Typhoon Bilis to slow down China petchem trades

14 July 2006 10:57  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Petrochemical shipping in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces was likely to be halted for up to two days as Typhoon Bilis hit south China this afternoon, sources from petrochemical companies said on Friday.

A source at Xiang Lu Petrochemical, a major purified terephthalic acid (PTA) producer at Xiamen, Fujian province, said the typhoon would affect the loading of goods and ships would not be allowed to set sail. The ports would be shut for a day or two but it would not have a large impact on trade, said an official from Xiang Lu Fibres.

Despite the disruption to logistics, plants at both companies would continue normal operations, said the sources.

The typhoon was forecast to land at Xiapu near Fuzhou, Fujian province. The impact on Fujian Southeast Electrochemical, which produces 120,000 tonne/year of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and 120,000 tonne/year of caustic soda in Fuzhou, was not known as the company could not be reached for comment.

A source from Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co said major ports in Zhejiang province would be closed briefly for about a day. The company’s operations would not be affected as the typhoon will make its landing in Wenzhou instead of Ningbo, where the company is located, she added.

More than 300,000 people were evacuated before the typhoon landed, according to local media reports. The typhoon killed at least 14 people in the Philippines earlier this week before moving towards Taiwan and China.

By: Florence Tan
+65 6780 4359

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