DP World, the leading provider of smart logistics solutions, showcased its streamlined chemical supply chain solutions and extensive range of logistics offerings at the 13th edition of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Supply Chain Conference.

DP World UAE plays a pivotal role in facilitating the growth of the UAE’s and GCC’s rapidly growing petrochemical sector through its flagship assets in Jebel Ali.

Valued at Dhs21.4 billion, DP World UAE’s petrochemical hub accounts for approxemaitly 60 per cent of Dubai’s total trade value in the sector. Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) alone supports 4,100 port customers and is home to 565 companies from the petrochemicals sector. Complementing this is the Jebel Ali Port, a hub for global petrochemical companies catering to growing markets of the Indian Subcontinent, Africa, and the Middle East.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, DP World - UAE Region and Jafza, said, “The petrochemicals sector is an integral pillar of Operation 300bn, the UAE’s Industrial Strategy that aims to increase the GDP from Dhs133 billion to Dhs300 billion by 2031. Since 95 per cent of all manufactured goods rely on petrochemicals, the sector is essential to the global economy. So, despite the 2020 crisis and the delayed economic recovery, the sector is poised for significant growth in the decades ahead.

“The UAE’s export-orientated industry is already witnessing improvements which will be sustained by new polypropylene capacity, due to a ramp-up in production in 2022. Events like GPCA give us the opportunity to attract local and international companies, accelerating our growth as the preferred petrochemical hub of the region.” With its robust container handling infrastructure, the Jebel Ali Port supports 65 per cent of the GCC’s polymer exports and 33 per cent of its petrochemicals’ exports. The port has two million square metres of dedicated liquid chemical handling capacity comprising 11 berths and over one million cubic metres of liquid bulk storage space.

DP World UAE’s comprehensive solutions also include tank terminals and warehousing, specialised storage space for packed lubricants, fuels and industrial chemicals, ISO tanks storage and dangerous goods warehouses.

Spread over an area of 3.9 million square metres, Jafza supports several key petrochemicals companies, including DOW, BASF, Total and Gulf Petrochem. The free zone offers a holistic solution - handling imports in bulk and containers and offering 235,000 cubic metres of storage capacity. Its enhanced capabilities have ensured its status as the base for some of the largest chemical distributors in the Middle East and Africa.

The integrated logistics offerings supported by connectivity across international petrochemical trade lanes and the ecosystem at Jebel Ali give the industry the most attractive logistic proposition. Additionally, its strategic location and vast network of global liners have contributed to the success of the UAE and the region.

Sustainability strategy: DP World made a new commitment to safeguard ocean health, with the additional duty to increase access to clean water, sanitation provisions, and protect aquatic biodiversity. This new commitment will be one of DP World’s three legacy focus areas under its ‘Our World, Our Future’ sustainability strategy.

The strategy has guided all DP World’s global business operations since its launch in 2015. Its three legacy focus areas - Women, Education and now Water - help DP World work responsibly, prioritising sustainable and inclusive economic growth to create a positive impact for the communities and environments in which it operates. DP World invested $13.2 million in community projects in 2021 alone.

DP World’s new Water focus area combines all its existing ocean sustainability efforts with a commitment to support equitable access to water and sanitation. It also ensures all the aquatic environments where the company operates are sustainable, resilient and free from pollution. Activities within Water include employee coastal clean-ups, delivering educational training to schoolchildren, delivering critical sanitation supplies to COVID-stressed regions and planting mangrove forests to restore biodiversity.

Maha Al Qattan, DP World Group Chief People & Sustainability Officer, said, “DP World increasingly operates in regions where polluted oceans, water security and sanitation hinder sustainable development. Our teams around the world are already taking steps to overcome this challenge in partnership with the communities they serve. That’s why we are extending our Oceans legacy focus area to become Water under the ‘Our World, Our Future’ strategy.

“Working with partners including UNICEF, The Earthshot Prize and UN Global Compact’s Ocean Stewardship Coalition, we’ll focus on conserving oceans, ecosystem restoration, coastal clean-ups, drinking water access, promoting hygiene and educational programmes, among other activities. If we can improve ocean health, provide more equitable water access and connect more families to reliable sanitation, we can provide a critical foundation for improved economic growth, human rights and resilience to the effects of climate change.”

WAM