Vinythai to raise EDC, VCM output by August

16 July 2007 03:42  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Vinythai expects to run its expanded ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) units at full rates by August once it gets sufficient ethylene feedstock supply from a local supplier, a company source said on Monday.

Thailand’s second-largest polyvinyl chloride (PVC) producer has not been able to operate its EDC unit at 100% due to a lack of ethylene as feedstock supplier, PTT Chemical, has been experiencing technical issues after expanding a 385,000 tonne/year cracker.

 “We are relying on imported ethylene and running at high operating rates at this moment. By August, when local ethylene supply resumes, we will be able to run at full rates,” the source said,

He declined to say what rates the company was currently operating at.

Vinythai has doubled most of its Map Ta Phut production capacities, with caustic soda capacity raised to 270,000 tonnes/year, EDC capacity increased to 320,000 tonnes/year and VCM capacity doubled to 400,000/tonnes/year.

The company plans to expand its PVC capacity at its Map Ta Phut plant by 70,000 tonnes/year to 280,000 tonnes/year by mid-2008, with construction due to start in mid-2007.

Vinythai’s major shareholders are Belgium’s Solvay (48.45%), PTT Chemical (24.98%) and Thai industrial conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (11.43%).

By: Yao Wang
+65 6780 4359

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