Isu Chem-Dong Ming China MEK plant starts commercial ops end-Dec

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–South Korea’s Isu Chemical and China-based Dong Ming Petrochemical will start commercial operations at their joint venture (JV) methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) plant at Shandong province in China by the end of the year, a source from their joint venture entity said on Thursday.

The 40,000 tonne/year plant has been running at 70% of capacity since it started trial runs in September, the source said.

The plant’s run rates will be gradually ramped up to full capacity to ensure stable production, according to the source.

Around 60% of the plant’s output is expected to be exported to South Korea, with the remainder to be sold in the Chinese domestic market, said another company source. Details as to when MEK exports from the plant can begin were not immediately available.

Market players, meanwhile, expects shipments from the unit to begin in January 2014.

MEK acts as a low-boiling solvent for nitrocellulose, acrylic and vinyl surface coatings, with over half of global demand coming from the paints and coatings industry.