SABIC confirms FID for Fujian petrochemical complex with 1.8 Mt/yr ethylene
- Total investment RMB 44.8 billion (USD 6.4 billion).
- Mixed-feed steam cracker with up to 1.8 million tonnes/year ethylene and downstream units including ethylene glycol, polyethylene, polypropylene and polycarbonate.
- 51:49 joint venture between SABIC Industrial Investment Company (SABIC) and Fujian Fuhua Gulei Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
- Construction targets completion in 2026 and is described as the largest foreign investment in Fujian.
Final investment decision and scale
SABIC announced the final investment decision for the SABIC Fujian Petrochemical Complex (Sino‑Saudi Gulei Ethylene Complex Project) to be built in Gulei Industrial Park. The project’s estimated total investment is RMB 44.8 billion (USD 6.4 billion) and is reported as the largest foreign investment in Fujian.
Assets and capacity
The complex will center on a mixed‑feed steam cracker with expected annual ethylene capacity up to 1.8 million tonnes, plus downstream units for ethylene glycol (EG), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) and several other units.
Ownership, timeline and technology
The project is being developed by SABIC FUJIAN Petrochemicals Co. Ltd, a 51:49 joint venture between SABIC Industrial Investment Company and Fujian Fuhua Gulei Petrochemical Co., Ltd. Construction targets completion in 2026 and the project will deploy nine SABIC technologies across its units.
Strategic context
SABIC framed the FID as a step to diversify feedstock sources and expand its manufacturing presence in Asia, citing support for customer demand across electrical and electronics, artificial intelligence, smartphones, telecommunications, healthcare, automotive and advanced materials. The company referenced prior JV progress, including a new polycarbonate plant at the SINOPEC SABIC Tianjin Petrochemical joint venture that began commercial operation in 2023.
Source: sabic.com