GPCA announces data bank project with Nexant ChemSystems

The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), a leading, regional, non-profit organisation set up in 2006 to represent the common interests of the petrochemicals and chemicals industry in the Gulf, has announced it has commissioned a pioneering study in association with UK-based Nexant Chem Systems.

The study is expected to address the current lack of reliable regional industry data and is anticipated to yield key macro-economic and investment indicators, including forecasts for production, capacity, profitability, competitive positioning, supply/demand and technology trends.

The study will reveal these statistics for 13 areas of production including ethylene, propylene, benzene, para-xylene, styrene, methanol, MTBE, MEG, ammonia, urea, polypropylene, polyethylene and PVC.

Commenting on the commissioning of the study, Abdullah S. Bin Zaid Al Hagbani, Secretary General of GPCA, said: "The study is part of GPCA's broader mandate of leading debate on a wide range of industry issues and all the major petrochemicals manufacturers and allied companies will be participating in it. Through such initiatives we want to ensure that the business environment in the Gulf is conducive to industry growth and vice versa. Historically speaking, there has always been a dearth of consolidated information which can present a holistic picture of the current and future direction of this critical sector in the Gulf. It's time to rectify that situation".

ChemSystems - a business unit of Nexant, Inc. and an internationally recognized management consultancy to the petroleum and chemical industry - will deliver the results of its research in October 2007. The findings are expected to elevate the profile of GPCA among its increasingly international audience, especially in Europe and Asia, and set the tone for its upcoming Second Annual Forum to be held in Dubai on December 11-13.