New plants going to materialize production

Shenghong has so far raised the operating rate of its first new 2 million mt/yr PX line gradually to 65% since the trial run in early Nov, and is poised to further hike to 80%. The other line with same capacity is under inspection and if the handover is successful, it may begin trial run in Dec and contribute production from Jan 2023.

Dongying Weilian’s Phase II new 1 million mt/yr PX plant is expected to get products in end-Nov and is likely to begin production in Dec.

PetroChina Guangdong’s fresh 2.6 million mt/yr PX plant is poised to start in end-Dec or Jan, and could begin production in mid-Jan or late Jan.

CNOOC Daxie’s new aromatics complex has achieved mechanical completion in mid-Nov, and its 1.6 million mt/yr PX unit is expected to start in Feb 2023 with production to commence in Feb or Mar.

Among the existing plants, Sinopec ZRCC’s PX plant is expected to complete maintenance and restart with production increasing in Dec. During Dec 2022 to Feb 2023, there could be limited maintenance plan, while Saudi’s Rabigh may shut its plant in Dec for 45-day maintenance and ExxonMobil (Singapore) may shut one 550kt/yr PX line in Feb for maintenance.