Chinese state-controlled Sinopec Anqing has started commercial production at a new PP unit on 2 July after successful trial runs in late June, and plans to ramp up operations to 70pc this month.
The PP plant, located in Anqing city of Anhui province in east China, completed construction in December 2022. The plant has a capacity of 300,000 t/yr, and will use third generation Sinopec Technology (ST-III) in the production process.
Nine PP plants started operations in China during January-June, with a capacity addition of 2.95mn t/yr. Besides Sinopec Anqing, seven PP plants will start up in the second half of 2023, with a total capacity of 3.25mn t/yr. This will take the total capacity of the 17 plants to 6.5mn t/yr, and overall Chinese PP capacity to 48mn t/yr, leading to higher supply pressure in the long term.
| PP start-ups in China 2023 ('000 t/yr) | ||
| Plant | Capacity | Start date |
| Sinopec Hainan | 200 | Feb |
| Sinopec Hainan | 300 | Feb |
| Petrochina Guangdong | 500 | Feb |
| Hongrun Petrochemical | 450 | Feb |
| Chambroad Petrochemical | 400 | Mar |
| Chambroad Petrochemical | 200 | Mar |
| Guangxi Hongyi New Material | 300 | Mid-Mar |
| Guangzhou Juzhengyuan Phase 2 | 300 | May |
| Guangzhou Juzhengyuan Phase 2 | 300 | May |
| Sinopec Anqing | 300 | Jul |
| Baofeng Energy Phase 3 | 500 | late Jul |
| Oriental Maoming Phase 1 | 450 | 3Q |
| Anhui Tianda | 300 | 3Q |
| Jinneng Petrochemical Phase 2 | 450 | End 2023 |
| Ningbo Jinfa New Material | 800 | End 2023 |
| Quanzhou Guoheng Chemical | 450 | End 2023 |
| Huizhou Lituo New Material | 300 | End 2023 |
| Source: Chinese petrochemical producers | ||
