SABIC to briefly shut down MTBE plant in Jubail

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, also known as SABIC, plans to shut down one of its Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) plants in Jubail Industrial City from February to March next year, according to a report by ICIS bulletin.

The report— citing sources familiar with the matter— said the closure will not affect the market’s supply due to SABIC’s already inked long-term contracts.

This specific plant produces about 700,000 tons per year of MTBE.

SABIC currently owns three other factories that produce MTBE in Jubail, two of which have a capacity of 300,000 tons per year, while the third’s capacity is one million tons each year.