By John Richardson ONE of the many factors behind petrochemicals supply being less than expected during 2010 has been logistics problems in Saudi Arabia. One trader we spoke to on the sidelines of last month’s Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) conference in Dubai told us that one particular complex was struggling to accurately complete […]
Asian Chemical Connections
Saudi Arabia: The Implications Of Going Downstream
An example of how Lexan solar control IR sheets (made by SABIC Innovative Plastics) can be put to use Source of picture: SABIC By John Richardson SAUDI ARABIA is busy reshaping its petrochemical industry to reflect a drastic shift in priorities. Such is the change in the kingdom that commentators are going so as […]
Diminishing Returns From Middle East Projects
Downtown Riyadh By John Richardson As my fellow blogger Malini Hariharan wrote last week “the projects environment in the Middle East has irrevocably changed” and with it the rather glib and outdated assumption still being frequently made that building capacity in the region represents a licence to print money. First of all, as […]
Saudi Feedstock Problems Worsen
SABIC headquarters in Riyadh Source of picture: france24.com By John Richardson The days when the price of future ethane supply in Saudi Arabia – at the time called an advantaged feedstock because nobody knew what else to do with it – was based only on the cost of separation and distribution have long […]