Japan’s Maruzen Petrochemical to shut Chiba BTX unit from 8 May

17 April 2012 12:05  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Japan’s Maruzen Petrochemical plans to shut its Chiba-based benzene, toluene and solvent xylene (BTX) unit from 8 May for scheduled turnaround, said a company source on Tuesday.

The facility, which produces 200,000 tonnes/year of benzene, 90,000 tonnes/year of toluene and 70,000 tonnes/year of solvent xylene, would be shut for more than a month, the source said.

The company expects to restart production on 22 June, the source added.

The BTX facility is currently operating at full capacity, the source said.

Meanwhile, the company’s hydro-dealkylation (HDA) unit producing 130,000 tonnes/year of benzene has remained shut since December 2011.

The HDA unit was shut because of poor margins, as feedstock toluene is priced higher than benzene in Asia.

At the close of trade on Tuesday, toluene stood at $1,210-1,215/tonne (€920-923/tonne) FOB (free on board) Korea, while benzene was at $1,170-1,175/tonne FOB Korea, according to ICIS.

($1 = €0.76)

By: Mahua Chakravarty
+65 6780 4359

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