Middle East petrochemical producers are facing a battle against U.S. firms to secure natural gas feedstock, said Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, secretary general of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association. To address the trend, producers in the Gulf region are moving toward value-added materials such as performance polymers and engineering plastics. "[W]e need further investment in innovation and more training of the local workforce tasked with guiding the industry through the next phase of its development," Al-Sadoun said.