In a move reflecting the ongoing development of the Kingdom's energy and fuel sector, Saudi Aramco, the global oil giant, announced on Sunday the launch of its 98-octane gasoline product in the local market. This announcement comes in response to the needs of a specific segment of high-performance vehicles, with the company confirming that the product will be available starting this January.
Expanding energy options and diversifying products
The launch of this new product comes as part of Aramco's strategy to offer consumers multiple fuel options, thereby diversifying its product portfolio in the local market. This move aims to keep pace with technological advancements in the global automotive industry, where modern, high-efficiency engines require fuel with specific specifications to ensure optimal performance.
From an economic and operational standpoint, the company clarified that the introduction of 98-octane gasoline will not affect the availability of its existing core products, 91-octane and 95-octane gasoline. It emphasized that the prices of these two products will remain unchanged, operating under the usual pricing mechanisms, thus ensuring market stability and meeting the needs of the vast majority of drivers.
Target audience and the difference between fuel types
Data indicates that the use of 98-octane gasoline is limited and reserved for a specific category of vehicles: high-performance vehicles. These vehicles are characterized by high-compression engines that require high-octane fuel to prevent knocking or premature combustion. According to statistics, these vehicles represent no more than 0.5% of the total number of cars in Saudi Arabia.
In its consumer awareness campaign, Aramco emphasized that there is no technical benefit or added advantage to using 98-octane gasoline in standard or economy vehicles with medium-sized engines. On the contrary, experts always advise adhering to the fuel type recommended by the vehicle manufacturer (whether 91, 95, or 98 octane) to ensure engine efficiency and save money.
Pricing mechanism and geographic availability
Regarding geographical availability, the main cities in the Kingdom were chosen as starting points for providing the new product, based on market studies that identified the locations of high-performance vehicles that need this type of fuel.
Regarding the pricing mechanism, the company clarified that the price of 98-octane gasoline will be made available with complete transparency on the Saudi Aramco website, specifically on the page dedicated to retail fuel sales. The price will be published concurrently with the product's launch in the local market during January. It was also noted that the price will be reviewed periodically to align with global and local market fluctuations, ensuring fair pricing for consumers.
