DOHA: Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) and Qatofin have signed a logistic services agreement with Kerry Talke Chemical Logistics (Shanghai) Limited for Qapco's and Qatofin's products handling and warehousing in China.
Qapco and Qatofin have already established four representative offices in China; Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Their initiative to support these offices with a logistics facility stems from the great importance they attach to this rapid growing strategic market, where there is an increasing demand on petrochemical products.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, which took place on Qapco's site in Mesaieed, Dr Mohammed Al Mulla, Qapco's and Qatofin's General Manager, said: "We are privileged to sign this agreement today with Talke, and look forward to a fruitful and mutually beneficial strategic business relation between our organisations. We are also confident that Talke's track record of dedication and devotion to quality services and reliability will enable us to fulfill our customers' needs and expectations."
Abdulrahman Ali Al Abdulla, Qapco's Group Manager, Commercial and Marketing said that this agreement is not just a regular partnership agreement, but it is considered a major milestone in Qapco's and Qatofin's history, and one of the biggest logistics contracts for the company. "Establishing Qapco's and Qatofin's logistics facility in China will definitely help us meet our customers' demands and expectations as these warehouses will enable Qapco and Qatofin to gain faster access to its customers in the region," he said.
Alfred Talke, Managing Director of Talke Logistic Services, stated that this agreement is an important step forward for the company. "Qatar marks a significant milestone for Talke's development. It also makes a strong statement to our customers in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf that they can rely on the group's capabilities anytime, and for any other big projects," he said.
Talke, a leading logistics service provider for the chemical and petrochemical industries, developed from its roots transporting and storing chemical products into an integrated service partner for modern outsourcing and contract logistics solutions. The family owned and operated company has more than 1,600 employees in a network of 23 locations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Qapco, a leading producer of ethylene and polyethylene in the Middle East is anxious to reinforce that position and strive towards increasing its share in the world markets. The company is currently producing 800,000 MTPA of ethylene and 400,000 KMTA of Polyethylene (LDPE).
Qatofin is a joint venture between Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) (63 percent), Total Petrochemicals of France (36 percent) and Qatar Petroleum (1 percent), and its project involves the construction of a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) unit to produce 450,000 metric tons per year at facilities adjacent to Qapco's plant at MIC.
Qapco's and Qatofin's products are being exported to over 4,500 customers in about 85 countries around the world, and its global marketing network currently consists of 28 overseas offices and 5 regional warehouses.
These offices are located in China, India, Egypt, Syria, the UAE, Lebanon, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Jordan, Yemen, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Philippines as well as an agent network to serve QAPCO's and Qatofin's customers. The company is also operating and contracting regional logistic establishments in Syria, and Egypt.
© The Peninsula 2010
