Sinopec Shijiazhuang to expand caprolactam plant to 200,000 t/y

03 November 2010 07:14  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China’s Sinopec Shijiazhuang Refining & Chemical Co plans to expand its 160,000 tonne/year caprolactam plant to 200,000 tonne/year by 2015, a company source said on Wednesday.

The plant, located in Hebei, is currently operating at 70% of its nameplate capacity, he added.

“Caprolactam supply is tight in China at this juncture,” said a market player in Mandarin.

The product is primarily used in producing nylon.

Demand for caprolactam is strong because of the nylon manufacturing season, and a slew of turnarounds have driven up prices to $2,730-2,740/tonne (€1,966-1,973/tonne) CFR (cost and freight) NE (northeast) Asia this week from $2,680-2,720/tonne CFR NE Asia last week, traders said.

Sinopec Shijiazhuang finished construction of a new caprolactam line in the second half of 2009, boosting its total capacity from 65,000 tonne/year to 160,000 tonne/year.

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By: Felicia Loo

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