SALIC launches National Grain Supply Company to enhance Saudi food security
SABIL will manage 14 silo branches across the kingdom, including four located in major ports.
SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC), fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has launched the National Grain Supply Company (SABIL), its first local investment in grain operations.
The company will manage the country’s strategic grain reserves and strengthen the national food supply chain.
With a storage capacity of more than 2.7 million tonnes, SABIL is set to become a critical player in Saudi Arabia’s food security and logistics infrastructure.
Unveiled on April 15 under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, SABIL will manage 14 silo branches across the kingdom, including four located in major ports — Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Yanbu Commercial Port, and Jazan Port.
The company will oversee the handling of imported wheat from port arrival through storage and distribution to milling companies.
SABIL’s launch continues SALIC’s strategic expansion in securing sustainable food sources for the Kingdom.
Established in 2011, SALIC was tasked with ensuring stable food supplies through investments in agricultural and livestock sectors both locally and internationally. The creation of SABIL reflects the next phase in that mandate, reinforcing the domestic supply chain through advanced logistics and infrastructure capabilities.
Abdulrahman bin Saud Al Owais, CEO of SABIL, said during the launch that the company’s mission is to empower the grain sector with operational excellence.
“We aim to enhance strategic partnerships and provide integrated support across the grain value chain from producers to consumers,” he said.
SALIC Group CEO, Sulaiman Abdulrahman AlRumaih, noted that SABIL’s infrastructure will also serve the private sector by offering commercial storage and logistics solutions.
“This will not only strengthen national grain reserves but also create opportunities for private sector collaboration in food logistics,” he added.
The formation of SABIL coincides with the transformation of the General Grains Organization into the General Food Safety Authority (GFSA). While GFSA will retain oversight of local and imported wheat procurement during the transition, operational responsibilities, such as port handling and silo management, are now being assumed by SABIL.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, Saudi Arabia is expected to import approximately 3.2 million tonnes of wheat in the 2025/26 marketing year while domestic production is forecast at 1.5 million tonnes. With beginning stocks of 4.09 million tonnes, effective storage and supply chain management remains crucial.
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