Is a SABER Certificate Required for Petroleum & Mineral Fuel Products?
Generally yes. Refined petroleum by-products — bitumen, paraffin wax, petroleum jelly and petroleum coke — are registered on the SABER platform against the applicable chemical or building-material Technical Regulation depending on end use (road/roofing bitumen falls under building materials; petroleum jelly used in cosmetics or pharmaceutical bases follows a different route via SFDA and is outside SABER — we confirm which applies to your specific product). A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required before a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) can be issued for each consignment.
Conformity rests on the certificate of analysis (COA) confirming the grade — for example bitumen penetration grade (60/70, 80/100), paraffin wax melting point and oil content, or petroleum jelly USP/cosmetic-grade classification — matched against the declared specification.
Applicable Technical Regulations & Standards
The relevant standard depends heavily on the specific product and its declared use, and is confirmed at assessment from the product type and HS code.
- Bitumen / asphalt for roads and roofing — penetration grade to ASTM D5 / D946, softening point (ASTM D36), ties to the Technical Regulation for Building Materials for construction-use bitumen
- Paraffin wax — melting point, oil content and colour grade (ASTM D87 / D721)
- Petroleum jelly — grade classification (technical / cosmetic / pharmaceutical-base), each following a different compliance route
- Petroleum coke — sulphur content, ash content and calorific value where used as an industrial fuel or additive
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) or Certificate of Conformity from the refinery/supplier confirming physical and chemical properties against the declared grade
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) covering flash point, handling and transport classification
Testing & Verification Requirements
- Penetration and softening-point testing for bitumen grades
- Melting point, oil content and colour testing for paraffin wax
- Physical/chemical property verification against the declared grade for petroleum jelly and coke
- Flash point and viscosity testing where relevant to the product form
- Sulphur and ash content analysis for petroleum coke used as fuel
A certificate of analysis from the refinery or supplier, confirming the grade and physical properties, forms the core of the evidence. We review your COA and SDS first and arrange only the additional product testing that is actually needed.
SABER Certificate Requirements for Petroleum & Mineral Fuel Products
The typical document set is below; our full documents required guide explains each item in more detail.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) confirming grade and physical/chemical properties
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Product technical datasheet stating grade, intended use and standard
- Declared end-use statement (construction, industrial, cosmetic, etc.)
- HS code and Saudi importer registration details
How We Help
- Confirm the product and declared use
We identify the exact product form and end use, since this determines whether SABER or a different regulator (e.g. SFDA) applies.
- Review your COA and SDS
We check the grade and properties against the applicable standard and flag any gap.
- Coordinate any additional testing
Where the COA alone is not sufficient, we arrange laboratory verification of the relevant property.
- Obtain the PCoC and process each SCoC
We secure the Product Certificate and process the Shipment Certificate for every consignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the SABER certificate for lubricants?
No. Lubricating oils and greases are a separate product line covered on our lubricants page. This guide covers other refined petroleum by-products — bitumen, paraffin wax, petroleum jelly and petroleum coke — which follow different grade standards.
Does cosmetic-grade petroleum jelly need a SABER certificate?
Generally no — cosmetic and pharmaceutical-grade petroleum jelly is regulated by SFDA rather than SASO/SABER. We confirm the applicable regulator for your specific grade before starting any process, so you are directed to the correct route.
What grade documentation do I need for bitumen?
A certificate of analysis confirming the penetration grade (e.g. 60/70 or 80/100) and softening point, consistent with your commercial invoice and the intended construction use, is the core requirement.
How much does SABER certification for these products cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether a complete certificate of analysis is available and whether additional physical-property testing is needed. Send your COA, SDS and intended end use 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 a single PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same grade during that period. An SCoC is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own Shipment Certificate before it can clear Saudi customs.
Which HS codes does this cover?
These products generally fall under HS Chapter 27 — petroleum jelly and paraffin wax (2712), petroleum coke and bitumen (2713). The precise code and applicable requirement are confirmed during assessment.