New Kashima plant suffers technical problems

08 April 2008 12:07  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Japan’s Kashima Aromatics will shut down its new plant next week for maintenance following some minor problems, said a company source on Tuesday.

 

The facilities - producing paraxylene (PX) and benzene and based in Kashima - had started up earlier this year and were a joint venture of Japan Energy and Mitsubishi Corp, had encountered some technical problems, the source added. 

 

The problem was a minor one, he said, and declined to comment further.

 

“We need [to have] some maintenance suddenly,” the source said.

 

At present, the plant was operating at high levels but below its full capacity, he said.

 

The unit produces 190,000 tonnes/year of benzene and 400,000 tonnes/year of PX.

 

Supply of PX could be affected due to the problems, with the company purchasing two spot cargoes from a Japanese trader on Monday, a broker said.

 

The company declined to comment but confirmed that one cargo of PX was purchased from the spot market. No further details were available.

 

Meanwhile, PX spot prices were assessed at $1,290-1,305/tonne CFR Taiwan/China, stable from Monday’s close, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

By: Mahua Chakravarty
+65 6780 4359

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