Borouge International raises 2030 capacity target to 13.8 million tonnes

Borouge International has raised its global annual capacity target to 13.8 million tonnes by 2030, setting out plans for UAE cracker upgrades and European expansion in a November 4 announcement. The company described a manufacturing network spanning 30 sites worldwide.

The National reported that the previous target was 13.6 million tonnes a year. That figure also appeared in the company's October 29 financial-results announcement, although the passage describing its growth pipeline did not specify a deadline.

The longer-term expansion plans follow a recovery in UAE operations. In its results announcement, Borouge International said production improved during the third quarter as ethane supplies returned after conflict-related constraints. It reported UAE utilisation above 90% in October.

For its second UAE ethane cracker, known as EU2, the company said it was working towards engineering, procurement and construction contracts for an expansion adding 230,000 tonnes of annual capacity. Early engineering work began in 2026 with Linde Engineering, the original plant's licensor and the contractor handling front-end engineering and design.

Work on the third cracker, EU3, is at an earlier engineering stage. Linde received a letter of award covering preliminary front-end engineering and design for its upgrade. Borouge International said the additional ethylene from EU3 would be sold as base chemicals.

At Ruwais, the company expects Borouge 4 to contribute another 1.4 million tonnes of polyethylene capacity when fully ramped up. It described the project as jointly owned by ADNOC and OMV, with Borouge Plc operating it.

In Belgium, the Kallo PDH2 propane dehydrogenation plant has completed mechanical construction, according to the company. The plant has capacity of about 750,000 tonnes a year and is scheduled to begin operating in the first half of 2027.

The European programme also includes a Borstar Nextension polypropylene facility in Burghausen, Germany, where construction began in September 2026. In Austria, Borouge International recently inaugurated its Schwechat specialty polypropylene compounding plant after investing €100 million in expansion and upgrades.

Borouge International was created in 2026 by combining Borouge, Borealis and NOVA Chemicals. Its shareholders include OMV and XRG, ADNOC's international investment arm. The company identifies Vienna as its headquarters and Abu Dhabi as its regional headquarters.