Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. LIV

No 9

28-Feb-2011

MEES Agenda

Doubts Gather Over Gulf Petrochemical Plans

Chinas massive expansion of ethylene cracking capacity, the flood of ethane from shale gas onto the US market, Saudi discussions about raising the price of ethane and LPG and the entrance of coal as an ethylene feedstock have raised questions over the timing and scale of the Gulfs planned capacity boost.

ExxonMobils decision last year to pull out of its planned $6bn, 1.5mn tons/year...