Thai Drought: Siam-Mitsui cutting PTA op rate by 10%

22 June 2005 06:13  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)--The drought in Thailand has forced Siam-Mitsui Chemical to cut the operating rate of its purified terephtalic acid (PTA) plants by 10% to around 90% of capacity, sources close to the company said.

Siam-Mitsui, a joint venture between Japan's Mitsui Chemicals and Thailand's Siam Cement, operates two 470,000 tonne/year plants at Mab Ta Phut. The company reduced the plants' operating rates early this week after water rationing at the petrochemical hub began, the source said.

The source also said that Siam-Mitsui may be forced to shut one plant next week if the drought persists.  Siam-Mitsui officials, however, were unavailable to confirm this.

Thailand's Tuntex Petrochemical may also be forced to cut the operating rate of its 440,000 tonne/year PTA plant at the end of this week, another source said. He added the plant is now still operating at nearly 100% of capacity. 

By: Salmon Aidan Lee
+65 6780 4359

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