As OQ gears up for ArabPlast 2021 to be held in Dubai from November 15th – 18th 2021, it plans to exhibit polymer products and solutions aligned with its outlook to drive a more sustainable future. At ArabPlast 2021, Oman’s state-owned energy firm will be one of the main exhibitors showcasing its product offerings in key sectors – Flexible Packaging, Rigid Packaging & Durables, and Infrastructure & Construction.

With the ambitious Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC), OQ has pioneered the Sultanate's first production of polyethylene thereby diversifying its product portfolio to include HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) production. LPIC has enabled OQ to expand its production capacity of polyethylene and polypropylene to 1.5 million tonnes.

Global polymer consumption is on the rise with market demand for polymers forecasted to reach an annual value of USD 750 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% during 2020-2025. According to Goldstein Research, the GCC polymer industry is expected to reach 34.5 million tonnes by 2022, supporting further downstream development, while growing at a CAGR of 3%. To capitalise on the global and regional demand, OQ has undertaken an aggressive growth plan and aims to increase its polymers product portfolio by over four times.

Gilles Rochas, Vice President Performance Chemicals at OQ said, “the polymer industry has witnessed a steady increase in demand over the past year, attributed to the accelerated demand for secure food packaging solutions and products aimed at personal health & safety. The shift in consumer behaviour towards online retail and food delivery has also spurred demand. OQ aims to capitalise on this opportunity to bring to the forefront a range of durable polymer products to address the sustainability challenges brought about by rapid urbanization and growing population.”

Hilal Al Kharusi, Chief Executive Commercial at OQ commented, “ArabPlast 2021 will prove to be momentous as it is happening as an in-person gathering post-Covid. This allows us to engage industry leaders and players as we look to a future where polymers can play an integral role in responsible consumption, be it in our customers’ homes or in the industries we serve. Agility is a core attribute of our business, enabling us to respond to changing customer behaviour and demand, and to chart out a clear roadmap for the future. Combining our expertise and sharing our experiences allow us to improve our products, services, and solutions as we strive to transform raw materials into real world products & solutions.”

Infrastructure development, urbanisation of smaller cities and towns, growing automobile and electronics industries, food security, healthcare and agricultural requirements are key drivers of demand in the polymer industry. To gain deeper insights within the industry and its drivers, OQ will be hosting a series of TechTalks on various topics such as OQ’s new Polymer Capacity, Packaging and Food Security, and Expanding Polymer Horizons.

OQ explores, creates, and delivers energy solutions using a mix of hydrocarbons & alternative energy sources. Working closely with customers, the company produces agile & reliable solutions to facilitate optimum results. Headquartered in Oman, OQ has easy access to Asia, GCC, Europe and Africa and has local teams based in key markets across the globe to support the hyperlocal requirements, expedite delivery times and provide customer support to ensure a seamless process.

The OQ stand will be located in the raw materials Hall 8 at ArabPlast, taking place from November 15th – 18th, 2021 at Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE. Visitors will be privy to a range of polyethylene and polypropylene solutions developed by OQ.