UpdateFormosa begins maintenance on VCM plant

14 October 2008 00:15  [Source: ICIS news]

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HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Formosa Plastics shut down part of its Point Comfort vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) unit in Texas for scheduled maintenance on Monday, the company said.

In a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the company said higher-than-regulated VCM emissions were expected on Monday.

“One train only is down for routine maintenance,” said company spokesman Steve Rice.

“Sufficient VCM inventory has been accumulated to ensure 100% PVC production for the duration of the scheduled maintenance,” Rice said.

Rice did not give a timeline for the maintenance.

However, another source at Formosa said maintenance at the 560,000 tonne/year VCM facility would continue until 21 October.

VCM is a feedstock primarily used in the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

US Gulf export FOB (free on board) spot VCM was assessed at $730-770/tonne (€540-570/tonne) on 10 October, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing. 

($1 = €0.74)

For more on Formosa's Point Comfort plant, visit ICIS plants and projects
For more on VCM visit ICIS chemical intelligence
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Leela Landress
+1 713 525 2653

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