Middle East downstream news

Kent has announced the signing of Long-Term Agreements and Project Management Consultancy agreements with Aramco, further establishing the company’s presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Fluor has been selected by Aramco as a Programme Management Consultancy (PMC) contractor under a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) to support its global capital projects portfolio.

The crisis in the Middle East should be a wake-up for the global chemical industry to end its dependence on fossil fuels for feedstocks and consider sustainable alternatives, according to Scottish green chemicals firm Celtic Renewables.

On 28 April 2026, the UAE announced that it was leaving OPEC, effective on 1 May, which has reduced the group's global share of crude oil production and capacity.

GlobalData has reported that low-cost feedstock and developed infrastructure will support PVC capacity additions in the Middle East.

Wood Mackenzie has forecasted Brent averaging US$78/bbl in 2027 and potentially easing to US$70/bbl by 4Q27, following a US-Iran MoU that has shifted market sentiment away from a prolonged Strait of Hormuz closure.

Saipem has been awarded a new onshore contract for the Uthmaniyah Gas Compression Plant project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Honeywell has introduced Experion Cognition at Borouge Group International AG’s Ruwais facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE for autonomous control room operations.

The US EIA has its June STEO, reducing its expectation for global oil demand in 2026 due to high fuel prices, reduced fuel availability, and government initiatives curbing oil consumption.

Weekly estimates suggest US jet fuel production has increased to record highs in response to elevated jet fuel prices after the Strait of Hormuz closed on 28 February 2026, the US EIA has reported.