Saudi Aramco says reorganising downstream business to support growth

DUBAI (Reuters) - State energy giant Saudi Aramco <2222.SE> said on Tuesday that it will be reorganising its downstream business to support its global growth strategy, aiming to complete it by the end of this year.

The downstream model will be divided into four units: fuels including refining, trading, retail and lubes; chemicals; power; and pipelines, distribution and terminals, Aramco said in a statement.

"This reorganisation is designed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Aramco's existing downstream assets, but does not represent a fundamental change in the overall business structure," Aramco said.

Aramco, the world's biggest oil producing company, is expanding its downstream, or refining and marketing, business globally. It pumps around 8.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude, of which it exports about 6 million bpd.

The company plans to raise its refining capacity - inside Saudi Arabia and abroad - to 8-10 million bpd, from around 5 million bpd now. Aramco is expanding its refining business at home as well as in new markets, particularly in Asia.

In June, Aramco completed its purchase of a 70% stake in SABIC <2010.SE>, the world's fourth-largest petrochemicals company, for $69.1 billion (£55.06 billion).

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal, editing by Louise Heavens)