AFPM ’13: Muntajat could market 23m tonnes of Qatar petchems

Clarification: Recasts to clarify that final pricing decisions rest with Muntajat

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ICIS)–Qatar’s new chemical and petrochemical sales and marketing company Muntajat expects to be distributing 23m tonnes of product from the Emirates’ expanded production base, company executives said on Sunday.

Muntajat this year is likely to be handling 10m tonnes of chemicals, petrochemicals and fertilizers produced by the country annually. About $25bn (€19bn) is being invested in the sectors through 2020 to lift output further.

“Muntajat gives significant economies of scale,” said Robert Chouffot, Muntajat’s executive director for strategy, planning and communications, while on the sidelines of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers’ (AFPM) International Petrochemical Conference (IPC). Marketing and sales from chemicals and petrochemicals ventures in the Emirates had been fragmented, he added.

Muntajat was established by Qatar’s government in late December 2012 and has already taken over the marketing, distribution and sales of 68% of the country’s chemicals and fertilizer output. When fully established, it will have 250 employees in Doha, Qatar, and a further 150 worldwide in support of its functions in 30 offices.

“There is an added value for producers,” said Yousef Al-Kuwari, Muntajat’s executive director marketing and sales. “They will be saving in the supply chain.”

Muntajat’s remit is to more efficiently market and sell products from Qatar’s chemical and fertilizer industries and feed value back to the production’s joint ventures.

Pricing is the responsibility of Muntajat, Chouffot said. “Our mandate is to maximise the value of these products.”

Muntajat is already selling urea, ammonia, methanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from Qatar. It will soon start selling caustic soda, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).

Consultations with producing companies are ongoing to start the sale of polyethylenes from Qatar.

“What we are starting to achieve here is a flawless transition,” Chouffot said.

The IPC continues through Tuesday.

($1 = €0.77)