SINGAPORE, September 20 /PRNewswire/ --     ICIS insight Asia has launched its 6th Middle East Petrochemical Report,
providing an in-depth analysis of what's happening in the world's most
important petrochemical production region.

The ICIS insight Asia report, which is produced every quarter, features
an updated and comprehensive guide to the status of major olefins, aromatics
and derivatives projects across the region. In addition, the Middle East
Petrochemical Report provides a summary of all the key news and events over
the previous quarter, as well as detailed spreadsheets and an assessment of
project start-up dates.

Due to the recent surge of projects in the Middle East,
multiple ripples have been witnessed throughout the industry, causing several
key investors to take notice of the imminent debate over shortages of labour
and contracting capacity. Plastics processing states within the Gulf
Cooperation Council region have also begun to brace themselves as they
consider how to measure up to their already booming Asian counterparts.

"The 6th Middle East Petrochemical Report looks into the
continuing boom in GCC petrochemicals, amidst rising challenges," said ICIS
insight Asia director, John Richardson. "Demand and supply numbers on the
plastics processing sector are also discussed in our detailed analysis, as
well as a first look into the methanol capacity,"

The ICIS insight Asia and International eChem team cover the
following themes in this latest report:

- the global credit crisis and the implications for corporate funding and
project finance

- an analysis of the plastics processing industry in the Gulf Cooperation
Council region with consumption growth estimates

- the status of Middle East cracker projects with analysis of the
competitive challenges facing producers who are more than 18 months away from
start-up

- the role of Middle East methanol capacity in a global context,
including trade flows to Asia

The Middle East Petrochemical Report has been produced in partnership 
with International eChem - a UK-based petrochemical consultancy with 
extensive experience in single-client work in the Middle East.

For more information on the ICIS insight Asia 6th Middle East
Petrochemical Report, please contact rolandkester.cher@icis.com

About the Editors

John Richardson, director of ICIS insight Asia, has ten years
of experience in covering the Middle East and Asian petrochemical industries,
and is a well-respected and established writer and commentator on the
industry. He was formerly editor of Asian Chemical News and the Singapore
bureau of ICIS news. John has 21 years of experience in journalism, during
which he has worked for the BBC and the UK national press.

Paul Hodges, Chairman of International eChem, has been
consulting on business strategy since 1995, and was previously Executive
Director of a $1bn turnover ICI division. He has consulted in most parts of
the world, with a particular focus on the petrochemicals area and its
interface with refining.

ICIS insight Asia

ICIS insight Asia provides the petrochemical industry with a
better understanding of the medium and long-term direction of petrochemical
markets.

ICIS insight Asia has launched an India petrochemicals report,
which covers olefins, polymers and major downstream demand drivers with an
Excel spreadsheet of projects and assessments of start-up dates.

Working on scenario planning? Make use of the Asian
Petrochemical Database CD-ROM, another new offering from ICIS insight Asia.

Note to Editors:

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