Saudi Arabia's ethylene capacity set to double

Jeddah, March 22, SPA -- Saudi Arabia’s ethylene capacity will be
almost double the level achieved in 2008 by end-2013, leading to
strong growth further downstream, a latest petrochemicals industry
report for the first quarter of 2009 on Saudi Arabia forecast.


“Our projections for petrochemical capacity are based on currently
planned projects, but it is possible that some may not come to
fruition due to the restriction on ethane feedstock and a possible
downturn in the Chinese market at a time of rising Chinese
capacities,” the report was quoted as saying by the Jeddah-based
Saudi Gazette.


Saudi Arabia is rated as the most attractive country out of the
eight surveyed by some margin, with a score of 74.1 points, up 0.4
points since the previous quarter, by BMI in its Middle Eastern
Petrochemicals Business Environment Rankings Matrix.


The Kingdom is placed ahead of Qatar, which is in second place with
61.2 points.

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