Two new PTA plants go operational in China, lead to increased PX imports

01-Nov-12

Two new purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plants have become operational in China, which has led to a rise in demand and consequently an increase in imports of paraxylene (PX) in September 2012, as per fibretofashion. A new plant with capacity to produce 1.5 mln tpa of PTA was made operational in Zhejiang province by Jiaxing Petrochemical in August-end. This was followed by the start of 2.2 mln tpa PTA plant in Dalian by Hengli Petrochemical last month. This has resulted in an increase in demand for key feedstock PX. Accordingly, China’s PX imports swelled 13.25% year-on-year to 591,202 tons in September, as per the customs data. On a month-on-month basis, September PX imports rose by 26.57%. Experts estimate that China’s PX imports would rise further as more and more new PTA plants would become operational - Zhejiang Yisheng Petrochemical is planning to start its new PTA plant, having a capacity of 1.8 mln tpa, in Hainan by November-end this year.