Asahi Kasei keeps benzene output at reduced rates

19 November 2008 10:19  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Japanese styrene monomer (SM) producer Asahi Kasei has maintained benzene production at 80% in Mizushima and has cut its monthly benzene purchases by 10,000 tonnes on poor demand and market conditions, a company source said on Wednesday.

A fall of about 70% in the company’s total SM production was the main reason why the company maintained benzene production at reduced rates at its 300,000 tonnes/year line since May this year, the source said.

As a result, the source said, the company’s feedstock benzene purchases have declined by 10,000 tonnes/month from the total purchase of 40,000 tonnes/month.

The company requested its benzene suppliers to cut term contracts due to the fall in demand, the source said.

Poor demand for SM from the derivatives styrenics segment also forced the company to reduce production, he said.

In mid-October, the company’s No 2 line, which produces 300,000 tonnes/year of SM, was running at 75% rates.

The No 3 SM line with a capacity of 390,000 tonnes/year was restarted three days ago after a month-long turnaround, with the plant currently running at 100% capacity, the source said.

Asahi Kasei is one of the biggest buyers of benzene in Japan, with its total benzene demand capped at 740,000 tonnes/year for its two SM lines and one cyclohexane line.

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By: Mahua Chakravarty
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