Shell International Trading Middle East Ltd [SITME] was born on 1st January, 2000, and is headquartered in Dubai. The company is part of the global Shell Trading network which covers companies in Houston, Barbados, Singapore, Tokyo, London and Rotterdam.

"The Dubai company will handle all oil products supply and trading for the Middle East," says Danny Leek, Regional Manager for SITME.

"One of our main roles will be to market the Group's share of products from its joint venture with Saudi Aramco in the Saudi Aramco and Shell refinery [SASREF]. Products from SASREF include naphtha for use as a feedstock in chemicals plants, aviation fuel, gas oil - known as diesel - and fuel oil. Our job is also to ensure that an efficient lifting programme is put in place so the SASREF refinery can operate at optimal production levels.

"Apart from SASREF, the Dubai office will handle all oil products supply and trading with other Middle East producers, including term contracts and spot deals. We also aim to ensure that, working with the other companies in the Shell Trading network, the Group's oil products needs are satisfied in the most efficient way, at the best possible prices.

"The Middle East is a major source of supply but is itself not a very large market. Iran is currently one of our largest suppliers of petroleum products on a spot and term basis, including fuel oil, condensate and Middle Distillate.

"We are a regular lifter of aviation fuel from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company [ADNOC] and hope that the completion of their condensate splitters at the Ruwais refinery during 2000 will create additional product purchasing opportunities.

"Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd [GASCO], in which Shell holds a 15 per cent shareholding, supply us with pentane, a chemical feedstock and a by-product from GASCO's natural gas production.

"With the start-up of Emirates National Oil Company's condensate splitter at the Jebel Ali Free Zone in the UAE in mid-1999, we have been able to purchase small quantities of aviation fuel but hope to purchase greater quantities and to widen the range of products we buy.

"SITME is a lifter of both aviation fuel from the Bahrain National Oil Company [BANACO] and also of 'combi cargoes', a combination of gasoline, aviation fuel and gas oil, which are shipped to our retail and distribution systems in neighbouring countries.

"From Kuwait, we are also a lifter of aviation fuel, and our colleagues in Japan are significant lifters of naphtha.

"Finally, we have been a purchaser of naphtha from Saudi Aramco for many years and also of fuel oil from Rabigh, which is moved to Australia."

Danny concludes, "Shell has expanded the role of the Dubai office to be closer to our customers, to provide them with a better service and improve our synergies.

"We hope that with a greater presence in the region we will be able to increase our levels of business in this very important part of the world."