Thailand’s PTT keeps new cracker running at reduced rate

16 March 2010 07:07  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--Thailand’s PTT Chemical is running its new 1m tonne/year cracker in Mab Ta Phut at around 60% of capacity due to a shortage of ethane gas feedstock, a company official said on Tuesday.

The cracker had achieved on-spec ethylene production on 16 February after being taken off line twice this year due to technical issues. The facility had come on stream around 25 January.

The company did not rule out importing ethylene but had yet to start discussions this week, the official added.

Ethylene spot prices were stable at $1,120-1,160/tonne (€817.6-846.8/tonne) CFR (cost and freight) southeast Asia last week, according to ICIS pricing.

PTT also runs three other crackers in the area, which have a combined ethylene capacity of around 1.38 m tonnes/year.

($1 = €0.73)

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By: Peh Soo Hwee
+65 6780 4359

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