Taiwan’s FPC runs ACLCA units at 80% on weak market

27 February 2009 09:36  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics (FPC) has been running its two acrylic acid and acrylate esters (ACLCA) lines located in Mailiao and Kaohsiung, Taiwan at around 80% of capacity since early February due to weak market conditions and poor economics, said a company source on Friday.

Inventory levels were sufficient and there was enough material for the spot market despite reduced output at the two lines with a total nameplate capacity of 160,000 tonnes/year of acrylic acid and 210,000 tonnes/year of acrylate esters, the source said.

Since late last year, regional producers have been facing tough conditions with production margins eroded by firm feedstock propylene and oxo-alcohols costs.

Other key producers in this region include BASF-Petronas, South Korea’s LG Chem and Japan’s Nippon Shokubai.

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By: Su Yeen Cheong
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