream purification.

Interview

Leading Transformation
The Path to Sustainable Growth

Leading Transformation

As Executive Vice President of International Chemicals since early 2024, Antje Gerber has been steering Sasol through a pivotal reset—focused on resilience, innovation, and bold sustainability goals.

most read

Photo

VCI Welcomes US-EU Customs Deal

The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) welcomes the fact that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and US President Donald Trump have averted the danger of a trade war for the time being.