China MTBE unit operating rate plunges to 5-year low

Domestic MTBE unit operating rate has been on a sustained downward trend since May and hit a five-year low in July with shutdowns accelerating sharply, particularly in Shandong, where the concentration of plant closures has been most pronounced.

China's Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) plant shutdowns began to emerge gradually from May, with the pace accelerating noticeably from late June. The number of idled units increased even more substantially in July, making the operating rate retreat to the lowest levels in five years and signaling a clear supply-side