Agility opens 66,000-square metre Shanghai polymer logistics hub

KUWAIT-BASED Agility, leading global logistics provider, opened its Shanghai logistics hub of 66,000 square metres with a capacity to receive and distribute up to 600,000 tons of polyolefins annually from Borouge's plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

These polyolefins will be chiefly used in pipe systems, wires and cables, automotive parts, foam packaging as well as white goods. Polyolefins are also used in the moulded flexible foams such as Crocs shoes, tennis strings, seat cushions, armrests and pillows.

The facility was designed, constructed and owned by Agility Abu Dhabi who will manage operations and distribution to the Asian market over a 10 year period by delivering polymer resins in bulk containers to Shanghai hub directly from its Borouge Middle East gateway situated at Ruwais in Abu Dhabi.

Adjacent to the hub is a 30,000-square metre compound manufacturing unit (CMU) which produces 50,000 tonnes of polymer compounds each year. Agility Abu Dhabi, a joint venture between Agility, Mubadala Investment Company and Al Dahra, designed the building infrastructure and service connections that support the CMU.

Agility Chemical Specialty business chairman Philip Browitt said in a company statement that the hub plays a key role in facilitating trade and investment flows and opening gateways from the Middle East to Asia and emerging markets. "The world manufacturing footprint of the petrochemicals industry is in major change with production in the Middle East expected to more than double by 2015."

Said Agility Greater China chief James Gagne: "With its understanding of emerging markets and how business is done, Agility offered Borouge valuable market and industry expertise as well as, through our partner Schmidt Heilbronn, in-depth technical knowledge in polymer handling."
(Source:www.schednet.com)