SABIC, China’s Fujian govt sign agreement for engineering thermoplastics compounding plant

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–SABIC has signed a potential investment agreement with the Fujian government on 1 August to build an engineering thermoplastics compounding plant in the Chinese province, the Saudi Arabia chemicals giant said on Tuesday.

The planned compounding plant will be located in the Gulei Port Economic Development Zone at Zhangzhou in Fujian, it said in a statement without disclosing capacity details.

It will primarily produce SABIC’s pelletized LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) and CYCOLOY PC/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymer blend for use in advanced materials.

These materials will be tailored to the needs of industries including electrical and consumer electronics, automotive, and emerging sectors such as solar energy, electrification, and 5G.

The site will include compounding lines, color development capabilities, and advanced equipment.

SABIC currently operates a technology center in Shanghai and three compounding plants in China in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chongqing.

The new plant is also expected to create synergies with SABIC’s two existing joint ventures – SINOPEC SABIC Tianjin Petrochemical Co (SSTPC) and SABIC FUJIAN Petrochemicals Co (SFPC).

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

“Building on this, we will continue to collaborate with our existing global and local partners and customers to grow together in China.”