Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) and partner Saudi Arabian Mining (Maaden) plan to produce around 1 million tonnes of phosphates next year at a joint venture plant in Ras al-Zour, Saudi Gazette has reported. The project is in line with government plans to boost fertiliser production to meet rising food demand, Fahad al-Sheaibi, executive vice president at Sabic’s fertiliser unit said. Output at the facility is scheduled to start by the end of this year or early next and it will take 12 to 18 months for the plant to reach full production capacity, he said.