POSCO Makes First Delivery of HIC Steel to Saudi Aramco, Breaking European Monopoly

"Expanding Dominance in the High-Value-Added Energy Steel Market"

POSCO announced on July 13 that it will supply HIC-certified energy steel to the 'Fadhili Gas Plant Expansion Project' of Aramco, the state-run oil company of Saudi Arabia.

Energy steel is categorized into plant components used for energy extraction and production, and pipe components for transportation. This is the first time POSCO's HIC steel will be supplied to the plant sector.

Aerial view of Saudi Arabia's Fadhili Project. Photo by Yonhap News

HIC steel is a steel product resistant to hydrogen-induced cracking. It is used as a material for energy pipes and pressure vessels that are exposed to harsh environments in terms of temperature and pressure, such as those found in the oil and gas industries.

The Fadhili expansion project is a large-scale energy infrastructure initiative by Aramco to increase the existing plant's gas processing capacity by approximately 1.6 times. The HIC steel required by Aramco for plant use must undergo HIC testing and quality certification procedures that are more stringent than the international standard (NACE TM0284), which has led European steelmakers to exclusively supply this material until now.

POSCO stated that this supply will allow the company to expand its technological capabilities and market dominance in the high-value-added energy steel market.

POSCO said, "Amid ongoing uncertainties in the global trade environment, such as protectionism and high tariff policies, we are securing unrivaled competitiveness by developing new demand and expanding sales channels focused on high-value-added products. Furthermore, we are taking the lead in the growth and competitiveness of the domestic manufacturing industry by collaborating extensively with a wide range of customers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.