CCM>Free Info >News Update>1st volume No.2>
Last Update: Dec 31, 2000
Fine Chemicals & Basic Chemicals
Sample of Market Analysis
I. Industrial Policy
 
New Regulation on Narcotic Chemicals (Last update: 12/09/2000)
State Economic & Trade Committee, Ministry of Public Security and State Commercial & Administrative Bureau issue a regulation on chemicals that are easy to make narcotics. According to this regulation, all the enterprises that have not been recorded by public security department can not produce or distribute the chemicals, which can be used to make heroin, ice, cocain. These chemicals include ephedrine, 3,4-methylene-diphenyl-2-acetone, 1-phenyl-2-acetone,phenyl acetic acid, heliotropin, sassafrol, isosassafrol, acetic anhydride. All these chemicals can not be produced/distributed by enterprises without government approval. Any manufacturer of the above mentioned chemicals must be filed by public security department before 15th Dec 2000. Any individual is not allowed to do business of these chemicals. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Government Layout Principle for Price of Ethylene (Last update: 11/20/2000)
State Planning Committee issued notice recently as to the principle for setting the price of ethylene, in order to solve the problem between the suppliers and consumers. The price is negotiating between seller and buyers. The government will no longer to set price for enterprises later. The suppliers and consumers of ethylene set the price on base of international figure. The formula for price is: Current price=price in last month (international) x foreign exchange x (1+VAT) x (1+changing index). The international price in last month refers to average price of FOB Korea and CFR Southeast, published by ICIS-LOR. The changing index means: if the international ethylene price is USD350-550/MT, the changing index is 0;the changing index will increase 1.2% on the every decrement of 10USD, if the international price is lower than USD350/MT; the changing price will decrease 1.2% on the every increment of 10USD, if the international price is higher than USD550/MT. The price of ethylene will update every month. This method will be executed from the date of this notice and will be carried out for one year for trial. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
II. News Collection
 
50,000MT/year Oxlic Acid (Last update: 12/25/2000)
The 3rd phase enlargement of oxalic acid, invested jointly by Fujian Shaowu Fine Chemical Factory and Zhangzhou Oxalic Acid Factory, has been finished. The production capacity of oxalic acid of this project is 50,000MT/year, the largest one in China. (Source: Shanghai Chemical Industry)
 
Zhuhai PTA Project Activated (Last update: 12/25/2000)
The project of 350,000MT/year PTA is activated in Zhuahi. The construction began. This project is estimated to be finished by 2002. The future capacity of PTA in this factory is designed at 1 million MT/year. This project is invested by BP-Amoco, Zhuhai Fuhua Group and China Fiber Corporation. The total investment is USD360 million. (Source: Shanghai Chemical Industry)
 
Eastman Buys Funing Chem. (Last update: 12/25/2000)
The subsidiary of Eastman, Fente Co., bought 90% stock of Funing Organic Factory. The newly formed JV is called Jiangsu Fente Chemical (International) Co. Ltd. The registered capital of this JV is USD10.92 million. It is expected that the annual sales value of this JV will be RMB300 million. The main products in this JV are oleic acid, dimer acid and polyamide resin. (Source: Shanghai Chemical Industry)
 
DSD Project in Huayu Passes Environmental Test (Last update: 12/25/2000)
The environmental facilities in CNCC Huayu Chemical Factory, a facility of RMB17 million, has passed the environmental test from Hebei Province. So far there is no waste let off in this factory. Huayu uses two technologies in disposing the waste, one technology from CAS and another from Tianjin University. (Source: Shanghai Chemical Industry)
 
Pentane Foaming Agent in Yangze (Last update: 12/18/2000)
Yangze Petrochemical Corp has produced pentane foaming agent to replace Freon. The agent has been used in the production line of 400,000MT/year foaming PS and the result is successful. (Source: China Chemical News)
 
Yangze BASF Set up (Last update: 12/18/2000)
So far the largest JV in petrochemical industry, Yangze BASF Co. Ltd. is announced to set up in Nanjing. BASF and Yangze Petrochemical Corp holds 50% and 50% shares of the JV. The total investment for the JV is USD2.6 billion. The JV will work around the 600,000MT/year ethylene project, with 8 production lines of world scale to produce 1.7 million MT/year of petrochemical products. A large part of the products are not available in China at the moment. It is expected that the commercial production of the JV will begin in 2004. (Source: China Chemical News)
 
