BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 12. Saudi Aramco reported a notable improvement in its downstream crude oil utilization rate in the first quarter of 2025, as the company ramped up refinery operations amid recovering demand, Trend reports.
According to the producer, downstream utilization of Aramco’s crude oil production reached 56% in Q1 2025, up from 52% in Q4 2024 and 51% in the same period a year earlier. The steady increase underscores Aramco’s focus on optimizing refinery throughput and operational reliability, which remained robust at 100% during the quarter.
The higher utilization rate reflects stronger plant availability and a strategic push to maximize value from crude oil processing and integrated petrochemical operations. While refining margins remained under pressure globally, increased throughput helped mitigate margin volatility by supporting higher overall production volumes of refined products and chemicals.
Year-on-year, the 5-percentage-point increase in downstream utilization signals sustained operational improvements and aligns with Aramco’s long-term strategy to enhance crude-to-chemicals conversion rates and diversify its product portfolio.
Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco’s downstream segment swung back to profitability in the first quarter of 2025, posting earnings before interest, income taxes, and zakat of $508 million, compared to a significant loss of $2.12 billion in the previous quarter.
