Optimal Chemicals restarts Malaysia butac plant after 3-week

25 February 2010 09:47  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Malaysia’s Optimal Chemicals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has restarted operations at its 50,000 tonne/year butyl acetate (butac) plant in Kertih, Terengganu in “mid February” following a three-week shutdown to facilitate catalyst change, a company official said on Thursday.

“We are currently operating the plant at 60-70% capacity and we expect to reach full production by this weekend or early March,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the market remained underscored mainly by strong feedstock normal butanol costs. Offers for March shipment bulk butac cargoes were raised to $1,350/tonne (€999/tonne) CFR (cost and freight) SE Asia, up $100/tonne from February levels.

“We are trying our best to achieve higher prices as we are facing feedstock cost pressure and demand is slowly reviving,” the official said.

Butac is a main ingredient in automotive paints and is also used in wood coatings.

($1 = €0.74)

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By: Helen Lee
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