Borouge is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Borealis (an Austrian petrochemicals company), producing polyolefins — polyethylene and polypropylene — at one of the world’s largest integrated petrochemical complexes in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.
Structure
Borouge was established in 1998 as a partnership combining ADNOC’s feedstock supply and Borealis’s polyolefin technology expertise. ADNOC holds a 54 percent stake and Borealis holds 36 percent following Borouge’s partial listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2022. The IPO was one of the largest petrochemical listings globally, raising over $2 billion and reflecting strong investor demand.
Production
Borouge operates a large-scale production complex in Ruwais Industrial City, approximately 250 kilometres west of Abu Dhabi. The complex includes three ethane crackers and multiple polymerisation units with a combined polyolefin production capacity of approximately 6.4 million tonnes per annum. A fourth Borouge expansion (Borouge 4) is under development and will significantly increase capacity upon completion.
The Ruwais complex benefits from integration with ADNOC’s upstream operations, receiving ethane and other feedstocks directly via pipeline. This feedstock integration provides cost advantages relative to petrochemical producers that source feedstock on the open market.
Markets
Borouge exports the majority of its production to markets across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Its polyolefin products serve applications in packaging, construction, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and automotive industries. Borouge’s marketing operations span more than 50 countries.
Technology
Borouge utilises Borealis’s Borstar proprietary polyolefin technology, which enables the production of specialised and high-performance polyolefin grades. This technology differentiates Borouge’s products from commodity-grade polyolefins and supports higher margins.
Role in Vision 2030
Borouge exemplifies the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030’s downstream value-chain strategy. Rather than exporting crude oil as a commodity, Abu Dhabi converts hydrocarbon feedstocks into higher-value petrochemical products that generate more revenue per barrel, create industrial employment, and build manufacturing capabilities. Borouge demonstrates that Abu Dhabi can compete globally in advanced manufacturing, not merely in resource extraction.