Emerging applications to boost demand for performance plastics in ME

“Lower polymer prices will have a positive effect on the plastics consumption as it further increase the attractiveness of plastics over other materials like glass or metal used in e.g. packaging,” Gregor Keil, Head of Regional Marketing & KAM IMEA (India, Middle East and Africa) at Clariant said.

He added that the volume growth in the Middle East plastics industry is going to be impacted by the political situation in the region. Generally a trend towards more technically demanding applications along with a need for more locally provided service and technical expertise is seen.  An increasing awareness about sustainability as a growth driver is recognised.

Mr. Gregor Keil, Head of Regional Marketing & KAM IMEA, Clariant

Mr.  Keil said Clariant’s BU Masterbatches is a full service provider covering basically all applications from packaging, fibres, consumer goods, medical to automotive.  With its long-time presence in Saudi Arabia, it is able to supply locally made masterbatches solutions and provide technical services to support the customers’ enhanced requirements. One example of additive masterbatches that meet new market requirements in terms of sustainability are Hydrocerol®, a range of chemical foaming and nucleating agents. Hydrocerol® helps to decrease the weight of products by reducing the amount of polymer without compromising on technical features.

 The trend is moving towards more technically demanding applications (e.g. BOPET) to reduce the dependency on volume driven and price sensitive areas. Clariant Masterbatches is a full service provider with a complete portfolio offered not only in granulates but liquid form as well. “Anticipating the increasing consumption of PET, Clariant’s BU Masterbatches has built up local capabilities in Saudi Arabia to support customers in the Middle East with tailor-made formulations and technical support. Clariant Masterbatches Saudi Arabia is using the long lasting very good relation to important raw material supplier in the region and the international connections for raw materials which are not locally produced to be able to supply the market with needed solutions. We keep continually investing into our setup in the region and will be as well present on the next Saudi Plastic and Petrochem in January 2016 in Riyadh,” according to Mr. Keil.