Maintenance shut downs have been planned by Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical at its 450,000 tpa Mizushima naphtha cracker for 3-4 weeks and at the 375,000 tpa No 1 Kashima cracker for 6-7 weeks in the month of May, and at the 476,000 tpa No. 2 Kashima cracker for 6-7 weeks in June. The Japanese major has also planned major maintenance of its downstream units for different periods over 3 months starting in May. Usually petrochemical producers raise operating rates prior to planned shutdowns in a bid to build inventories. However, the synchronized maintenance shutdown of downstream units does away with this. Hence Mitsubishi Chemical will maintain run rates at the crackers at 75-80% this month, prior to the shutdowns.
06-Apr-09 
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