US olefins producer LyondellBasell has completed its 800 million lb/year (363,000 mt/year) ethylene expansion at the Corpus Christi, Texas, site, the company said Thursday.
"The project increases ethylene capacity at the facility by 50%, from 1.7 billion lb/year to 2.5 billion lb/year, and completes the company's multi-year plan to increase annual ethylene capacity in the US by two billion pounds," the company said in a statement.
It will take LyondellBasell approximately two-three months before the expansion starts running at full capacity, a trader source said.
A LyondellBasell spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment.
CEO Bob Patel said in early November that LyondellBasell had completed commissioning at the Corpus Christi cracker and would restart it in November after a 120-day planned turnaround that started in mid-April.
In spot markets Thursday, ethylene for January deliveries was heard traded twice at 32 cents/lb MtB Wms. February deliveries was heard at a bid-offer range at 31.75-32.625 cents/lb MtB Wms and traded for Mont Belvieu Other pipeline delivery at 32.875 cents/lb.
S&P Global Platts last assessed spot ethylene Wednesday at 31.25-31.75 cents/lb FD USG for January deliveries and at 31.625-32.125 cents/lb FD USG for February deliveries.
