China phenol & acetone capacity utilization rate drop to 77.30% as of Apr 15

China's phenol-acetone capacity utilization rate fell to 77.30% as of Apr 15, tightening supply, according to OilChem. Key drivers include maintenance at several plants. Port inventory is low at 33,000 tonnes in Jiangyin, supporting prices which may fluctuate. The market's near-term direction hinges on the arrival schedule of imported cargo, notably from South Korea.

According to OilChem data, on April 11, Huizhou Zhongxin Chemical's Phase I and II units switched operations. The Phase II unit is running at full capacity, while the Phase I unit has entered maintenance; the 650,000 t/y phenol-acetone unit of Shenghong Refining & Chemical underwent a three-day short stop