Mitsubishi Chem augments production at other crackers to offset sudden shutdown at No.2 cracker

05-Sep-08

After a sudden 2-week pull out at Mitsubishi Chemical Corp's Kashima-based 516,000 tpa No.2 naphtha cracker since Sept 2, the firm has announced that it will make up for the decline in production by increasing runs at other two crackers. As a result, Mizushima-based 496,000 tpa in the West and Kashima-based 410,000 tpa No.1 cracker in the East will see increase in production to counterbalance the loss of output and keeps its ethylene production plans. Previously, the firm had agreed to curtail the production by 15-20% at all the crackers until December. In order to counterbalance the 20,000 tons reduction in output due to immediate shut down at Kashima, the firm has planned to increase the production at the other two naphtha crackers.