Startup of the Liwa Plastics Industry Complex in Sohar in 2020/2021 boosted Oman’s production capacity for polyethylene by 880,000 tons per year, and polypropylene by 300,000 tons per year. This led to a surge in exports, although lower global demand and increased competition, among other factors, impacted shipments in 2024 and are projected to also affect 2025.

Although Oman does not publish timely trade statistics, the country’s exports are visible from publishing country import statistics. Based on a comparison between UN Comtrade export statistics for 2023, the most current period available, and ITP data, trading partner import data captures the great majority of Oman’s exports.

Oman’s exports of polyethylene (all grades combined, as visible from trading partner imports) peaked in 2022 at 625,000 tons, were level around 612,000 tons in 2023 and 2024 and are projected to slip to 569,000 tons in 2025.

Exports of polypropylene (all grades) peaked in 2023 at 397,000 tons, experienced a drop of over 100,000 tons in 2024, but are projected to rebound in 2025, to 371,000 tons.

Oman’s polyolefins exports are primarily to markets in Asia-Pacific (India, Pakistan, Vietnam, China), followed by Eastern Europe (Turkey). Smaller volumes are shipped to Western Europe, Africa and within the Middle East.

From International Trader Publications World Trade Analyses on all grades of polyethylene and polypropylene, based on latest statistics from all reporting countries.