Thailand’s PTTGC to shut Map Tap Phut LLDPE plant in end-July

Arianne Perez

08-Jul-2014

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Thai producer PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) plans to halt production at its linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) plant in end-July, a company source said on Tuesday.

The 400,000 tonne/year LLDPE plant in Map Ta Phut is expected to be down for 12 days, another company source said.

No reason was disclosed for the plant’s shutdown, but market sources said that it could be in line with ongoing shortage of feedstock ethylene from PTTGC’s upstream plant.

PTTGC has been experiencing shortage of feedstock ethylene from its upstream plant since around June.

Meanwhile, PTTGC’s 300,000 tonne/year low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant and its three high density polyethylene (HDPE) plants – a 300,000 tonne/year unit and two 250,000 tonne/year units – at the site are expected to run at normal levels during the shutdown of the LLDPE unit.

The shutdown of the LLDPE plant could tighten supply in the region and possibly exert an upward pressure on prices, according to southeast Asia-based market players.

Lingering weak-to-moderate demand, however, will cap any price gains in the LLDPE market, some players said.

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