Calcium carbide shortage hits Sichuan PVC output

28 May 2008 08:06  [Source: ICIS news]

SHANGHAI (ICIS news)--Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production in Sichuan province is under pressure from a shortage of calcium carbide, said local producers on Wednesday.

Most of the 18 companies that produce calcium carbide in Sichuan province suffered losses in the recent 8-magnitude earthquake, especially the five producers around the epicentre of Wenchuan.

Yinbin Changhong has been supplying material to a local PVC producer but it said "we cannot ensure the normal downstream demand is met as our operation rate is being lifted gradually,” said a company source.

Jinlu Resin Co, a major PVC producer in Sichuan, has not restarted its production due to the tight supply.

“We are willing to restart our 340,000tonne/year PVC unit early next month if there is normal supply on calcium carbide,” said the company source.

Chengdu Huarong, another PVC producer, has kept its 60,000 tonne/year PVC unit shut.

“We are producing disinfector for the quake-hit areas now, so the restart date of this unit has not been confirmed,” a company official said.

Leshan Yongxiang Resin, another major local PVC producer, is at 70% operation rate on tight supply of calcium carbide although its facilities were not affected in the quake, said a company source.

The producers cannot get materials from other provinces due to transport routes to Sichuan being disrupted after the quake.

“We have to wait for the local calcium carbide supply to become better,” said a producer.

These major carbide-based PVC producers in Sichuan can produce 11%-13% of the total volume in China.

($1 = CNY6.95)

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By: Dolly Wu
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