S Korea’s KPIC to increase ethylene and propylene production

According to market sources, South Korea’s Petrochemical Industry Co. (KPIC) is planning to increase the capacity of its naphtha-fed steam cracker at Ulsan. After the expansion, the company’s ethylene production will be increased from 470,000 tons/year to 800,000 tons/year and propylene production from 230,000 tons/year to 500,000 tons/year, sources said.

The expansion in ethylene and propylene production at the cracker will probably be completed as of June or July 2017, according to sources. The company was initially planning to finalize the expansion project in April 2017, according to earlier reports.