Pengerang aims to produce polymers from November

Malaysia's state-owned Petronas is expected to start producing small batches of polymers from its Pengerang complex by November, slightly earlier than the previously anticipated first quarter of next year.

Petronas is currently running its cracker at reduced rates but will soon boost production in the coming weeks. This should provide Petronas with sufficient in-house olefins to produce more polymers. The Pengerang joint venture in southern Malaysia between Petronas and Saudi Arabia's state-owned Saudi Aramco can produce 750,000 t/yr of polyethylene and 900,000 t/yr of polypropylene.

Petronas bought olefins either regionally or from the Middle East during test runs earlier in the year.

Petronas is expected to target southeast Asia and China once the polymer units become fully operational. Aramco Chemicals is also offtaking from Pengerang.