Market sources informed SSESSMENTS.COM that Chinese propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant operators increased their combined average run rates to 85% of capacity in June from 81% in May and 81% a year earlier. The average PDH runs were higher last month after two PDH plants ramping up rates following shutdowns and despite two other PDH plants cutting run rates due to technical issues.
The sources told SSESSMENTS.COM that Tianjin Bohai increased operating rates at its PDH unit in northern China to 80% in June from 40% in May when it experienced unstable operations. Meanwhile, Yantai Wanhua in Shandong pushed rates to 50% in June from 39% in May after resuming operation on June 10 following a planned turnaround starting on May 14.
On the other hand, Shaoxing Sanyuan in Zhejiang lowered PDH runs to 67% in June from 80% in May as it experienced technical issues on June 18-22. Ningbo Haiyue in Zhejiang province also faced technical glitches on June 25-27 which forced its PDH runs to fall to 90% in June from 100% in May. Market sources also informed SSESSMENTS.COM that Dongguan Juzhengyuan had shut its PDH unit since July 5 for maintenance for about six weeks.
