The Middle East will witness significant fluid catalytic cracker units (FCCU) capacity additions representing over a quarter of the global FCCU capacity additions by 2030. The growing demand for refined products owing to the growing population and industrialisation in the region will mainly propel this growth. Additionally, the region aims to increase refined product exports, leveraging its vast oil reserves.
Iran is likely to dominate within the Middle East, accounting for nearly 40% of the total capacity additions by 2030. This significant growth is largely due to its substantial investments in refinery modernisation. Key upcoming refineries including Jask II, Shahid Ghasem Soleimani, and Khuzestan are expected to be instrumental in driving the FCCU capacity additions by 2030.
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The Jask II refinery is at the forefront of Iran’s FCCU capacity additions with 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) of FCCU capacity likely to be added during the outlook period. Petro Tejarat Shahin Co is the 100% owner, as well as the proposed operator of this announced refinery, which is currently in the FEED stage and is likely to begin operations in 2028. This upcoming refinery is crucial for the country’s economy by increasing domestic production of petroleum products and reducing imports.
FCCU capacity additions through new and existing refinery expansion in the Middle East by key countries
Iraq is also expected to add substantial FCCU capacity additions in the Middle East with nearly 265,000bpd of capacity expected to be added by 2030. Within Iraq, the Basra II, a planned refinery, owned and operated by South Refineries Co, is poised to lead the FCCU capacity additions with 75,000bpd likely to become operational in 2027. The cracking type is currently under construction and helps to reduce its reliance on imported refined products.
Further details of global FCCU capacity and capex analysis can be found in GlobalData’s new report, ‘Refinery Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCU) by Capacity and Capital Expenditure with Details of All Operating and Planned Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units to 2030‘.
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By GlobalData