The GCC chemical industry’s performance has improved on all fronts, including in revenue, employment, production capacity and export, marking a key step in its journey towards transformation, according to a recent report.

This was revealed in the annual Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Facts and Figures report, which was released during the 13th Annual GPCA Forum held which kicked off yesterday (November 26) and will conclude on tomorrow (November 28) at the Madinat Jumeirah, in Dubai, UAE.

The report’s findings reflect on this year’s forum theme ‘Executing Transformation and Investing in Growth’, said a statement.

During the forum, Dr Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, secretary general of GPCA, announced that production capacity in 2017 reached 166.8 million tonnes, up by 7 per cent YoY, with expectations of further growth in 2018 to 170.9 million tonnes.

GCC overseas production capacity reached 18.6 million tonnes with facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

The GCC chemical industry’s revenue grew by 17 per cent YoY in 2017, reaching $84.2 billion, the fastest rate since 2011, indicating the industry’s move towards higher value products. Saudi Arabia and the UAE significantly lifted the region posting 19 per cent and 17 per cent increase in revenue respectively.

Supported by the upturn in global demand growth and higher commodity prices during the same year, GCC chemicals trade rebounded significantly, generating $55.6 billion in revenue in 2017. In volume terms, chemicals export reached 70.3 million tonnes.

Dr Al Sadoun said: “In keeping with this year’s forum theme of ‘transformation’ the GCC chemical industry is reaching new milestones in both the short and long-term projections. With 20 new products to be added over the next 10 years, the chemical sector will be integral to the region’s diversification efforts and the creation of new industries as regional governments aspire to construct competitive economies that are diversified away from hydrocarbons.”

“The current trend strongly indicates that GCC players are increasingly investing in growth outside the region and this is impacting positively on their competitiveness in the international arena,” he added.

The chemical sector is one of the leading sources of direct and indirect employment in the GCC, accounts for 3 per cent of total employment in the region. The industry supports up to 880,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, i.e. for every job created in the chemical industry, five new jobs are stimulated elsewhere in the economy.

The chemical industry has also proved to be a leader for the integration of national citizens within the private sector, with GPCA member companies boasting a high nationalization rate of 58 per cent in total workforce.

GPCA continues to lead the industry’s efforts in this regard by hosting the 9th edition of Leaders of Tomorrow on November 26 at the Annual GPCA Forum in Dubai.

In total 140 STEM students from universities across the six GCC states were sponsored by 14 GPCA member companies to attend the forum and network with senior industry executives.

The GPCA Leaders of Tomorrow programme places strong emphasis on the chemical sector and the impact it has as a leading source of direct and indirect employment in the GCC region, consequently, empowering future talent.

Expressing his satisfaction at the manner, in which the chemical sector is preparing itself for the next major leap forward, Dr Al Sadoun concluded: “We realise our responsibility not just as leaders in the industry but also as a major employer in the region and for the integral socio-economic impact we create.”

“Our sector will continue to be a key driver for economic diversification and job creation moving forward,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service