JAPAN DISASTER: Idemitsu to shut benzene unit for turnaround

24 March 2011 03:59  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japanese aromatics producer Idemitsu Kosan will take its 327,000 tonne/year benzene unit in Chiba off line for scheduled maintenance on 27 March, a company source said late on Wednesday.

The benzene unit is running at normal rates at present and was not affected by the 11 March earthquake, the source added.

The company will be shutting its benzene facility along with its cracker from 27 March and is expected to restart production from 19 May, he said.

Meanwhile, the company had no plans to take its 219,000 tonne/year unit in Tokuyama off line for maintenance this year, the source mentioned. The Tokuyama-based unit is operating at 100%, he added.

Idemitsu is a net buyer of benzene as it makes captive use of its benzene supply for downstream styrene monomer (SM) and cyclohexane production.

Other key aromatics producers in Japan include JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Mitsubishi Chemical and Taiyo Oil.

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By: Mahua Chakravarty
+65 6780 4359

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