New contract win keeps Samsung Engineering’s Jubail refinery expansion in the spotlight

Samsung Engineering’s role in the JUPC EO/EG-II petrochemical complex in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, highlights how the Korean contractor uses mega downstream projects to deepen its Saudi Aramco and SABIC relationships and anchor its Middle East order book.

Edited by ad hoc news New Releases & Launches Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 9:45 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Samsung Engineering’s engineering, procurement and construction work on the Jubail United Petrochemical Company (JUPC) EO/EG-II complex in Saudi Arabia is back in focus after fresh contract milestones in the giant Jubail industrial zone, underscoring the Korean contractor’s push in high-value petrochemical projects in the Middle East. The company originally secured the JUPC EO/EG-II package as a lump-sum turnkey job and has since used the project to showcase its ability to deliver large-scale ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol facilities for state-linked clients.

JUPC EO/EG-II: a key Saudi petrochemical expansion for Samsung Engineering

Jubail United Petrochemical Company, a SABIC affiliate, awarded Samsung Engineering the EO/EG-II petrochemical complex package in Jubail as part of a broader expansion that includes new ethylene oxide and mono-ethylene glycol units, offsites and utilities for the Kingdom’s giant industrial cluster. According to Samsung Engineering’s official project list, the JUPC EO/EG-II contract was signed as a lump-sum turnkey project in 2019, with scope covering engineering, procurement, construction and pre-commissioning for the ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol trains in Jubail’s industrial zone 2, cementing the Saudi market as one of Samsung Engineering’s largest revenue contributors. Samsung Engineering’s project description for JUPC EO/EG-II lists the contract as an LSTK petrochemical plant in Jubail with responsibilities that span EPC and commissioning.

The Jubail EO/EG-II facilities are designed to process ethylene into ethylene oxide and further into mono-ethylene glycol, critical feedstocks for polyester fibers, PET plastics and antifreeze products that support both domestic Saudi consumption and exports into Asia and Europe. SABIC has long used its Jubail units to supply global customers with MEG and related derivatives, and the expansion through the JUPC EO/EG-II project is intended to sustain the Kingdom’s role as a major supplier to polyester and PET value chains. The complex integrates into Jubail’s broader petrochemical network, where ethylene feedstock is sourced from neighboring crackers and routed through pipelines to the EO/EG-II site, allowing economies of scale in utilities, logistics and export handling via nearby King Fahd Industrial Port.

For Samsung Engineering, the JUPC EO/EG-II package fits a broader strategy of focusing on high-complexity downstream plants in Saudi Arabia, including previous Jubail and Yanbu projects that cemented its position as a preferred EPC partner for SABIC and Saudi Aramco-linked ventures. The contractor’s ability to manage ethylene oxide and glycol process technology licensors, handle stringent safety standards and integrate the new trains into existing infrastructure is central to its value proposition in the Gulf region. By delivering EO/EG-II alongside other Saudi projects, Samsung Engineering aims to smooth capacity utilization at its engineering centers in Seoul, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai, balancing cyclical demand in refinery, gas and petrochemical markets while deepening local content through its Saudi subsidiary and joint ventures.

Within its global portfolio, Samsung Engineering has highlighted Saudi Arabia as a core growth market, with petrochemical and refinery projects such as the JUPC EO/EG-II complex forming a sizable share of its order backlog and revenue recognition over the past several years. In investor presentations, management has repeatedly pointed to recurring business from SABIC and other Saudi sponsors as a stabilizing factor for earnings, supported by the contractor’s track record in delivering lump-sum turnkey plants in challenging desert environments and tight schedules. An overview of Samsung Engineering’s recent project awards shows multiple Saudi contracts in petrochemicals and gas processing, confirming that the Kingdom remains one of its single most important regions for new orders and utilization of process-plant expertise. As part of its medium-term strategy, the company has also positioned capabilities in carbon capture, hydrogen and blue-ammonia projects, often connected to existing refinery and petrochemical complexes.

Samsung Engineering, headquartered in Seoul, is publicly listed on the Korea Exchange, and its investor relations materials emphasize the role of Middle East downstream projects like JUPC EO/EG-II in diversifying away from pure refinery EPC work and toward higher-value petrochemical and energy-transition related plants. According to the company’s English-language investor relations overview, the backlog of projects in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states has been a major driver of its order book, even as it expands into environmental and industrial projects in Southeast Asia and other regions. Samsung Engineering’s investor relations pages describe a focus on petrochemical, refinery and gas plants, alongside infrastructure and environmental projects, with a strategic emphasis on Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.

In its latest annual reporting, Samsung Engineering identifies Saudi Arabia as one of its largest regional markets by backlog, with projects such as JUPC EO/EG-II contributing to the company’s petrochemical segment revenue and reinforcing long-term relationships with SABIC and other Gulf-based sponsors. External industry coverage from regional business media has also highlighted Samsung Engineering’s role in Saudi petrochemical expansion, pointing to a string of EPC wins and milestones in Jubail and other industrial zones that underline the importance of the Kingdom to its future earnings. A recent overview of Samsung Engineering’s Middle East project portfolio by a Gulf-focused business outlet noted that Saudi contracts form a core component of the company’s global petrochemical and refinery order book, alongside projects in the UAE and Qatar. Coverage in Arab News of Samsung Engineering’s Saudi project pipeline has emphasized the significance of the company’s contracts for the local energy and petrochemical sector.

JUPC EO/EG-II underlines how Samsung Engineering uses large petrochemical complexes to deepen its engineering presence in Saudi Arabia and secure a pipeline of downstream work tied to global polyester and plastics demand, while supporting SABIC’s objective of sustaining export capacity from Jubail. Shares of Samsung Engineering (KR7028050003) last traded on the Korea Exchange at KRW 42,850 on 06/14/2026.

JUPC EO/EG-II petrochemical complex in brief

• Product: JUPC EO/EG-II petrochemical complex EPC project
• Manufacturer: Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd.
• Category: New Release/Launch - petrochemical EPC project
• Launch date: Contract awarded 2019 (project execution ongoing)
• MSRP / Price: Not disclosed (lump-sum turnkey EPC contract value not publicly detailed)
• Availability: Industrial complex in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, serving petrochemical clients
• Target audience: Petrochemical operators, industrial gas and downstream chemical customers relying on MEG and derivatives
• Key differentiator / USP: Large-scale ethylene oxide and mono-ethylene glycol trains integrated into Jubail’s existing petrochemical infrastructure under a lump-sum turnkey EPC scope

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