Saudi Arabia Grain Storage and Silos Market Overview, 2031

Market Insights on Saudi Arabia Grain Storage and Silos Market

Saudi Arabia’s grain storage and silo network is the cornerstone of the Kingdom's food security under Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia imports around 10 MMT grain, such as wheat barley, corn and rice, annually. According to the research report, "Saudi Arabia Grain Storage and Silos Market Overview, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the Saudi Arabia Grain Storage and Silos market is anticipated to grow at 5.26% CAGR from 2026 to 2031. Companies frequently utilize crystalline concrete admixture technologies to add decades of lifespan to massive below-ground foundations and head houses in high-corrosion coastal environments. Cochin Steel Arabia Limited, located in Al Olaya, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a premier manufacturer and supplier of high-quality grain storage silos. It specializes in providing customized grain storage solutions tailored to meet the needs of the agricultural, food processing, and logistics industries. The manufacturing grain storage silos comply with the highest international quality and safety standards such as ISO, BS EN Standards, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Saleh Abdulaziz Al Rashed & Sons (SAR) produces storage silos using galvanized steel and stainless steel with features including airtight sealing mechanisms and temperature control systems.
Russia's 2025 export quota tightening forcing Saudi to source from Argentina, Australia and EU. Saudi Arabia is phasing out domestic wheat production for green barley while shifting to import and storage for animal feed. Major bulk grain facilities are stationed at major coastal gateways such as Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Yanbu Commercial Port and Jazan Seaport. Strategic inland silo networks are also located in key agricultural and population centers, including Riyadh, Hail, and Al Jawf. Saudi Arabia secured a significant construction agreement in February 2026 when the National Grain Company signed a contract with HAIF Trading & Construction Company to build a grain terminal at Yanbu Commercial Port -2. This terminal features 12 steel silos with total capacity of 96,000 tonnes plus a flat warehouse with 60,000 tonnes capacity, a 650 meter conveyor belt, and unloading equipment handling 800 tonnes per hour, designed to manage up to 3 million tonnes annually of barley, corn, and soybeans.
SALIC (Saudi Agricultural & Livestock Investment Company) is making global storage investments. The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, secures food supplies through strategic farmland acquisitions in Ukraine, Canada, Australia, and Africa. SALIC manages 195,000 hectares of agricultural land in western Ukraine through its Continental Farms Group which produces one million tons of grain annually, and has acquired majority ownership of Olam Agri to strengthen supply chain access across Asian and African markets. SABIL launched with 2.7 million tonnes of storage capacity across 14 silo branches, including four port facilities, represents a landmark development. It manages strategic reserve operations. General Food Safety Authority works alongside SABIL to handle national grain procurement and quality standards under the Strategic Food Reserve Law.
GFSA monitors the quality of milling company products before release to the market, based on flour quality standards. It grants main licenses for milling operations. For example, Arabian Mills for Food Products Company holds Main License No. 02 to operate flour mills in Riyadh (765 thousand tons/year), Hail (180 thousand tons/year), and Jazan (360 thousand tons/year) -3. The company also holds secondary milling licenses, commercial registrations, municipality licenses, civil defense licenses, industrial licenses, and SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) licenses. Equipment is certified under SFDA and SASO standards.

Saudi Arabia Market Dynamics

Driver: Strategic Food Security & Massive Infrastructure Investment
The Saudi government prioritizes national food security through extraordinary investment in grain storage capacity. The Public Investment Fund, through SALIC, launched the National Grain Supply Company SABIL in April 2025 with a massive storage capacity exceeding 2.7 million tonnes across 14 silo branches including four major ports at Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Yanbu Commercial Port, and Jazan Port. Saudi Arabia imports approximately 80% of its food needs with wheat imports projected at 3.2 million tonnes annually, making strategic storage reserves absolutely essential. The nation aims to maintain a full one year supply of wheat in reserves, which requires continuous silo expansion and modernization programs.
Challenge: Extreme Water Scarcity & Domestic Production Constraints
Saudi Arabia faces a critical challenge from chronic and significant water shortage that severely limits domestic grain cultivation. The government has effectively capped domestic wheat output at approximately 1.1 million tonnes under a strict quota system, forcing nearly complete reliance on imported grains. The kingdom consumes nearly two thirds of global barley exports to feed its sheep population, making it exceptionally vulnerable to international price volatility and supply chain disruptions. Local production of water intensive crops like alfalfa is being systematically phased out, while livestock feed demand continues rising, creating a structural imbalance where storage infrastructure must compensate for declining domestic harvests.
Trend: Centralized Procurement & Smart Silo Management Under SALIC
A transformative institutional shift is underway as the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company SALIC assumes wheat purchasing and silo management responsibilities from the General Food Security Authority GFSA. This centralization streamlines logistics through the newly established SABIL subsidiary which operates advanced port silos with handling equipment featuring 800 tonnes per hour discharge rates. The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal exemplifies this trend with 12 steel silos providing 96,000 tonnes capacity and a 650 meter conveyor belt system. Smart monitoring technologies for temperature and moisture control are being integrated across all new storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses which currently affect approximately 18 percent of regional grain production.

