September 27, 2024 – The polypropylene industry in China has recently witnessed new developments in plant maintenance activities. According to statistics, the loss volume due to polypropylene plant shutdowns for maintenance in September reached 509,600 tons, highlighting the extensiveness and necessity of plant maintenance within the industry. Notably, North China bore the brunt of these shutdowns, with the highest loss volume nationwide.
In North China, maintenance activities were particularly frequent. Plants at Qilu Petrochemical, Tianjin Petrochemical’s old line, Wanhua Chemical, Lianhong Xinke’s first reactor, and Hongrun Petrochemical remained continuously shut down. Additionally, Jingbo Polyolefins’ first line, after a brief restart, was shut down again, while plants at Yanshan’s second polymerization unit and Tianjin Zhongsha resumed operations. According to sources close to AsiaMB, these maintenance activities had a significant impact on polypropylene supply in North China.
South China, East China, and Northeast China were also not immune to the effects of maintenance. In South China, plants at Quanzhou Guoheng, Zhongjing Petrochemical’s second phase second line, and Guangxi Hongyi remained under maintenance, while plants at Zhongjing Petrochemical’s second phase first line, Guangdong Juzhengyuan’s first phase second line and second phase first line resumed operations. In East China, plants at Anqing Petrochemical, Anhui Tianda, and Shaoxing Sanyuan continued to be shut down, while plants at Zhejiang Petrochemical’s fourth line, which were previously under maintenance, resumed production. In Northeast China, plants at Haiguolongyou, Jinxi Petrochemical, Beifang Huajin, and Fushun Petrochemical were also undergoing maintenance.
It is worth noting that although the loss volume due to polypropylene plant shutdowns for maintenance this month decreased compared to the previous month, mainly thanks to the restart of many plants that were previously under maintenance, the outlook for October indicates an increase in overall maintenance loss volume. Plants at Zhonghan Petrochemical, Fujian Lianhe, Daxieshihua, and Guangzhou Petrochemical are scheduled for maintenance, which is expected to have a new impact on the supply and demand dynamics of the polypropylene market. This trend warrants close attention from the industry.