PETROCHEMICALS: Polymers

Segment landscape

The polymers segment continued to face structural oversupply, slower demand growth, and the lingering effects of tariff-driven disruptions. Additional supply volumes-maintained pressure on global pricing. End-market demand remained soft throughout the year, driven by the implementation of new tariff policies and their impact on global inflation and the trade of finished goods.

2025 developments

SABIC advanced initiatives that strengthened its market position, deepened value-chain engagement, and enhanced innovation and portfolio differentiation.

Building and construction

Pipes and infrastructure: SABIC’s Polyethylene PE100 reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP) solution was successfully installed beneath the South China Sea, covering 16 kilometers at a depth of 110 meters. This installation validated the material’s performance in real operating conditions, demonstrating ease of handling, corrosion resistance, and installation efficiency compared with conventional steel pipelines.

Mining slurry pipeline: SABIC commercialized PO COMPOUND SABIC® P1600A, an advanced anti-abrasive polyolefin compound for mining slurry pipeline applications. Designed for extreme wear conditions, P1600A provides high abrasion resistance, impact strength, and long-term durability, extending pipeline service life. The solution reduces maintenance, downtime, and improving operational reliability.

Electrical and electronics

Flame-retardant thermoplastics: SABIC’s electrical and electronics portfolio performed strongly, driven by its flame-retardant thermoplastics, Polycarbonate Flame Retardant Compound. These include halogen-free LEXAN™ resin for audio speakers and custom-color solutions for power distribution units.

Certified bio-renewable materials supporting low-carbon electrical and electronics application: SABIC has introduced Polycarbonate 3414ECRRW and 124RRW as certified bio-renewable products from bio-based feedstock that are not in direct competition with the human food chain. These solutions help customers reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining strong mechanical performance, supporting sustainability goals and contributing to climate-change mitigation.

Automotive

Expanding automotive material solutions: SABIC enhanced its automotive portfolio to meet evolving design, lighting, and performance needs. Key developments included light-bar solutions based on Polycarbonate LEXAN™ HF3510LB resin and PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate thermoplastic) red alcohol-resistant grades for rear lamp lenses and introduced translucent polypropylene resins for ambient lighting applications.

Innovating for compounding and headlamps: SABIC developed natural-color polycarbonate compounding grades and launched two new automotive headlamp grades, ALS01 and ALS02, expanding its offerings for lighting applications.

Advanced consumer solutions

Advancing materials for athletic footwear: SABIC provided high-performance materials for athletic footwear. The FORTIFYTM POE C8 (Polyolefin Elastomer) remained widely used in midsoles, while the newly introduced FORTIFYTM POE C4 (Polyolefin Elastomer) B1060 gained strong adoption among footwear manufacturers and brand owners. Leveraging close value-chain collaboration, SABIC also offered integrated solutions across footwear components, including EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber) and BR (Polybutadiene Rubber) for outsoles, Polyethylene HDPE for shoe lasts, and polypropylene grades for hangtags.

Consumer solutions for emerging applications: SABIC’s consumer solutions portfolio evolved to meet regulatory changes and new application needs. In China, Polycarbonate LEXAN™ 123R-111 resin was commercialized for 3D printer front covers through a collaboration.

Healthcare and hygiene

Localization of medical grades: SABIC is strategically expanding its production at its Saudi Arabia assets to supply high-value medical-grade polymers for the healthcare sector, including Polypropylene PP PCGH24, Polyethylene HDPE PCG 5628, and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) HM94MD. This localization enables SABIC to drive growth in differentiated solutions and support Saudi Arabia’s healthcare supply chain. SABIC medical grades are designed to meet stringent requirements, including pharmacopeia compliance and sterilization resistance, and address key challenges in healthcare applications.

Advanced solution for medical applications: SABIC exhibited materials for medical devices, tubing, and connected healthcare applications. Highlights included Polycarbonate LNPTM ELCRESTM NPCRX9612U resin, certified under UL746G, offering strong chemical resistance to disinfectants and UL94 V0 flame retardance in thin-wall designs. Material compatibility for efficient laser transmission welding was also presented.

Renewable energy

Advancing solar energy solutions: SABIC launched FORTIFY™ PV POE (polyolefin elastomer) encapsulant grades B5075DP and B14075DP, based on Nexlene™ technology, which address potential induced degradation (PID), enhancing solar module reliability and reducing lifecycle costs.

Materials for energy storage and solar systems: For stationary grid energy storage, the Edison Award-winning Polycarbonate LNPTM STAT-KON™ compounds enabled metal replacement in battery electrodes, offering reduced weight, corrosion resistance, and simplified manufacturing. NORYL™ resins provided chemical resistance and dimensional stability for battery enclosures, while Polycarbonate LNPTM ELCRES™ EXL9334P copolymer resin delivered UL94 V0 flame retardance and high CTI performance for high-voltage photovoltaic connectors.

TRUCIRCLE™

The TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio offers certified circular products, certified bio-renewable products, and mechanically recycled products, alongside services such as design for circularity and circular business models. Transparent certification systems, including International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC+) certification, ensure chain of custody throughout the supply chain.

Circularity across daily life

Our TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio operates across four themes of everyday life: Care, Shop, Move, and Live.

_{Disclaimer: This abridged interactive version of the SABIC Integrated Annual Report 2025 is based on the original PDF report published on this website. In case of any discrepancy, the original PDF report will prevail.}