what kind of oil does saudi arabia produce

Saudi Arabia mainly produces several grades of crude oil, especially medium and light “sour” crude known under the family name Arabian crude oils.

Main oil types

Saudi Aramco states that it produces five main grades of crude oil:

• Arabian Heavy – Denser, higher sulfur crude, typically from offshore fields like Safaniya.

• Arabian Medium – Intermediate density and sulfur, often also from offshore fields such as Qatif and Khursaniyah.

• Arabian Light – The flagship Saudi crude, a medium‑sour oil widely exported and produced largely from giant onshore fields like Ghawar.

• Arabian Extra Light – Lighter crude with lower density, produced from onshore fields such as Abqaiq and Berri.

• Arabian Super Light – Very light crude oil from fields such as Shaybah and other onshore reservoirs.

How this oil is classified

In global market terms, Saudi crude is usually described as:

• Mostly medium and light sour crude, meaning it has moderate API gravity and contains sulfur that refineries must remove.

• Sold under long‑established brand names like Arab Light, Arab Heavy, etc., which refiners around the world recognize and plan their operations around.

Why the mix matters

The variety of grades allows Saudi Arabia to:

• Adjust its production mix to meet different refinery needs in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, from heavy‑oil refineries to plants optimized for lighter crudes.

• Maintain a large, flexible export portfolio while drawing on both huge onshore fields such as Ghawar and major offshore fields like Safaniya.

Information gathered from public data available on the internet and portrayed here.