Large Demand for PTA in China (Last update: 12/18/2000)
News from China Chemical-Fiber Association shows that China will encourage more oversea companies to invest in PTA project. So far the total production capacity of PTA in China is 2 million MT/year. In 1999 China imported 1.54 million MT of PTA and it is estimated to have imported 2.40 million MT of PTA in 2000. Even if all the existing Chinese factories enlarge the production capacity of PTA, they still can not meet the ever increasing demand. At present the large PTA producers in China include Tianjin Petrochemical (250,000MT/year), Luoyang Petrochemical (225,000MT/year), Yizhdeng Petrochemical, Shanghai Petrochemical and Yangzi Petrochemical. The JV of PTA projects include BP in Zhuhai (450,000MT/year) and Diren Petrochemical in Fujian (450,000MT/year). (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Methanol Enlargement in Shaanxi Yulin (Last update: 12/10/2000)
Shaanxi Yulin Natural Gas Co. Ltd. invest RMB3 million to enlarge the methanol production line during the overhaul. Now the production capacity of methanol in this factory has reached to 120,000MT/year. They are one of the largest methanol producers in China. (Source: Shanghai Chemical Industry)
 
Continuous Production Method of DBP (Last update: 12/04/2000)
The first production line, by continuous method, of dibutylphthalate (DBP) has been run for 3 months in Shandong Qilu Plasticizer Co. Ltd. Generally in the world, DBP is synthesized by non-acidicity rout, during which butanol reacts with catalyst to form butyl ester, the side reaction results in low yield and bad quality of DBP. Thus most manufacturers use batch production method to control the content of butyl ester. From July 2000, the researcher in Qilu Plasticizer Co.have been improving the existing production line of 20,000MT/year DBP (by batch method) and changed to continuous method thus solve the problem arisen from butyl ester. In the same time they enlarged the production capacity of DBP to 30,000MT/year. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
16,000MT/year MDI Project in Shanghai Approved (Last update: Dec 2000)
The project of 160,000MT/year of MDI and 130,000MT/year of TDI in Shanghai Chemical District have been approved by central government. It is estimated that these two projects will be finished by the year 2003 and the commercial production will begin in 2004. In the future, the production line of 30,000MT/year HDI and 10,000MT/year HDI derivatives will be constructed in Shanghai Chemical District. The MDI & TDI projects are invested by Shanghai Huayi (Group) Co. Ltd., Shanghai Tianyuan (Group) Co. Ltd., Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical Co. Ltd, Shanghai Chemical Development Co. Ltd., Sinopec and BASF, Huntsman-ICI, Nippon Polyurethane. (Source: Polyurethane News)
 
China Launches to Produce MDI (Last update: Dec 2000)
Shandong Yantai Wanhua Group cooperates with Qingdao Chemical University to do research on the production of MDI, a crucial raw material for the production of polyurethane. The result is successful. So far China becomes the fifth countries in the world to grasp the production technology of MDI. The rest technology holder include Germany, British, USA and Japan. It is expected that this technology will increase profit of RMB70 million per year for China. (Source: Polyurethane News)
 
12,000MT/year Melamine Project in Shandong (Last update: Dec 2000)
The 12,000MT/year project of melamine in Shandong Haihua Kuixing Co. Ltd. has been finished. The commercial production began in the end of 2000. The total investment for this project is RMB134 million. (Source: Chemical Techno-Economics)
 
MCD Facilities in BASF Shanghai(Last update: 11/29/2000)
The advanced production line of metal complex dyestuff (MCD) has been built in BASF Shanghai. This facility is an important part of the dyestuff department of BASF. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Cyclohexanone in Yingshan Chemical Co. (Last update: 11/27/2000)
Baling Petrochemical Yingshan Chemical Company enlarges the production capacity of cyclohexanone from 150Mt/day to 195Mt/day by technical improvement. Now they can sufficiently supply the cyclohexanone to the production of caprolactam. At present the production capacity of caprolactam in Yingshan Chemical Co. is 70,000MT/year. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Tianji Group Starts Commercial Production of Benzotriazole (Last update: 11/27/2000)
Shanxi Tianji Group invested RMB1 million to set up a production line of benzotriazole with capacity of 50MT/year. Apart from captive consumption, Tianji Group will sell most of this product to northern China, northeast China and northwest China. Part of the product will be exported. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Cangzhou Dahua TDI Technical Reform Succeeded (Last update: 11/27/2000)
The Technical improvement on TDI facilities in Cangzhou Dahua finished recently. Experts comment that the TDI facilities after improvement is qualifiable.TDI is the raw material for polyurethane. It is estimated that the demand for TDI in China is about 240,000MT/year. (Source: International Trade News)
 
A First Acrylate Manufacturer in Northwest China (Last update: 11/25/2000)
A first production line of acrylate in northwest China has been built in Xi'an Tianyun Industrial Co. Ltd.. The total capacity is 3,500MT/year. In the past, the acrylate products are produced mainly in Beijing Dongfang Chemical Factory. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
6,000MT/year Ethanolamine Production Line Put into Use (Last update: 11/22/2000)
Maoming Petrochemical Corp Shihua Company has set up a ethanolamine production line with capacity of 6,000MT/year. The total investment is RMB17 millions. The production technology comes from Zhejiang University. They use ethylene oxide and liquid ammonia as raw material for ethanolamine series. It is reported that Shihua company will further invest about RMB28 million to enlarge the production capacity of ethanolamine to 18,000MT/year in the future. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Butadiene-styrene-pyridine Project in Nantong (Last update: 11/20/2000)
Nantong Economic Technology Development Zone and Shenhua Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. signed an agreement recently to build a production line of butadiene-styrene-pyridine (BTP) with capacity of 20,000MT/year. The total investment is USD15 million. The construction will be carried out in two phases, with first phase to build a production line of 10,000MT/year. Shenhua Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. produces butadiene-styrene latex, with capacity of 100,000MT/year. Another raw material for BTP, pyridine, will be supplied by Ruili Chemical Co. Ltd., who is the joint venture of Nantong Acetic Acid Factory and a USA company. (Source: China Chemical News)
 
Yuanping Chemical Share More Oxalic Acid Market in China (Last update: 11/20/2000)
Yuanping Chemical Factory produce over 30 products. In recent years they have been focusing on oxalic acid, formic acid, sodium formate and sodium sulphate. In 1997 the production capacity of oxalic acid is 10,000MT/year, occupying 15% of Chinese market. They are now planning to enlarge the capacity of oxalic acid to 40,000MT/Year, sharing about 80% of the future market. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
The Largest Anthraquinone Oxide Project Started (Last update: 11/16/2000)
The largest anthrquinone oxide project was signed in Jining. The investors include Yunkuang Group, Jining Coal Chemical Co. and BEFS of France, who hold shares of 40%, 31% and 29%, respectively. The total investment is RMB259.4 million and total processing capacity of anthraquinone oil is 34,000MT/year. The designed production capacity of anthraquinone oxide is 2,000MT/Year and the capacity of carbazole is 1,200MT/year, both of which are derivatives of coal tar and are raw materials for pigment,dyestuff, papermaking chemical, etc. Now about 80% of the construction has been finished. It is expected that the commercial production will begin in the end of 2002. About 70% of the products will be exported through BEFS of France. Also it is estimated that the sales turnover will be RMB130 million. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
1-Amino-anthraquinone by Nitroammonolysis Method (Last update: 11/13/2000)
Nanjing Xinda Chemical Co. Ltd. got success in producing 1-amino anthraquinone by ammonolysis method. In the past, 1-amino anthraquinone is made first by nitration method, then by reduction with sodium sulphide. The COD value and sulphur content is high in the waste water. But by using the new method, the content of nitrosamine in the waste water is less then 2 ppm and the COD value is 150-200mg/L. (Source: China Chemical Information)
 
The largest Joint venture in China (Last update: October 2000)

The largest joint venture project in China, Nanhai Petroleum Project, was signed in Beijing on 28th Oct 2000. The total investment for this project is USD4 billion. The JV will locates in Guangdong Huizhou Dayawan Economic&Technology Zone.

The Nanhai Petroleum Project includes: 8 million Mt/year of crude oil processing, Production of ethylene (800,000Mt/year), polyethylene (450,000Mt/year), polypropylene (240,000Mt/year), styrene (560,000Mt/year), epoxypropane (45,000Mt/year), polyalcohol (195,000Mt/year), propylene glycol (60,000Mt/year), glycol (320,000Mt/year), butadiene (165,000Mt/year) and high quality gasoline (900,000Mt/year).

The investor of Nanhai project include Shell Nanhai Co. Ltd. (50%), China Ocean Petroleum Corp (40%), Guangdong Investment Corp(5%), Merchant Bureau (HK) (5%). It is predicted that the Nanhai Petroleum Project will offer 1,400 direct working position and over 1.4 million indirect working position to the local city.

 
Huayu Brand DSD (Last update: October 2000)
CNCCC Huayu Chemical Factory is now the famous factory in the world to produce DSD. Now the export of DSD from Huayu Factory accounts to about 70% of the total export in China. The annual profit in Huayu Factory is over RMB20 millions. The present production capacity of DSD is over 1,000Mt/year. It is reported that the quality of DSD from Huayu is higher than that of from a German company (Note: Maybe BASF). (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Dimethyl Carbonate Enlargement in Tangshan Finished (Last update: Sept 2000)
Tangshan Chaoyang Chemical General Factory has finished the enlargement project of dimethyl carbonate recently. Now the production capacity of dimethyl carbonate is 4,000Mt/year. It is reported that Tangshan Chaoyang wants to further enlarge the capacity to 6,000Mt/year in the future. Dimethyl carbonate is an important intermediate in chemical industry and pharmaceutical industry. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
A 1,000MT/year Production Line of Alkenyl Succinyl Anhydride(ASA) (Last update: Oct 2000)
Recently the first production line of alkenyl succinyl anhydride(ASA) with capacity of 1,000MT/year went into commercial production in Fushun Petrochemical Company No.5 Branch. (Source: Chemical Technology Market)
 
China Speeds up the Cooperation with Big Ones (Last update: 09/27/2000)
At present, the total production capacity of ethylene in China is 4.4 million MT/year. In the next 5-6 years China will set up 6 joint ventures with the big ones in the world to enlarge the capacity of ethylene by 4.3 million MT/year. It is estimated that the total investment for the new projects will be USD18 billion, 50% to 50% for Chinese part and oversea investors. It is disclosed that 5 of JV projects will locate in Eastern coast line. Some JV projects include:1) 650,000Mt/year of ethylene (in Jiangsu)with BASF.Total investment is USD2.65 billions. It is expected to finish in 2004. 2) The enlargement of 350,000Mt/year ethylene project, on base of the present level (650,000Mt/year), with BP-Amoco. It is expected to finish in 2005. 3) 800,000Mt/year ethylene project (in Huizhou) with Shell. Total investment is USD4.3 billions. This project has been approved. It is expected to finished in 2005.4)Other projects include the cooperation with Exxon Mobil (in Fujian), Dow Chemical (in Tianjin) and Philip (in Lanzhou). (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Development of Petroleum and Chemical Industry During the Ninth-Five-Year Plan (last update: 09/26/2000)
During the Ninth-Five-Year Plan the petroleum and chemical industry have been growing in both volume and value.In 1999 the total production value amounted to RMB 554.84 billion which increased more than 30% over that in 1995, and the net profit amounted to RMB30.93 billion, accounting for more 30% of the total profit from all the state-owned and state-holding enterprises. By the end of 1999 the capacity of main chemicals had been greatly promoted:ethylene capacity was 4.346 millionMt/year, the fifth in the world; the processing capacity of petroleum was 270 millionMt/year, the third in the world; the processing ability of petroleum is 176 millionMt/year; the production of the three main kind of oil(gasline,diesel oil,kerocene) is 105 millionMt/year. China was the sixth in the world in production capacity of synthetic resin.(Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
A Large Melamine Factory Established in Shandong (Last update: 09/25/200)
Shandong Haihua Kuixing Chemical Co.Ltd has enlarged the production capacity of melamine to 30,000MT/year, costing over RMB134 million. The equipment is designed and installed by themselves. They are using low pressure method. So far they claimed to be the biggest melamine producers in China. (Source: China Chemical Industry News)
 
Largest Production Line of Furan (Last update: July 2000)
The 2,000Mt/year production line of furan has been built in Zhejiang Fanghua Group Chemical Factory. They use furfural as raw material and adopt decarbonization technology. The purity of the product can reach 99%. (Source: Fine and Special Chemicals)
 
Diphenol Derivatives Production Line in Jiangsu (Last update: July 2000)
The largest production line of diphenol, methyl catechol, was built in Jiangsu Wuxi Jade Fine Chemical Co. Ltd. The production capacity is 400Mt/year. The methyl catechol is used to make flavor, fragrance, food additive and pharmaceutical intermediate. This company is a joint venture of Rodia of France and a Japanese company. So far Rodia has 9 joint ventures and 3 wholly owned ventures in China. The total investment of Rodia in China is about USD200 millions. (Source: Fine and Special Chemical)
 
10,000Mt/year Chloroacetic by Acetic Acid Anhydride Method (Last update: June 2000)
Wuxi Chemical Group is constructing another production line of chloroacetic acid (5,000Mt/year) on base of the current line (5,000Mt/year). The total production capacity of choloracetic acid will reach to 10,000Mt/year after the finish of construction by end of this year. Wuxi Chemical Group will use acetic anhydride method instead of sulfur method. It is reported that Wuxi Chemical Group invested about RMB5 millions for the construction. (Source: China Petroleum and Chemical)
 
18,000Mt/Year Glyoxal in Shanghai (Last update: July 2000)
Shanghai Sulfuric Acid Factory developed glyoxal in 1998. In 1999 they build a production line of glyoxal with 8,000Mt/year. In 2000, they build another production of glyoxal (10,000Mt/year). So far the total production capacity in Shanghai Sulfuric Acid Factory is 18,000Mt/year, the largest one in Asia. In the past, the Chinese market of glyoxal is occupied by Germany, Japan. (Source: Chemical Technology Market)
 
t-Butyl Amine in Shandong (Last update:June 2000)
Shandong Heze Zhengxing Economic & Trading Company has built a production line of t-butylamine with capacity of 2,000Mt/year. In the past China relies on the import of this product. Now it is expected that the Shandong Factory can satisfy partly the domestic demand (about 10,000Mt/year). (Source: Chemical Technology Market)