US olefins producer Westlake Chemical has shut its Petro-2 steam cracker in Lake Charles, Louisiana, while it carries out expansion work, the company said Thursday.
The expansion of the 565,000 mt/year cracker will be carried out in conjunction with a planned turnaround, both of which should be completed within about 60 days, the company said.
The expansion will increase the facility's ethane-based ethylene production capacity by 105,000 mt/year, the company said.
The planned turnaround was originally scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012.
Westlake plans to expand its 545,00 mt/year Petro-1 cracker at the same complex sometime in 2015.
In the spot ethylene market, January was heard offered at 65.75 cents/lb Mont Belvieu Williams pipeline basis against no bids Thursday. Spot ethylene was assessed Wednesday at 64-64.50 cents/lb FD USG.
