Despite the global economic downturn, the Saudi petrochemical industry has continued to expand with
80 new projects underway or in development. By 2015, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) is
set to become the largest producer of petrochemicals in the world. Concurrent to the development of
the petrochemical industry is the plastics sector, which the Saudi Government has identified as one of
five areas of concentration for its National Industrial Clusters Development Program. Polymers are the
current focus of the packaging cluster, which will in turn be used in bulk industrial packaging, particularly
in the food and pharmaceutical industries. With massive development projects and inexpensive
feedstock, Saudi Arabia plans to jump from the world’s 7th largest producer of basic petrochemicals to
3rd in the next five years.