SABIL discharges first corn vessel for private sector, marks milestone in Saudi grain sector transformation
The move marks a significant shift for SABIL, which has traditionally focused on supporting government-led grain operations
SAUDI ARABIA -The National Grains Supply Company, SABIL, has completed the discharge of its first corn shipment dedicated to the private sector at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, signaling a new phase in Saudi Arabia’s grain logistics and supply chain transformation.
The move marks a significant shift for SABIL, which has traditionally focused on supporting government-led grain operations. By facilitating private sector access to its infrastructure, the company is aligning itself with national objectives to modernize the Kingdom’s food systems and strengthen supply chain resilience.
This first-of-its-kind operation utilized SABIL’s newly commissioned logistics assets at the port, designed to handle large-scale grain imports with greater efficiency and throughput. The vessel’s discharge was conducted exclusively for a private grain buyer, reflecting growing demand for diversified logistical support among millers and feed producers in the region.
The announcement follows the formal launch of SABIL earlier this year, during a high-level ceremony held at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture headquarters in Riyadh. The event was presided over by His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, who also chairs the boards of the General Food Safety Authority and the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC).
The entity was established as part of Cabinet Resolutions No. 440 and 621, which outlined the transfer of grain sector responsibilities from the former General Grains Organization to the General Food Safety Authority.
SALIC, a state-owned entity under the Public Investment Fund (PIF), was mandated to oversee the transition and ensure operational continuity. SABIL now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary tasked with managing Saudi Arabia’s strategic wheat reserves and silo network.
During the launch event, H.E. Eng. Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Fares, Governor of the General Food Safety Authority, described SABIL’s formation as a critical step toward building a more resilient and sustainable food supply chain. He emphasized that the transition reflects broader national strategies to optimize efficiency and improve the institutional performance of the grains sector.
Echoing these sentiments, SALIC Group CEO Eng. Sulaiman bin Abdulrahman AlRumaih noted that SABIL is designed to serve as an integrated platform across the grain value chain, from sourcing raw commodities to managing logistics, storage, and distribution. He described the new company as a key enabler of food security through innovation and inter-agency collaboration.
SABIL’s operational footprint spans 14 silo branches across the Kingdom, including facilities at four key ports: Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Yanbu Commercial Port, and Jazan Port. Collectively, these assets provide more than 2.7 million metric tons of grain storage capacity, a critical component in safeguarding national reserves and meeting commercial demand.
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