Borouge Plc has transported over 700,000 tonnes of polyolefins during its first year of operations with Etihad Rail. Since September 2023, more than 36,000 containers of Borouge’s products have been moved from Al Ruwais Industrial City to Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port using the UAE’s National Rail Network. The rail service, operated by Etihad Rail Freight, offers a four-hour journey compared to 12 hours by road, increasing efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
The partnership between Borouge and Etihad Rail, formalized in late 2022, allows for greater scalability and is less affected by weather conditions such as fog, compared to road transport. Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, CEO of Borouge, highlighted the benefits of using rail for transport, saying, “This network has opened new opportunities for us, enhancing local supply chains and supporting our ‘Made in UAE’ export initiatives.”
Etihad Rail’s CEO, Shadi Malak, emphasized the competitive advantages rail transport offers, stating, “Our partnership with Borouge demonstrates how rail can enhance business operations by delivering reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable logistics solutions.”
The rail service also aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions from road transport by 21% annually by mid-century. Borouge and Etihad Rail are now working to extend their partnership to transport goods to other UAE ports, including Fujairah.
Borouge’s use of rail transport supports its delivery of polyolefin solutions, which are critical for packaging and industrial applications. These include polyethylene for flexible packaging, and polypropylene for rigid packaging, both of which are essential to industries ranging from infrastructure to healthcare.