Saudi keeps options open on Aramco IPO​

Saudi Arabia is keeping its options open on the sale of Aramco shares, a spokesman for the state-owned oil giant said Saturday, following reports that the IPO could be limited to the Riyadh stock exchange.

"A range of options, for the public listing of Saudi Aramco, continues to be held under active review," the spokesman told AFP, questioned on reports that sales on international markets would follow at a later stage.

"No decision has been made and the IPO process remains on track," he said.​

Saudi Aramco on Saturday dismissed reports that it was considering shelving plans for an international listing, with the state-owned oil giant saying it was on track for next year.

London's Financial Times  reported on Friday that the company was in favour of a private stake sale to foreign governments, including China, and other investors amid concerns over the feasibility of an international listing.

Aramco dismissed the report as "entirely speculative".

"All listing venues under review for optimal decision, IPO process is on track for 2018," the company said on Twitter.

The initial public offering, expected to be the world's largest stock sale, forms the cornerstone of the oil-rich kingdom's reform programme to wean the economy off its reliance on oil prices.

Saudi Arabia had laid out plans for Aramco's dual listing on the Saudi stock market and an international exchange for 2018, with markets in New York and London vying for the offering.

But the company has struggled to select an international venue for its listing.

FT's article was followed by a similar report by the Wall Street Journal.

"A range of options, for the public listing of Saudi Aramco, continues to be held under active review," an Aramco spokesman questioned on the reports told AFP earlier Saturday.

"No decision has been made and the IPO process remains on track," he said.

Until 2014, oil income made up more than 90 percent of public revenues in Saudi Arabia.

But as it reels from a protracted oil slump, the kingdom is seeking to diversify its economy and privatise some state assets alongside plans to introduce value-added tax.

Oil prices have partly recovered after major producers inside and outside OPEC, including Saudi Arabia, agreed last year to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day.