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QE shuts polymer, methanol output as conflict rages

  • Market: Petrochemicals
  • 03/03/26

Qatar's state-owned QatarEnergy (QE) has shut production of "some downstream products", including polymers and methanol.

The production halt comes as the US-Israel conflict with Iran takes hold. Production of LNG was halted by QE at its sites in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed on 2 March, after drone attacks.

It is unclear which polymers are affected.

QE owns a 1.05mn t/yr methanol plant in Mesaieed operated by subsidiary QAFAC. On 23 February the site declared force majeure, expected to last the whole of March, after a breakdown in reformer tube equipment at the facility.

The company also operates in Mesaieed its Qatar Vinyl (QVC) plant with a capacity of 350,000 t/yr for suspension PVC (s-PVC). It owns polyethylene producing subsidiaries in Mesaieed that can produce 810,000 t/yr of HDPE, 780,000 t/yr of LDPE and 600,000 t/yr of LLD-HDPE, according to Argus tracking. QE has been approached for comment on which of the polymers are affected.


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