Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland) has begun construction work on its latest, state-of–the art masterbatch production unit in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The new manufacturing site belongs to Clariant Masterbatches Saudi Arabia, a joint venture between Clariant and Rowad National Plastic Company Ltd. (Riyadh Saudi Arabia), a subsidiary of Tasnee, one of the largest industrial conglomerates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The 38,000-square-meter property in Yanbu Industrial Zone 2 is expected to open by early 2017. The plant will focus on the production of white masterbatches and is the second manufacturing hub for Clariant Masterbatches in Saudi Arabia. The company also has plants in Riyadh. The project is one of the most important investments for Business Unit Masterbatches (BU MB) in recent years.

“The joint investment with Rowad is in line with our strategy to further strengthen our position in one of the important markets for plastic applications,” said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant.

Yanbu is an industrial city home to 32 major hydrocarbon, petrochemical and mineral industry sectors. The new Clariant site will have ideal access to key raw materials as well as sea and airport 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.”