11/01/2026 03:00 AST
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has announced a major overhaul of its global portfolio, accelerating its exit from petrochemical and engineering plastics assets in Europe and the Americas through two divestment deals worth a combined $950 million.
The move marks a fundamental shift in the company's operating model and investment identity. It comes as part of an intensive portfolio-optimization program launched in 2022, aimed at boosting returns on capital, freeing up cash, and refocusing investments on higher-growth markets and more sustainable profit margins.
Following the announcement, SABIC shares came under heavy selling pressure on Thursday, falling to 48.78 riyals - their lowest level since April 2009. The decline reflected investor reaction to deal details that include non-cash losses of about $4.88 billion (18.3 billion riyals), stemming from the fair-value revaluation of divested assets. These charges are expected to weigh on the company's fourth-quarter 2025 results.
While the market response was cautious, analysts say the accounting hit represents a necessary short-term sacrifice to build a leaner, more competitive company aligned with the new centers of global economic growth in East Asia. The divestments also fit within SABIC's longer-term strategic shift that began in 2020, when Saudi Aramco acquired a 70% stake in the company from the Public Investment Fund for $69.1 billion in the largest deal in the history of the Saudi stock market.
Focus on Higher-Margin Markets
According to SABIC, the first transaction involves the sale of its European petrochemicals business to investment firm AEQUITA for an enterprise value of $500 million. The second covers the sale of its thermoplastics engineering plastics business in Europe and the Americas to Mutares SE & Co. KGaA for $450 million, with potential additional payments linked to future free cash flow over the next four years or a subsequent resale of the business.
SABIC said the transactions represent a key step in reshaping its portfolio, sharpening its focus on higher-margin markets and products with strong competitive advantages, while redeploying capital into opportunities that deliver stronger returns and improved free cash flow. The company stressed that the divestments will not detract from its commitment to technology and innovation or its ability to serve customers worldwide.
Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain
SABIC chairman Khalid Al-Dabbagh described the deals as a "transformational step" in the company's strategy to maximize shareholder value by strengthening cash generation.
Chief executive Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh said the transactions extend the portfolio-optimization program launched in 2022, which included earlier exits from functional forms and the Hadeed and Alba businesses. He said the strategy allows SABIC to reshape its portfolio more effectively and concentrate on areas where it has clear and sustainable competitive advantages in a rapidly changing global environment.
For his part, Chief financial officer Salah Al-Hareky added that the divestments reflect SABIC's disciplined approach to capital management. Freeing up capital for redeployment into higher-return opportunities, he said, will improve capital efficiency and enhance returns over the medium to long term.
Assets Involved
The European petrochemicals business being sold includes the production and marketing of ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene and value-added polymer compounds, with manufacturing sites in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
The engineering thermoplastics deal covers SABIC assets producing materials such as polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate and ABS resins, with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands. Mutares co-founder and chief executive Robin Laik said the priority after completion will be ensuring business continuity and supporting employees during the transition, while unlocking the full potential of the assets as a standalone platform.
Completion of both transactions remains subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals, including employee consultations where required. SABIC expects the deals to close in the second half of 2026.
Analysts see the exits from lower-return assets as a catalyst for improved margins and stronger free cash flow, positioning SABIC for a more resilient and profitable phase beyond the near-term pressures on its share price.
Asharq Al Awsat
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