Thailand’s PTT Chemical starts up new ethane cracker

26 January 2010 09:23  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Thailand’s PTT Chemical started up its new 1m tonne/year ethane cracker at Mab Ta Phut on Monday and aims to achieve on-spec production at the plant by the end of this month, a company official said on Tuesday.

PTT had to delay the start-up of the new cracker to late January partly due to mechanical issues, market sources said.

The company was expected to shut its 460,000 tonne/year unit, also known as the I-1 cracker, at the same site for 35 days of maintenance in mid February, the official said.

PTT’s 515,000 tonne/year cracker – the I-4 No 1 – was also scheduled for a month-long turnaround in June, the official added.

The upcoming turnarounds could keep ethylene supply tight and give a lift to prices, which were currently hovering at a 17-month high of $1,350-1,400/tonne (€959-994/tonne) CFR (cost and freight) NE (northeast) Asia, according to global chemical market intelligence service ICIS pricing.

($1 = €0.71)

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By: Peh Soo Hwee
+65 6780 4359

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