Middle East Petrochemicals Exports Exceeded in 2011

EQUATE Petrochemical Company said the Middle East has exported over 30 million metric tons (MT) of petrochemicals during 2011. On the occasion of EQUATE’s sponsorship of Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Fourth Supply Chain Conference in Dubai, EQUATE President & CEO Mohammad Husain said, “Such exports have increased from only 10 million MT in 1999 which is an increase of over 250% in just 12 years with an average annual growth of exports by 5%.”

Husain noted a number of challenges facing Gulf exports, such as port congestions, inadequate infrastructure and instability of market conditions, explaining that despite all these challenges, the Gulf’s international exports continue to increase. Husain said that EQUATE’s total exports, from plants owned and operated by it, exceed 3 million tons of products, including solid material such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as the main liquids that include ethylene glycol, styrene monomer and paraxylene.

In addition to leading EQUATE, Husain is a member of GPCA Board and heads it Supply Chain Committee. EQUATE is one of GPCA’s main founders. Sponsored by EQUATE, the GPCA Supply Chain Fourth Conference is taking place in Dubai, the UAE, from May 8-9, with the attendance of several senior officials from supply chain and petrochemical companies discussing various relevant affairs.

Established in 1995, EQUATE is an international joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). Commencing production in 1997, EQUATE is the single operator of a fully integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing over 5 million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products which are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe