On 18 January, Hyundai Cosmo Petrochemical (HCP, Daesan / South Korea) sent its first shipment of paraxylene from Daesan, five months ahead of schedule. The joint venture between Cosmo Oil (Tokyo / Japan; www.cosmo-oil.co.jp) and Hyundai Oilbank (Seoul / South Korea; www.oilbank.co.kr) said it achieved full production of its 800,000 t/y PX capacity expansion ahead of schedule, and now has a total paraxylene nameplate capacity of almost 1.2m t/y. As a result of the latest expansion, HCP also raised its benzene output by 120,000 t/y, bringing it to a new total of 250,000 t/y.

Most of the added PX output is earmarked for China, HCP said, adding that demand for the polyester feedstock is expected to rise steadily in Asia, and the People’s Republic in particular, as populations continue to grow and economies develop.