Shutdown at YNCC's SM unit adds to South Korea's supply disruptions

01-Aug-19

South Korean petrochemical producer YNCC has shut its 285,000 tpa Yosu-based styrene monomer (SM) unit after off-specification styrene was produced in which the polymer content was higher than usual, as reported by www.argusmedia.com. Market participants expect YNCC to restart this unit in a week. While the producer expects to be able to maintain the volume of SM supplies committed to customers, some extension to delivery dates can be expected.This adds to South Korea's SM production woes. Hanwha Total on 27 July was unable to operate both its SM production lines with a total capacity of 1.1 mln tpa after its electricity tower supply was hit by lightning. The producer will restart the two lines this coming weekend.