
The company name "SHARQ" means "east" in Arabic. This not only reflects the company's location in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, but also symbolizes the friendship between Saudi Arabia and its Far Eastern partner, Japan.
Technology transfer and staff training activities performed by SPDC contribute greatly to SHARQ's accomplishments. Now, with Saudi staff who make up (as of 2010) more than 92% of all employees, the company achieved the smooth operation of plants that are of world class in terms of having both high production capacity as well as the newest facilities.
SPDC was founded under the framework of the national project and has supported the Joint Venture company SHARQ in establishing world-class petrochemical plants and maintaining its stable operation by means of provision of the necessary capital, and technical and managerial assistance, including training with cooperation of Japanese petrochemical companies.
In the marketing sphere, SPDC receives almost one-third of SHARQ products and markets them mainly in China, India, Japan and Southeast Asia (including South Korea and Taiwan).