Segment Analysis

Saudi Arabia Grain Storage and Silos Market by By Material Type
• Steel silos are a dominant storage solution in Saudi Arabia utilized by entities like the National Grain Supply Company SABIL which manages over 2.7 million tonnes of capacity across 14 branches. The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal features 12 steel silos with a combined capacity of 96 thousand tonnes for grain storage. Inland terminals including a CESCO project in Al Masirah use flat bottom steel bins to store corn. Shelley Engineering previously installed galvanized steel silos in the kingdom with 642 cubic meter units for corn storage.
• Concrete silos and storage structures are present in Saudi Arabia‘s grain infrastructure. Arabian Mills for Food Products Company constructed a concrete tank for foam storage at its Jizan Branch facility to support milling operations. The company operates flour mills in Riyadh with 765 thousand tons annual capacity and in Jazan with 360 thousand tons capacity where concrete elements form part of the storage and processing complex. Concrete foundations are required beneath flat bottom steel silos for long term grain storage stability.
• Metal silos in Saudi Arabia encompass both galvanized steel and aluminum based storage systems. S A TALKE a logistics provider offers silo storage services for the petrochemical and agricultural sectors across the Eastern and Western regions of the kingdom operating over 15 projects. The company supports plant design and bagging operations at facilities requiring metal silos for bulk material handling. CESCO EPC designs metal building structures and process bins for grain terminals in Saudi Arabia addressing strict safety standards.
• Other grain storage materials in Saudi Arabia include synthetic covers for flat warehouses and portable silo bags. The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal includes a flat warehouse with 60 thousand tonnes capacity that supplements traditional silo storage. Arabian Mills installed rainproofing equipment over finished goods warehouses at its Hail Branch to protect flour and grain products. Silo bags are utilized for temporary grain storage although the kingdom focuses primarily on permanent steel infrastructure for strategic reserves.

Saudi Arabia Grain Storage and Silos Market by By Silo Type
• Flat bottom silos are widely installed across Saudi Arabia for large volume grain storage. A CESCO EPC project in Al Masirah completed a flat bottom silo system with total storage capacity of 20 thousand tons for corn products. Shelley Engineering erected flat bottom bins in Saudi Arabia featuring 9.167 meter diameter units with 642 cubic meter volume for corn storage. These silos use hot dip galvanized steel sheets with 275 grams per square meter coating mass for corrosion resistance.
• Hopper bottom silos are used in Saudi grain facilities for efficient gravity discharge. The CESCO project in Al Masirah included Hopper Bottom Silos model HBS 4,60 with T60 specifications alongside flat bottom units. The facility integrated aeration systems sweep augers and chain conveyors to move grain from hopper silos to processing equipment. Hopper silos require stronger foundations due to concentrated loads at the cone base making them suitable for feed mills and operations requiring frequent grain turnover.
• Grain bins are utilized across Saudi Arabian farms and agricultural facilities for moderate term storage. The kingdom‘s grain infrastructure includes smaller bins at milling company locations such as Arabian Mills facilities in Riyadh Hail and Jazan which store wheat prior to milling. These bins complement larger port silos by providing decentralized storage near consumption points. The General Food Security Authority manages grain bin operations at various branches until full transfer of operational activities to SALIC is completed.
• Other silo types in Saudi Arabia include bunkers and synthetic storage systems. The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal operates a flat warehouse with 60 thousand tonnes capacity functioning as a bunker style storage for grains including barley corn and soybeans. The facility handles up to 3 million tonnes of grain annually using a 650 meter conveyor belt system. SABIL manages 14 silo branches including four at major ports Jeddah Islamic Port King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam Yanbu Commercial Port and Jazan Port.

Saudi Arabia Grain Storage and Silos Market by By Grain Type
• Corn is a major imported grain stored in Saudi Arabia requiring significant silo capacity. The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal handles corn along with barley and soybeans with annual throughput capacity of 3 million tonnes. A CESCO project in Al Masirah built a 20 thousand ton terminal specifically for corn products using flat bottom and hopper bottom silos. Corn imports support Saudi Arabia‘s poultry and livestock feed industries making reliable storage infrastructure critical for feed mill operations across the kingdom.
• Wheat is the primary grain stored in Saudi Arabia‘s strategic reserves. Saudi Arabia imports 3.2 million tonnes of wheat annually while producing 1.5 million tonnes domestically requiring extensive storage capacity. SABIL manages wheat handling from ports to milling companies operating 14 silo branches with total storage exceeding 2.7 million tonnes. Arabian Mills operates flour mills in Riyadh with 765 thousand tons annual wheat milling capacity and storage at multiple GFSA leased silo facilities.
• Soybeans are handled at Saudi Arabia‘s port grain terminals for animal feed production. The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal processes soybeans alongside corn and barley with a ship unloading capacity of 800 tonnes per hour. Soybean storage requires careful moisture management to preserve oil quality. The terminal‘s 156 thousand tonne total capacity includes dedicated space for oilseeds. Soybean imports support the kingdom‘s growing poultry and dairy sectors which require high protein feed ingredients.
• Rice storage in Saudi Arabia focuses on import handling and strategic food security reserves. The kingdom relies on rice imports for domestic consumption making port silos at Jeddah Islamic Port King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Jazan Port critical for supply chain stability. SABIL operates silo branches at these locations managing grain unloading and storage. Rice requires controlled humidity environments to prevent cracking and maintain quality distinct from wheat and coarse grain storage requirements.
• Barley storage is expanding in Saudi Arabia to support livestock feed demand. Saudi barley imports are projected to reach 3.3 million tonnes requiring substantial silo capacity at ports and inland terminals. The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal includes barley handling as a core activity with 800 tonnes per hour unloading capacity. Other grains including sorghum are stored at various GFSA facilities. The General Food Security Authority continues to supervise grain purchasing including barley during the first phase of operational transfer to SALIC.  

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Grain Storage and Silos Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Material Type
• Steel Silos
• Concrete Silos
• Metal Silos
• Other Materials

By Silo Type
• Flat bottom Silos
• Hopper silos
• Grains bins
• Other silo types (bags, bunkers, towers, and synthetic silos)

By Grain Type
• Corn
• Wheat
• Soyabean
• Rice
• Barely and Others