SABIC Finalizes Investment Decision for Fujian Petrochemical Complex in China

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)
Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)
TT
20

SABIC Finalizes Investment Decision for Fujian Petrochemical Complex in China

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)
Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (File photo: Reuters)

The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), the leading global company in diversified chemicals, announced on Sunday that it has endorsed the final investment decision for the SABIC Fujian Petrochemical Complex Project (Saudi-Chinese Gulei Ethylene Complex Project) to be established in Fujian Province, China.
SABIC Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited, based on a 51% to 49% equity split in the joint venture between SABIC Industrial Investments, wholly owned by SABIC, and Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited (FPCL), has decided to initiate the establishment of an industrial complex in the Gulei area of Fujian Province, SPA reported.
The project's investments total 44.8 billion Chinese yuan ($6.4 billion), marking the largest foreign investment in Fujian Province and a significant expansion of SABIC's core investments in China.
The complex is anticipated to annually produce 1.8 million tons of ethylene and will accommodate a range of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including those for ethylene glycol, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and various other manufacturing units.
The construction of the project is expected to be completed by 2026.



China Retaliates to EU Ban with Import Restrictions on Medical Devices

People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
TT
20

China Retaliates to EU Ban with Import Restrictions on Medical Devices

People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)
People walk along Qianmen promenade in Beijing on July 5, 2025. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP)

China's finance ministry said on Sunday it was restricting government purchases of medical devices from the European Union that exceed 45 million yuan ($6.3 million) in value, in retaliation to Brussels' own curbs last month.

Tensions between Beijing and Brussels have been rising, with the European Union imposing tariffs on China-built electric vehicles and Beijing slapping duties on imported brandy from the bloc.

The European Union said last month it was barring Chinese companies from participating in EU public tenders for medical devices worth 60 billion euros ($70 billion) or more per year after concluding that EU firms were not given fair access in China.

The measure announced by the European Commission was the first under the EU's International Procurement Instrument, which entered into force in 2022 and is designed to ensure reciprocal market access.

China's countermeasures were expected after its commerce ministry flagged "necessary steps" against the EU move late last month.

"Regrettably, despite China's goodwill and sincerity, the EU has insisted on going its own way, taking restrictive measures and building new protectionist barriers," Reuters quoted the commerce ministry as saying in a separate statement on Sunday.

"Therefore, China has no choice but to adopt reciprocal restrictive measures."
The EU delegation office in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China will also restrict imports of medical devices from other countries that contain EU-made components worth more than 50% of the contract value, the finance ministry said. The measures come into force on Sunday.

The commerce ministry said products from European companies in China were not affected.

The world's second- and third-largest economies are due to hold a leaders' summit in China later in July.