Sabic returns to profit in third quarter as revenue rises 14% on the quarter
Saudi petrochemicals group Sabic reported a return to profit in Q3 2026, with adjusted net income of SR840 million after a second-quarter loss. Coverage differs on emphasis: Arab News stresses resilience and expansion, The National the regional security backdrop.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) returned to profitability in the third quarter of 2026, reporting adjusted net income of SR840 million (about $220 million). Arab NewsRC “reporting adjusted net income of SR840 million ($220 million)” Read at Arab News ↗ The NationalN “adjusted net income reached 840 million riyals, reversing a loss of 380 million riyals in the second quarter” Read at The National ↗ Right · 1That reversed an adjusted net loss of SR380 million in the second quarter, and adjusted earnings per share rose to SR0.28 from a loss of SR0.13. Arab NewsRC “Adjusted earnings per share rose to SR0.28 from a loss of SR0.13.” Read at Arab News ↗ Mixed · 2Revenue rose 14 percent quarter on quarter to SR28.17 billion, and adjusted EBITDA climbed 40 percent to SR4.75 billion. Arab NewsRC “Revenue increased 14 percent quarter on quarter to SR28.17 billion” Read at Arab News ↗ The NationalN “increased 40 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 4.75 billion riyals” Read at The National ↗
Right · 1Adjusted EBIT surged 434 percent to SR2.17 billion, and net debt was SR3.03 billion at 30 September 2026, up from SR2.73 billion at 30 June. Arab NewsRC “Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes surged 434 percent to SR2.17 billion.” Read at Arab News ↗ Centre · 1The National adds that revenue was still about 3 percent below the year-earlier level, and that net profit attributable to shareholders was SR500 million ($133 million), up 16.3 percent from the same period last year, following a second-quarter net loss of SR833 million that it attributed to the regional conflict. The NationalN “although it remained about 3 per cent below the year-earlier level”“after reporting a net loss of 833 million riyals in the second quarter this year due to the regional conflict” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1For the first nine months of 2026 Sabic narrowed its net loss to SR320 million from SR4.84 billion a year earlier, while revenue fell nearly 11 percent to SR79.13 billion, according to The National. The NationalN “Sabic narrowed its net loss to 320 million riyals, from 4.84 billion riyals in the same period last year” Read at The National ↗
Mixed · 2Chief executive Faisal M. Alfaqeer said Sabic "demonstrated exceptional resilience, despite geopolitical developments and market headwinds" and remained focused on portfolio optimisation, transformation and selective growth. Arab NewsRC “SABIC demonstrated exceptional resilience, despite geopolitical developments and market headwinds.” Read at Arab News ↗ The NationalN “portfolio optimisation, transformation and selective growth” Read at The National ↗ Mixed · 2Sabic completed the sale of its Engineering Thermoplastics business in the Americas and Europe for an enterprise value of $450 million, and said its transformation programme has delivered SR3.56 billion towards a 2030 target of SR11.3 billion in recurring EBITDA impact. Arab NewsRC “completed the sale of its Engineering Thermoplastics business in the Americas and Europe for an enterprise value of $450 million” Read at Arab News ↗ The NationalN “3.56 billion riyals in recurring Ebitda benefits towards its 2030 target of 11.3 billion riyals” Read at The National ↗ Right · 1Arab News also reports that SABIC Agri-Nutrients took a final investment decision on a new complex with capacity of 1.2 million tonnes of ammonia and 2.6 million tonnes of urea, raising urea capacity by 54 percent, and that the Ministry of Energy allocated feedstock for a 1.8-million-tonne methanol plant in Jubail. Arab NewsRC “expected to increase the company’s urea production capacity by 54 percent from current levels”“new methanol plant in Jubail with annual production capacity of 1.8 million tonnes” Read at Arab News ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets place the results against regional conflict; The National points to repeated missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil and petrochemical infrastructure, including a Houthi missile attack earlier in October that damaged Saudi Aramco's headquarters complex in Dhahran. It notes Aramco owns 70 percent of Sabic. The NationalN “Aramco owns a 70 per cent stake in Sabic.”“petrochemical infrastructure facing repeated missile and drone attacks amid the widening regional conflict” Read at The National ↗ Arab NewsRC “with regional conflict adding to uncertainty across the Middle East” Read at Arab News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Business report that pairs the rebound with context: weaker year-on-year revenue and the security threat to Saudi energy infrastructure.
- Emphasis
- Reported net profit, year-on-year and nine-month comparisons, Houthi attacks and Aramco's 70% stake.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Agri-Nutrients urea project, the methanol feedstock allocation, net debt or the local content certificate.
- Charged language
- “heightened security risks”“widening regional conflict”
- For example
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“Sabic’s results come against a backdrop of heightened security risks for” — The National
“although it remained about 3 per cent below the year-earlier level” — The National
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Company-statement-led report presenting the result as a recovery that shows resilience, with detail on expansion projects and portfolio changes.
- Emphasis
- Quarterly adjusted metrics, net debt, the urea complex, methanol feedstock allocation, local content score and transformation progress.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give reported net profit, the year-on-year revenue decline, nine-month figures or the attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.
- Charged language
- “underscores its financial resilience”“exceptional resilience”
- For example
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“SABIC’s return to net profit in the third quarter of this year underscores its financial resilience and confidence in the long-term strength of the sector.” — Arab News
What every side reports
- Sabic returned to profit in Q3 2026 with adjusted net income of SR840 million, against an adjusted loss of SR380 million in Q2.
- Revenue rose 14% quarter on quarter to SR28.17 billion; adjusted EBITDA rose 40% to SR4.75 billion.
- Sabic sold its engineering thermoplastics business in the Americas and Europe for $450 million enterprise value.
- CEO Faisal M. Alfaqeer cited exceptional resilience despite geopolitical developments and market headwinds.
Where accounts differ
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Which profit figure defines the return to profit
- Centre
- Cites SR840 million adjusted but also reported net profit attributable of SR500 million, with a Q2 net loss of SR833 million.
- Right
- Headlines adjusted net income of SR840 million and calls it a return to net profit.
Sabic organisation
Presents the quarter as a demonstration of resilience amid geopolitical and market headwinds, and says it is pursuing portfolio optimisation, transformation and selective growth.
“portfolio optimization, transformation and selective growth” — Arab News
“in efforts to support the company’s long-term profitability and value creation for shareholders” — The National
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Sabic returns to profit in third quarter as revenue rises despite regional conflict
Neutral Reports the rebound with year-on-year caveats and places it within the security risks to Saudi energy infrastructure.
Right1 article
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SABIC returns to profitability with $220m adjusted net income in Q3
Sympathetic Reports the results largely through the company statement and adds its own line that the return to profit underscores financial resilience.
- 25 Oct 08:29 First Arab NewsRC SABIC returns to profitability with $220m adjusted net income in Q3
- 25 Oct 08:53 +24m The NationalN Sabic returns to profit in third quarter as revenue rises despite regional conflict
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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