Thailand’s HMC, SCG restart polymer units

: Petrochemicals
21/04/20

Thai polymer producers HMC Polymers and Siam Cement (SCG) restarted their polymer units during 17-18 April, following a brief shutdown from 13 April because of a power disruption at the Mab Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong.

The sudden disruption could have upset some of HMC and SCG's polymer reactors, leading to the generation of unwanted polymer chunks that must be removed before normal operations can resume.

The power disruption also forced Thailand's state-owned PTTGC to shut its upstream crackers in Mab Ta Phut, likely reducing feedstock supplies to its downstream high-density polyethylene (HDPE) units and other offtakers. The HDPE units are operating at reduced rates. But operating rates at these units will likely increase soon with the imminent restart of PTTGC's upstream crackers, according to market sources.

HMC restarted all its polypropylene (PP) units with a combined capacity of 810,000 t/yr last weekend, according to market sources. One of the PP units was possibly shut for a brief maintenance when the power disruption happened, thus reducing the impact on HMC's PP production. HMC is a joint venture between PTTGC, global petrochemical firm LyondellBasell and independent Thai investors. The company sources some of its feedstock propylene supplies from PTTGC.

SCG shut its 220,000 t/yr HDPE unit and two PP plants with a combined capacity of 320,000 t/yr on 13 April because of the same issue. It restarted its HDPE line first before bringing the PP plants back on line, but all these units resumed operations last weekend.

By Yee Ying Ang

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