CHINA – Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) and China’s Sinopec have announced the start of the commercial operation of their new polycarbonate plant in Tianjin city in China.
The new production center is situated within the Sinopec-SABIC-Tianjin Petrochemical complex jointly owned by SABIC and Sinopec (SSTPC).
Established in 2009, SSTPC is a “mega-size” petrochemical complex that owns nine production plants producing chemicals, including PP and PP.
With an annual designed capacity of 260 kT, the new PC plant is intended as a central piece of SABIC’s PC growth strategy in China, providing opportunities for further collaborations with global and local customers.
“By working in partnership, SABIC and Sinopec are unlocking significant and mutual growth opportunities that complement the national agendas of Saudi Arabia and China,” says Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, SABIC CEO.
“Building on our position as one of the world’s leading PC manufacturers, our first-ever PC plant in Asia underlines our commitment to operate and manufacture in markets that are close to our customers to increase service capabilities, agility and supply reliability.”
SABIC’s portfolio of PC materials produced at SSTPC will be marketed under its Lexan resin brand.
SABIC’s PC will primarily be available for customers in the Greater China region, targeting major PC-related industries such as electricals and electronics, consumer goods, automotive, healthcare products and building and construction applications.
“For almost 40 years, China has been a key strategic market for SABIC, and our investment in Tianjin reflects our position as a trusted supplier, investor and partner for sustainable and inclusive growth,” continues Al-Fageeh.
Ma Yongsheng, chairman of Sinopec, says the operation of the PC plant marks a successful case of Sinopec toward high-end chemical materials.
“Looking ahead, Sinopec will further leverage its advantages to accelerate the development of PC materials, contributing to satisfying the needs of high-performance petrochemical materials generated by the Chinese people’s pursuit of a better life,” added Al-Fageeh.
Polycarbonate is a transparent, high-impact, and strong yet lightweight material, used widely in automotive parts, home appliances, medical products, and many everyday products.
Future demand for polycarbonate and other engineering plastics is expected to grow in China, to support the increasing production of electronics, automotive, information technology and building materials.
In December, Sabic signed an agreement with Oman’s state energy company OQ and Kuwait Petroleum International to set up a petrochemical complex in the Sultanate.
The three companies aim to establish a petrochemical complex consisting of a steam cracker and derivative units and a natural gas liquid (NGL) extraction facility.
They will conduct the necessary studies and collaborate using their wealth of technical and commercial experience to develop the project with unique attributes that make it globally competitive and profitable for all three partners.
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