Octal Petrochemicals receives award for export performance

The Oman-based plastic packaging leader began shipments in February last year and moved 1,500 TEU (20-foot containers) through the port in the start-up phase for export to Europe, North America, the Far East and India.

Klaus Dahl Tindborg, Regional Director of Maersk Logistics Middle East, said: "We have made this award to demonstrate Octal's importance as a Maersk customer, and to show that we fully support the company's ambitious expansion plans."

Maersk Logistics aims to increase its service portfolio in Salalah and support the expansion of the Salalah Free Zone as it becomes a world-class logistics hub.

Octal's global sales exceeded 2,000 metric tons last November and the company plans to capture as much as a fifth of the $2bn world market for APET sheet and become the Middle East's largest manufacturer of PET resin.

A delegation of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group, including the company chairman, board of directors and chief executive, recently visited the Octal Petrochemicals facility in Salalah. The delegation also viewed construction work at Octal's integrated PET resin and APET sheet packaging plant.

Octal Petrochemicals MD Nicholas Barakat said: "To receive the senior management of one of the world's largest transport and logistics companies at our base in Salalah shows the level of confidence in our operations and business model."