ExxonMobil to shut Singapore cracker in February - sources

13 January 2010 03:48  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Energy giant ExxonMobil is due to shut its 900,000 tonne/year cracker in Singapore in mid-February for two weeks to change some parts, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The scheduled maintenance is expected to further support Asian petrochemical prices, at a time of bullish demand and low supply.

ExxonMobil’s customers in southeast Asia and China said their February polyethylene (PE) allocations from the producer would be cut by 20-30% due to production issues.

“The producer plans to shut its cracker in mid-February to replace an equipment,” the source said.

There was no immediate comment from ExxonMobil about the planned turnaround.

The ethylene plant, which uses mixed feedstock and is located at Jurong Island, was shut on 3 May last year for an 8-week turnaround but was restarted almost two weeks ahead of schedule.

ExxonMobil's downstream units include a 480,000 tonne/year polyethylene (PE) plant and a 275,000 tonne/year polypropylene (PP) unit.

Additional reporting by Chow Bee Lin and Mahua Chakravarty

Please visit the complete ICIS plants and projects database
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: Felicia Loo

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly