[1] With current investments exceeding $26 billion, it is one of the world's fastest growing port and free zone developments[2] and lies at the centre of global trade routes between Europe and Asia.

This provides SOHAR Port with a strategic location outside the Strait of Hormuz - the only stretch of water between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and an important means of sea transportation linking the Gulf region to India, the rest of the Middle East, China and South East Asia, as well as Europe.

SOHAR is equipped with deep-water jetties capable of handling the Valemax class of Very Large Ore Carriers, which are among the world's largest ships.

Apart from aluminium and streel, SOHAR also hosts the largest rare earth metal plant of its kind, second only to China.

The plant will manufacture antimony metal and trioxide, a precious mineral used as a flame retardant in a wide range of industries.

Apart from fuel products, the refinery also produces significant volumes of naphtha and propylene, which serve as feedstock for an adjoining aromatics and polypropylene plant.