Saudi Arabia’s SABIC to Build Engineering Thermoplastics Compounding Plant in China

Saudi Arabia’s SABIC signs a potential investment agreement with the Fujian government (SABIC website)
Saudi Arabia’s SABIC signs a potential investment agreement with the Fujian government (SABIC website)
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Saudi Arabia’s SABIC to Build Engineering Thermoplastics Compounding Plant in China

Saudi Arabia’s SABIC signs a potential investment agreement with the Fujian government (SABIC website)
Saudi Arabia’s SABIC signs a potential investment agreement with the Fujian government (SABIC website)

Saudi Arabia’s SABIC, a global leader in diversified chemicals, signed a potential investment agreement with the Fujian government to build an engineering thermoplastics compounding plant in China’s Fujian Province.

“The new investment further underscores SABIC’s efforts to meet the unique requirements for differentiated innovative solutions from its local customers in China while strengthening its roots in the Chinese market and its contributions to the high-quality and sustainable development of the chemical industry,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This investment agreement marks another significant milestone for SABIC’s growth in China and reflects our continued confidence in investing in the country,” SABIC CEO Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh said.

“By creating synergy with upstream and downstream partners, the project aims to strengthen our supply capability in compounding products and serve this important strategic market with innovative and consistently high-quality material solutions,” he added.

The planned compounding plant will be located in the Gulei Port Economic Development Zone, Zhangzhou, Fujian.

It will primarily produce pelletized LEXAN™ Polycarbonate (PC) and CYCOLOY™ PC/ABS blends for use in advanced materials tailored to the needs of industries including electrical and consumer electronics, automotive, and emerging sectors such as solar energy, electrification, and 5G.

In addition to the planned engineering thermoplastics compounding plant, SABIC operates a SABIC Technology Center in Shanghai and three compounding plants in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chongqing, alongside operations in 17 cities across Greater China.



Oil Slumps 3% as Trump's Tariffs Expected to Impede Demand

FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo
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Oil Slumps 3% as Trump's Tariffs Expected to Impede Demand

FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo

Oil prices fell by over 3% on Thursday after US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs which investors worry will enflame a global trade war that will curtail economic growth and limit fuel demand.

Brent futures were down $2.66, or 3.55%, to $72.29 a barrel by 0918 GMT US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $2.69, or 3.75%, to $69.02.

Trump on Wednesday unveiled a 10% minimum tariff on most goods imported to the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer, with much higher duties on products from dozens of countries, initiating a global trade war that threatens to drive up inflation and stall US and worldwide economic growth, Reuters reported.

"The US tariff announcement clearly caught markets off guard. Pre-announcement speculation suggested a flat 15-20% tariff, but the final decision was more hawkish," Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG, said in an email.

"For oil prices, the focus now shifts to the global growth outlook, which is likely to be revised downward due to these higher-than-expected tariffs," he added.

Imports of oil, gas and refined products were exempted from the new tariffs, the White House said on Wednesday.

UBS analysts on Wednesday cut their oil forecasts by $3 per barrel over 2025-26 to $72 per barrel, citing weaker fundamentals.

Traders and analysts now expect more price volatility in the near term, as the tariffs may change as countries try to negotiate lower rates or impose retaliatory levies.

"Countermeasures are imminent and judging by the initial market reaction, recession and stagflation have become terrifying possibilities," said PVM analyst Tamas Varga.

"As tariffs are ultimately paid for by domestic consumers and businesses, their cost will inevitably increase impeding the rise in economic wealth."

In other news, US Energy Information Administration data on Wednesday showed US crude inventories rose by a surprisingly large 6.2 million barrels last week, against analysts' forecasts for a decline of 2.1 million barrels.

Market participants are also awaiting the outcome of an OPEC+ meeting on Thursday, which will discuss Kazakh output.