Overview
Lubricants are a chemical / petroleum product: their entire job is to deliver a specific viscosity behaviour and film strength across a temperature range, consistently from batch to batch. That makes their certification different from mechanical spare parts — the key evidence is physicochemical laboratory data (kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, flash point, pour point) matched against the declared specification (SAE, API, ISO VG or ACEA), together with correct GHS classification, hazard labelling and a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
Lubricants fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the lubricant range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. Refined fuels are outside this page's scope — this page covers lubricating oils, greases and hydraulic/industrial lubricants only.
Product Types
The SABER route and lubricant-specific requirements apply across products including:
- Automotive engine oils (mineral, semi-synthetic, fully synthetic)
- Gear oils and transmission fluids
- Greases (lithium, calcium and complex base)
- Hydraulic fluids
- Industrial and machinery lubricating oils
- Two-stroke and marine lubricants
The scope of your certificate is defined from the base-oil type, additive package and HS code. We structure the certificate so the lubricant range you actually export is covered.
HS Codes
Lubricants are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the exact product.
- 2710.19 — Petroleum-based lubricating oils and preparations
- 3403.19 / 3403.99 — Lubricating preparations containing petroleum oils, and other lubricating preparations (e.g. additive/synthetic-base)
- 2710.19 (grease sub-lines) — Petroleum jelly-based and lubricating greases
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Lubricants are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation and lubricant specification
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- Physicochemical test evidence — viscosity, viscosity index, flash point and pour point matching the declared grade
- Correct GHS hazard classification, pictograms and Arabic/English labelling
- A current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in the required format
- Container/packaging labelling showing grade, batch and manufacturer identification
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Lubricants are assessed under the applicable Saudi/GCC Technical Regulation for chemical and petroleum products, built around specification conformance and hazard classification rather than mechanical performance. The frameworks most commonly referenced internationally are SAE J300 for engine-oil viscosity grades, API service categories (such as SN, SP or CI-4), ISO 6743 for lubricant classification and ISO 3448 viscosity grades for industrial oils, together with the UN GHS framework for classification and labelling. The exact regulation and standard set is confirmed at assessment from the product type and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Lubricants are typically evaluated against the applicable ASTM / ISO standards for physicochemical properties. Typical verification includes:
- ASTM D445 / ISO 3104 — kinematic viscosity at 40°C and 100°C
- ASTM D2270 — viscosity index calculation
- ASTM D92 — flash point (Cleveland open cup)
- ASTM D97 — pour point
- Total base number (TBN) / total acid number (TAN) where applicable
- GHS classification testing/data review for hazard labelling and SDS content
Existing accredited laboratory reports may be accepted where they cover the correct formulation and grade. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical lubricant application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the lubricant product
- Technical datasheet (TDS) showing declared viscosity grade, base-oil type and specification (SAE/API/ISO VG)
- Laboratory physicochemical test report (viscosity, viscosity index, flash point, pour point)
- Current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) with GHS classification
- Photographs of the container label showing grade, batch and manufacturer identification
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the lubricant range against the applicable standards. In outline:
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Classification and scope
We confirm the base-oil type, declared grade, HS code and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
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Report review
We check whether your physicochemical test reports and SDS can be reused and confirm they match the actual formulation shipped.
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Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, labelling and test evidence against the regulation.
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PCoC issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform. It is typically valid for one year.
SCoC Process
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment and is what customs checks at the border. In outline:
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Shipment details submitted
The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.
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Verification
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC, the declared grade and volume are confirmed, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
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SCoC issued
The SCoC is issued for that shipment, allowing it to clear Saudi customs. Each new shipment needs its own SCoC.
Certification Timeline
The main variable is whether valid physicochemical test reports and a compliant SDS already exist for your exact formulation. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing test reports and SDS — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh laboratory testing is required — physicochemical test turnaround is the main driver, usually one to two weeks depending on scope
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- No laboratory viscosity/flash-point report — only the marketing grade printed on the label
- SDS missing, outdated or not matching GHS classification requirements
- Test report on file does not cover the exact formulation being shipped
- Missing grade, batch or manufacturer marking on the container label
- Wrong HS chapter declared — Chapter 27 (petroleum-based) vs Chapter 34 (preparations)
- Flammable-liquid hazard pictogram omitted where the flash point requires it
We check these points up front — especially physicochemical test evidence and GHS/SDS documentation — so shipments are not held at customs for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What test evidence actually proves a lubricant meets its declared grade?
A laboratory physicochemical report showing kinematic viscosity at 40°C and 100°C, viscosity index, flash point and pour point, matched against the declared SAE/API/ISO VG specification, is the core evidence. The grade printed on the label alone does not prove the product meets that specification, so it is not accepted on its own.
Why is the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) checked alongside the test report?
Lubricants are a chemical product, so GHS hazard classification, pictograms and an accurate SDS are required alongside the performance data — an SDS that does not match the actual formulation, or is missing a required hazard pictogram such as flammable liquid, is a common reason a shipment is queried.
Does this page cover fuels or refined petroleum products?
No — this page covers lubricating oils, greases and hydraulic/industrial lubricants only. Refined fuels and other petroleum products fall outside this scope; contact us and we will confirm the correct route for that product.
How much does SABER certification for lubricants cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid physicochemical test reports and a compliant SDS already exist for your exact formulation. With acceptable evidence a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh laboratory testing is required that turnaround is the main variable. Send your lubricant details and reports for a specific quote and timeline at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
How long is the PCoC valid, and do I need a new SCoC for every shipment?
A Product Certificate of Conformity is typically valid for one year, so one PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same lubricant grade during that period. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own SCoC before it can clear Saudi customs.
Which products and HS codes does this cover?
The same SABER route applies across engine oils, gear oils, greases, hydraulic fluids and industrial lubricants — generally classified under HS heading 2710.19 (petroleum-based lubricating oils) or 3403.19/3403.99 (lubricating preparations). We confirm the correct classification for your exact formulation during assessment.
Get Your Lubricants Certified
Send us your product type, declared grade, HS code and any existing physicochemical test reports or SDS. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation, testing and GHS/SDS documentation, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.