GCC polymers capacity increased by 1mn tons/year to 24.7mn t/y in 2013 and is expected to reach 35.9mn t/y in 2018, according to the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA). Of the 11.2mn t/y of capacity to be added over the next five years, 26 polymers accounting for 22% of the increment will be new to the region, says GPCA’s GCC Plastics Industry Indicators 2013 report.
The range of petrochemicals being produced in the region is growing more sophisticated as GCC producers develop new capacity to track changing global and regional manufacturing demands. Eight polymers made up the 12.7mn tons of GCC plastics output in 2008, compared with 12 products comprising the 24.7mn tons produced in 2013. (CONTINUED - 587 WORDS)