India's IG delays completion of PA plant expansion to mid-2013

India's largest phthalic anhydride producer, IG Petrochemicals, now plans to complete the expansion of its PA plant at Taloja by mid-2013, a year later than initially scheduled, a company source said Monday.

The reason for the delay is not known.

When completed, the plant, located near Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, will have a capacity of 160,000 mt/year, from 110,000 mt/year previously.

Market sources estimate that demand for PA in India is about 300,000 mt/year, more than 90% of which is met by domestic producers.

The other PA producers in India are Thirumalai Chemicals, which has a 140,000 mt/year plant at Ranipet near Chennai; and Mysore Petrochemicals, a sister company of IG Petrochemicals, which has a 12,000 mt/year plant at Raichur in the southern state of Karnataka.