Yussen and Qixiang Tengda ramp up chemicals to reshape China etherified C4 market

Yussen plans to start up 150,000 t/y of additional MEK capacity in Q4 2026, supported by 200,000 t/y of sec-butyl acetate. Qixiang Tengda is advancing a 400,000 t/y sec-butyl acetate unit with a matching hydrogenation unit. Once both projects start up, chemical extension is expected to exceed 10% of Etherified C4 demand, shifting pricing from an oil-led to a dual oil-and-chemicals driver.

After the alkylate consumption tax policy took effect in 2023, Guangdong Yussen Energy Technology and Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical moved to cut oil-product capacity and expand into higher-value fine chemicals, bringing real change to the etherified C4 market. China Etherified C4 Downstream Demand (Unit: %) Source: OilChem For a long time, more