Mitsui Chem shuts cracker; may need to buy C2

26 June 2007 10:06  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Mitsui Chemicals, Japan’s second largest olefins producer, has shut one of its crackers for a turnaround and may need to purchase one spot ethylene cargo, a company source said on Tuesday.

 

The 455,000 tonne/year cracker in Osaka was shut as scheduled over the weekend on 23 June. It is expected to restart on 26 July, he said.

 

He added that propylene inventory was very well balanced in July and August and they would not need to make any purchases in the spot market. On the other hand, the company may need to purchase a spot ethylene cargo although some shipments have already been procured through swap arrangements with other domestic producers, he said.

 

This is the third cracker to be shut in Japan this year. Idemitsu Kosan’s 374,000 tonne/year naphtha cracker was restarted on 12 May and Mitsubishi Chemical’s 450,000 tonne/year Mizushima cracker is slated to resume operations on 4 July.

 

Two more crackers are scheduled to be shut this year. Mitsui Chemical’s 553,000 tonne/year Chiba cracker will be shut from 21 July to 10 August, and Sumitomo Chemical will wrap up the turnaround season in September when it shuts the 415,000 tonne/year cracker in Ichihara for 45 days.

 

By: Gina Myung
+65 6780 4359

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