Update:
Impact of coronavirus outbreak on
China petrochemicals plants production

Argus will be updating you on China’s petrochemicals market and plant production status during the continuing coronavirus crisis.

Stay tuned on this page for our weekly updates.

Each week we will update you on the following:

1. Petrochemical plants production
2. Polymer plants production
3. Methanol and syngas MEG plants production

20 March 2020

Petrochemical plants production

• Broad-based recovery continues at methanol-to-olefins producers
• Modest ramp-up in production at some styrene producers, but cutbacks are continuing in the PTA industry as high polyester stocks add pressure
• Focus shifts to Europe and the US, where the coronavirus outbreak is starting to impact industrial production.
  

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20 March 2020

Polymer plants production

• Broad recovery at polymer producers, which are ramping up operating rates on decent margins
• Sinopec and PetroChina’s polyethylene and polypropylene inventories still high and rose marginally to 1.285mn t on 18 March.
• Gradual recovery in the downstream manufacturing sector as the impact of the coronavirus outbreak continues to take its toll.
  

If you would like to get regular price and market commentary updates on the international petrochemical market, please fill up the form on the right to get more information on Argus petrochemicals paid subscription services.

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20 March 2020

Methanol and syngas MEG plants production

• Continued recovery in operating rates at inland methanol producers as the government supports the resumption of industrial output
• Recovery starts to kick in at syngas-based ethylene glycol producers, but resumption is slow because of high downstream polyester stocks.
  

If you would like to get regular price and market commentary updates on the international petrochemical market, please fill up the form on the right to get more information on Argus petrochemicals paid subscription services.