Production updates at US olefin producers

According to market sources, three US olefin producers are preparing to restart their plants while one is planning to shut for maintenance.

LyondellBasell will restart its 771,000 tons/year steam cracker in Corpus Christi, Texas, on December 7, after a scheduled maintenance, sources said. The cracker was shut in the beginning of November for a 363,000 tons/year expansion.

Another US olefin producer, Dow Chemical, reportedly restarted its 728,000 ton/year No 3 production complex in Plaquemine, Louisiana, after a planned maintenance. The maintenance, which was intended to increase its ethylene production capacity, started in mid-September and lasted for around three months, sources said.

Market sources also said that US olefin producer Chevron Phillips restarted its 835,000 tons/year Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown, Texas on November 28. The plant was shut in the beginning of September due to some technical issues for 50-60 days.

Meanwhile, Formosa Plastics, a fourth US olefin producer, is reportedly readying to shut its 816,000 tons/year No 2 ethylene plant in Point Comfort, Texas for maintenance. The maintenance is expected to start in January 2017 and last for 40-60 days, sources said.