S Korea's YNCC to shut No 1 BTX plant for 2 mths

11 September 2006 07:07  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Yeochun NCC (YNCC), a key South Korean producer, will shut its No1 plant producing benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) from end of September, a company source said on Monday.

The scheduled maintenance shutdown is expected to last for two months, until the end of November, and no spot cargoes for October or November loading would be sold from this plant, the source added.

The No1 plant produces 130,000 tonnes/year of benzene, 55,000 tonnes/year of toluene and 35,000 tonnes/year of mixed xylenes.

YNCC has three BTX plants, which together produce 360,000 tonnes/year of benzene, 190,000 tonnes/year of toluene and 120,000 tonnes/year of mixed xylenes. The other two plants are operating at full capacity, the source said.

Market players said last week that the market was facing some tightness of solvent grade supply in Asia, and the YNCC plant shutdown may further tighten the situation.

YNCC is a key producer and supplier of solvent grade xylene in the region, among others like Honam Petrochemicals and LG Petrochemicals.

Spot prices of solvent grade xylene were notionally assessed lower by $50-$55/tonne to $905-$925/tonne FOB Korea on last Friday, according to global chemical market intelligence service, ICIS Pricing.

By: Mahua Chakravarty
+65 6780 4359

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