Singapore, 30 July (Argus) — Taiwanese private-sector refiner Formosa Petrochemical has restarted part of its 540,000 b/d Mailiao refinery, which was shut down after a fire on 25 July.

Formosa started two of the three crude distillation units (CDUs) totalling 360,000 b/d yesterday at a run rate of 60pc. It has also restarted several secondary units. Full capacity at the restarted units will be restored in one to two weeks, the company said. The remaining 180,000 b/d CDU and the 80,000 b/d residual desulphurisation unit, where the fire started, will remain off line for an extended period.

Several of Formosa's August-loading gasoline cargoes have been cancelled with the agreement of buyers, while several diesel cargoes are postponed. Gasoline exports were cancelled rather than postponed because demand for the fuel is more seasonal, the company said.

Taiwanese gasoline exports to Singapore fell to 256,500 bl during the week ended 28 July, down by 37pc from a week earlier. Lower supplies from Taiwan partly caused Singapore onshore light distillates stocks, which include gasoline, naphtha and reformate, to fall to a nine-week low of 9.8mn bl.

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