Construction has begun on a $550 million petrochemicals project at Sohar Port and Freezone in Oman, focusing on the production of Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), critical raw materials for the global packaging sector. The new facility, named Sohar Petrochemicals (SOHARPET), is a joint venture between MAK Germany GmbH, a Hamburg-based plastics and chemicals trading company, and OQ Group, an Omani energy and chemicals company.
MAK Germany emphasized that the project builds on its earlier success with MAK Sohar Chemical Industries, which produces thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and engineering compounds at the Ladayn Polymer Park. These materials serve diverse industries, including automotive, medical, and packaging. The SOHARPET venture represents the next phase in MAK Germany’s expanding footprint in Oman and the broader Middle East.
The petrochemical complex will occupy two sites: an 11.9-hectare parcel within Sohar Port and a larger 53.6-hectare area in Sohar Freezone. This configuration is intended to integrate port logistics with manufacturing operations, facilitating efficient handling of raw materials and finished products. As part of the project, PTA and PET production assets currently located in Rotterdam will be relocated to Sohar.
Feedstock supply is secured primarily through OQ’s Liwa Plastics Industries Complex, which will provide paraxylene (PX) for the facility. Other essential raw materials, including monoethylene glycol (MEG) and acetic acid, will be imported into Sohar Port to support the production process. The integrated pipeline and material handling system are designed to streamline supply chains and maximize operational efficiency.
According to MAK Germany, the initiative aligns with Oman's national goals of adding value locally by converting raw materials into higher-value products within the Sultanate. The company highlighted the project’s potential to generate employment opportunities, foster technical expertise, and strengthen Sohar’s role as a regional hub for petrochemicals and advanced manufacturing.
The agreements to establish SOHARPET were signed earlier this year with Omani stakeholders, including Sohar Freezone and Ladayn authorities, demonstrating close collaboration between MAK Germany and local partners. The company reiterated that the project advances both industrial integration and economic diversification priorities in Oman’s long-term development strategy.