Yanbu is an industrial city located on the Red Sea about 350 km north of Jeddah. It has a population of almost 200 000 and is home to 32 major hydrocarbon, petrochemical, and mineral industry sectors. The new Clariant site will have easy access to key raw materials as well as sea and air port facilities that will open export opportunities to target markets in the region.

"Building this world-scale plant is a logical next step in our relationship with Rowad/Tasnee, our JV partner since August 2013," said Marco Cenisio, Head of Business Unit Masterbatches. "It will allow us to offer a broader product portfolio to customers in the Kingdom and in the Middle East/Africa region."

Ossamah Elshebany, General Manager of Rowad National Plastic Co., added: "We are pleased to celebrate the start of this new project. The additional capabilities will be important in growing and extending our market share in this region's downstream plastics industry."
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