RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources processed 524 requests for chemical clearance services in August, underscoring the Kingdom’s efforts to boost industrial investment and streamline regulatory processes.
The requests included 510 permits for importing unrestricted chemical materials and 14 applications for importing restricted substances, the ministry said on social media platform X, adding that 838 export permit requests were also submitted during the same period.
The chemical clearance service is part of a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency and facilitate access to critical raw materials, supporting the growth of Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector.
Mohammed Al-Kharaj, director general of industrial and mineral licenses at the ministry, said the chemical clearance service enables industrial investors to apply for import or export permits for chemical substances through the comprehensive industrial services platform.
He explained that the service aims to streamline clearance procedures for chemical substances and provide a fully electronic process for industrial facilities, ensuring smooth and timely operations.
Al-Kharaj stressed that the service enhances competitiveness in the chemical sector and contributes to strengthening its role in supporting the national economy.
He added that chemical clearance services form part of the ministry’s digital transformation strategy, which focuses on improving operational efficiency and simplifying procedures for investors, thereby creating a more attractive investment environment in the Kingdom.
According to the ministry, these measures reflect its commitment to enabling industrial facilities to access essential raw materials and chemical inputs in a timely manner. It said this plays a key role in supporting the growth and expansion of Saudi Arabia’s industrial ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector has shown steady growth in recent months, driven particularly by the chemicals segment. The Kingdom’s industrial output in July rose significantly, with the chemicals sub-sector alone increasing by about 8.9 percent year over year.
In 2024, manufacturing sectors expanded by 4.7 percent, with the output of chemicals and chemical products forming part of that growth, along with refined petroleum goods and coke.
These improvements are occurring in the context of broader government policies like the standardized industrial incentives program, which aims to boost competitiveness, attract high-value investment, and position the Kingdom as a global hub for manufacturing and chemicals.
