Huntsman, a global differentiated and specialty chemicals manufacturer, announced plans to build a new polyurethane system manufacturing plant in the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone (Jafza) in Dubai, UAE. The US-based company said in a statement that the goal of the new plant is to be completed in the second half of 2019 to strengthen Huntsman's differentiated downstream capabilities in the central region of the Middle East. Dubai Systems will complement the company's two existing facilities in the Middle East, namely Turkey (Huntsman EMA) and Saudi Arabia (HAPC-a joint venture with BCI Group of Companies), forming three strong growth pillars. Huntsman said that its investment will increase the company's system production capacity in the region and add a new dimension to its polyester polyol capabilities. Tony Hankins, President of Huntsman Polyurethanes Division, said: "This is a bold and timely investment. It will become a strategic platform for us to expand our business in the Middle East and North Africa and build our market leadership." "This represents our strengthening. The next step in the downstream network plan. We now have 30 factories around the world to provide our customers with innovative solutions that are close to customers," Hankins pointed out. Gulum Kabil, general manager of Huntsman Polyurethanes business activities in the Middle East and Turkey, will manage the new system manufacturer. Steen Weien Hansen, Regional Vice President of Polyurethanes, said: “The MDI-based system market in the Middle East has achieved strong growth in the past five years, and this trend is expected to continue to grow at a rate of 7% per year.” According to Hansen, the new Dubai plant’s The construction will enable the American company to supply traditional and high-end rigid polyurethane formulations locally. "It will also enable us to leverage our development and production expertise in polyester polyols and polyol blends for the fast-growing flexible foam and footwear markets, as well as for adhesives, coatings and elastomer applications Prepolymers," he added. -TradeArabia News Service