India’s MRPL shuts PP plant for maintenance: Correction

: Petrochemicals
19/04/18

Corrects shutdown date based on new information from MRPL

India's state-controlled Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) has shut its 440,000 t/yr polypropylene (PP) plant for a scheduled turnaround.

The plant was shut on 13 April. The planned shutdown is expected to last for around 45 days, with a restart at the end of May.

MRPL's 450,000 t/yr fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit was shut down on 16 April for the same duration.

MRPL's PP plant mainly supplies the domestic market. PP supply in India is balanced to tight, with tightness in southeast Asian market because of upcoming shutdowns.

Fellow Indian firm private-sector Reliance Industries (RIL), a key polymer producer, is likely to reduce its exports to Asia to support domestic supplies.

RIL is a major exporter of PP to Asia, including the key Chinese market.

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