China's Tianjin Soda Plant started up its new 500,000 mt/year methanol plant in the Binhai harbor industrial area in northeastern China earlier in October and has achieved on-spec output, a company source said Monday. The startup had been delayed several times after it was originally scheduled for July 2010 due to weather woes, technical issues and poor market conditions.
The plant is currently operating at less than 50% capacity, but the company expects to raise production levels higher in November.
The source was unable to provide exact run rates for November, but added that spot sales from the facility will be minimal in the initial period as the company will be using its methanol output for captive use.
Tianjin Soda owns a 200,000 mt/year acetic acid plant downstream from its methanol plant that it is due to start up by the end of October.
