Effective August 11, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has halted production for fifteen days at its Huizhou-based aromatics plant capable of producing 110,000 mtpa of toluene, 100,000 mtpa of off-spec isomer-grade mixed xylenes and C9 heavy aromatics, owing to the dearth of raw material supply. To maintain supply to long term customers, CNOOC's aromatics unit was dependent on existing inventories. However, the unit ran out of stocks and does not have adequate inventory of all the products. Most of the output are sold in the open market. However, prices are unlikey to be affected as market demand continues to be very slow.
CNOOC plant in southern Guangdong province sources pygas from CSPC (CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Co Complex), a 50-50 JV between CNOOC and Shell. CSPC also has a naphtha cracker which gives 800,000 mtpa of ethylene and 430,000 mtpa of propylene. Besides, it also houses a SM-PO (styrene monomer-propylene oxide) plant produces 550,000 mtpa of styrene and 250,000 mtpa of propylene oxide.
19-Aug-08 
{{comment.DateTimeStampDisplay}}
{{comment.Comments}}