China relaxes environmental rules as trade war bites

BARCELONA (ICIS)–China has relaxed winter anti-pollution measures as it prioritises economic growth over the environment, in the midst of a damaging trade war with the US.

– Lower overall targets for particulates in key urban areas

– Local authorities, not central government, to enforce measures

– Relaxed rules on coal could boost availability of gas for chemicals

With the new US tariffs on $200bn in Chinese imports now in place at 10% and likely to rise to 25% on 1 January, China’s economy is starting to feel the pinch.

As reported by ICIS earlier in the week, manufacturing momentum is being lost in China as companies prepare for the impact of the US tariffs.

China’s latest official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) slipped to an eight-month low of 50.8 points in September, from 51.3 in the previous month.

Meanwhile, the Caixan PMI index fell to 50.0, perilously close to contraction (below 50).

Chinese manufacturers of finished goods for export to the US have been hit particularly hard, and have cut their purchases of raw materials.

For example, US tariffs on finished goods containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) helped Chinese domestic prices slump by 9% in a week to a nine-month low in late September as demand dropped.

As China’s economy slows, its leaders are relaxing environmental rules in the hope of stimulating growth.

The country’s official news agency, Xinhua, reported on 27 September that a target of a 3% year-on-year reduction in average intensity and the number of days with high levels of the particulate PM2.5 would be implemented in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and surrounding areas.

The target applies from October 2018 to March 2019 and affects producers of thermal power, steel, petrochemicals and cement.

That is less than the 5% cut proposed in an initial plan seen by the South China Morning Post in August and are well below the cuts of “at least 15%” set out in last year’s plan, the paper said.

It is also far lower than a similar target set back in March 2018 when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang gave a 30% reduction figure for key areas’ average density of PM2.5 for 2018 as a whole.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO ENFORCE
Rather than being enforced by central government, local authorities will enforce the targets – and they are thought to be less effective than the powerful central ministries.

There will also be a more flexible approach, said Xinhua.

“A differentiated approach will be taken, with companies excelling in pollution control being exempt from output restrictions,” said the official agency.

For chemical companies this could mean that older, smaller, and more polluting plants will be targeted with newer plants being unaffected.

There could be fewer closures of plastic processors because of the relaxation of the rules.

The closures have been a dampener on prices over the last few months.

“Any benefits in terms of more polymers consumption, though, are expected to be quite limited because offsetting any gain will be the negative effect on the US tariffs on China plastic product imports,” according to ICIS consultant John Richardson

He added that looser rules will still not stop the restructuring of the sector because small scale, inefficient processors – and other manufacturers – will continue to be shut down permanently for economic reasons.

Equally, the programme to relocate plants away from urban areas to chemical parks is expected to continue.

Last year, the environmental inspections and subsequent closures led to an estimated 40% of the country’s total manufacturing capacity being temporarily shuttered, with 80,000 factories charged with breaching emissions targets.

Operating rates at chlor-alkali facilities were particularly affected with operating rates falling to 50-70%.

MORE GAS FOR CHEMICALS
Under the new rules, blanket bans on the use of coal for domestic heating will not be included this winter.

Instead, local authorities will set the targets to match local gas and power generating capabilities. This could improve supplies for chemical production this winter.

Last year an enforced switch from coal to gas led to rationing of natural gas for chemicals production.

“This explains why MDI [methylene diphenyl di-isocyanate] and TDI [toluene di-isocyanate] margins went through the roof as plants were shut. So there could be no repeat of last year’s margins and pricing boom in certain sectors.”

Pictured: A liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Rudong County, east China
Source: Sipa Asia/REX/Shutterstock

Focus article by Will Beacham

Click here to view related stories and content on the US-China trade war topic page