Quick answer
Under the Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products (Royal Decree M/139), no one may export petroleum or petrochemical materials without a Ministry of Energy licence. In the ZATCA tariff, primary polymers (HS 3901–3909), methanol, ammonia and urea need that approval before the export declaration, and PET has its own. Converters making plastic articles are outside the law. We confirm the approval before booking.
Which approvals and facts apply?
| Ministry of Energy licence | No person may export, buy, sell, store or transport petroleum or petrochemical materials without a Ministry of Energy licence (Article 5). (Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products, Royal Decree M/139 (Bureau of Experts, Arabic)) |
| Converters | Converters that make plastic articles from resin are outside the law's scope (Article 3). (Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products, official English translation (MISA)) |
| Per tariff line | Primary polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC, plus methanol, ammonia and urea, carry a Ministry of Energy export approval code; PET resin, bottles and preforms carry their own Ministry of Energy approval; petroleum derivatives such as base oils, lubricants and bitumen have a separate code. (ZATCA Integrated Tariff: clearance and exporting procedure codes) |
| Export values 2025 | Plastics SAR 67.7 billion of national exports; fertilisers SAR 25.7 billion. Plastics and rubber were 19.4% of non-oil exports. (GASTAT: International Trade in Goods 2025) |
| Formed sulphur | Formed sulphur (pastilles, granules, flakes) is not subject to the dangerous-goods regulations under Special Provision 242; sulphur in other forms is UN 1350, Class 4.1. (UN Model Regulations Rev. 20 (Special Provision 242; UN 1350)) |
| Export declaration | Filed on FASAH once the approval is on file; ZATCA customs service fees on exports are waived since 6 October 2024. (ZATCA: customs service fees on exports waived from 6 Oct 2024) |
Official sources checked 12–14 October 2026. The approval is set per 12-digit tariff line; we check yours before you book.
What do we handle on the Saudi side?
Approval check
We read the tariff line and confirm the Ministry of Energy approval is on file before booking.
Dangerous goods check
Classification comes from the safety data sheet; we prepare the dangerous goods declaration where the SDS classifies the product.
Bagged resin in containers
Palletised 25 kg bags or jumbo bags in 40ft or 40ft high-cube containers, stuffed at your plant or in Riyadh.
Declaration and documents
FASAH export declaration, certificate of origin and the VAT 0% evidence pack.
Sources
- Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products, Royal Decree M/139 (Bureau of Experts, Arabic)
- Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products, official English translation (MISA)
- ZATCA Integrated Tariff: clearance and exporting procedure codes
- GASTAT: International Trade in Goods 2025
- UN Model Regulations Rev. 20 (Special Provision 242; UN 1350)
- ZATCA: customs service fees on exports waived from 6 Oct 2024
Official pages, checked 12–14 October 2026. General information, not legal advice; we confirm the approval and documents for each shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
QDo I need Ministry of Energy approval to export polyethylene?
Yes. Primary polymers including polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC (HS 3901–3909) need Ministry of Energy approval before the export declaration is filed.
QI make plastic film or bags. Do I need the approval?
Converters that make plastic articles from resin are outside the Law of Petroleum and Petrochemical Products (Article 3). PET bottles and preforms are the exception and carry their own Ministry of Energy approval.
QDo PET bottles need an approval?
Yes. PET resin, bottles and preforms carry their own Ministry of Energy export approval in the ZATCA tariff.
QDo methanol, ammonia and urea need approval?
Yes. They carry the Ministry of Energy petrochemicals export approval code in the ZATCA tariff.
QIs the approval set for the product or for the shipment?
The requirement is set per 12-digit tariff line in the ZATCA tariff; we read your line and confirm the approval is on file before we book.
QCan I export sulphur pastilles in containers?
Formed sulphur is not subject to the dangerous-goods regulations under Special Provision 242; powder or crushed sulphur is UN 1350, Class 4.1. See our dangerous goods export guide.
QHow is bagged resin loaded?
Palletised 25 kg bags or jumbo bags in 40ft or 40ft high-cube containers, stuffed at your plant or in Riyadh; the classification on the SDS decides how the container is booked.
QWill my buyer's country apply duties?
Your buyer's market may apply duties or trade measures; we check the current measure with your buyer for every shipment.
QIs there a customs fee on the Saudi side?
ZATCA waived its customs service fees on exports from 6 October 2024.
Our credentials
- Licensed customs broker
- ZATCA customs clearance
- TGA Freight Forwarder & Broker Licence
- 42/00008120
- ISO certification
- ISO 9001:2015 AMER300621 · ISO 45001:2018 AMER300622
- Verify · Certification body's certificate check
- Head office · Warehouse
- 7273 Fatimah Al Zahraa Rd, Riyadh 12837 · Al Sulay industrial district, Riyadh
Safe Hands Shipping Line is the trade name of شركة الايدي الامينة (Al Aidi Al Amina Company). All credentials →
Export polymers and petrochemicals with the approval checked first
Tell us the product, HS code, plant city, destination and containers per month; our team sends a written quote.