Japan's Asahi Kasei cut acrylonitrile operating rates further over the weekend on poor margins, a company source said Tuesday.
The company lowered the run rate at its 150,000 mt/year acrylonitrile plant at Kawasaki to below 75%, from 80% previously. It also cut runs at the acrylonitrile plants operated by wholly owned subsidiary Tongsuh Petrochemical to 80%, from 100% previously, the source said.
Tongsuh Petrochemical operates a 70,000 mt/year plant and a 230,000 mt/year unit, both at Ulsan in South Korea.
Asahi Kasei in May shut its 100,000 mt/year ACN plant at Mizushima and lowered the run rate at its ACN plant at Kawasaki to 80%. The company's 200,000 mt/year ACN plant at Mizushima has been operating at full capacity throughout, the source said.
The Asian ACN price has been falling since April 3, shedding 37% to close at $1,500/mt CFR Far East Asia on July 3, according to Platts data.
