Recently, a number of events have pushed the construction of PX and other related chemical fiber raw materials to the cusp of the storm, causing the industry to ponder over the quality and safety of petrochemical projects.

PX and PTA are our country. chemical fiber The important raw material of industry has been in the hands of foreigners for a long time. In 2002, as China's policy on PTA (restricted terephthalic acid) was changed from restriction to encouragement, the demand that the domestic market had been suppressed rapidly broke out, and directly stimulated the demand of upstream PX, making the consumption of PX increased sharply in the next 5 years. Data show that China's PX output increased from 840 thousand tons in 1995 to 2 million 250 thousand tons in 2005, while imports increased from 10 thousand tons in 1995 to 1 million 550 thousand tons in 2005, and import dependency reached 41.8% in 2005.

In order to meet the demand for raw materials for economic growth and reduce dependence on exports, the national development and Reform Commission put forward the "PX 11th Five-Year construction project layout plan" issued in 2006. During the "11th Five-Year" period, the state will arrange 4 PX expansion projects, with an additional capacity of 1 million 830 thousand tons, and 6 new PX projects, with an additional capacity of 4 million 150 thousand tons. After the completion of all the projects, China's PX production capacity will exceed 10 million tons.

PX projects that have been built in China are mainly distributed in the cause. Developed economy The coastal areas with strong demand for chemical enterprises extend from Hainan (to be built), Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu to Liaoning. Many factories consider that logistics and other factors are located near the port with convenient waterways, and these areas are often prone to typhoons in summer. Therefore, it is particularly important to improve the coping ability of these new enterprises in the face of natural disasters. As the PTA plant also has to set up PX storage tanks, the new PTA plant should take into account all the factors affecting safety.

At present, PX projects are still under construction or under construction. PX industry Many people are optimistic. Li Dong chemical industry, which is located in Qingdao economic and Technological Development Zone of Qingdao City, Shandong Province, was officially put into operation in 2007, and the PX production capacity reached 630 thousand tons / year. The annual PX production capacity of PetroChina Liaoyang Petrochemical Company will increase from 250 thousand tons to 450 thousand tons to 700 thousand tons, and it will also increase to 1 million 600 thousand tons / year.

In 2007, the PX capacity of Yangzi Petrochemical Company in Nanjing has reached 800 thousand tons / year. At that time, the domestic demand for raw materials for chemical fiber increased sharply, resulting in a rapid increase in the investment in PTA, the main raw material for polyester feedstock, and then a large demand for PTA raw material PX. According to the website information of Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd. has over 60 large petrochemical units including 1 million 400 thousand tons / year aromatics. Investing nearly 10 billion yuan to build a PX chemical project, in the eyes of the local government, increasing taxes is only one aspect, and more is to pull the development of the entire industrial chain.

However, the recent relocation of some PX projects may lead to tight domestic PX supply and affect raw material procurement in downstream PTA industries. At the same time, the difficulty of examination and approval of new PX projects may increase in the future, which is not conducive to the long-term expansion and production of the petrochemical industry, but it is of great significance for the sustained, stable and healthy development of the petrochemical industry.

In the next few years, China will usher in a peak period of investment whether PTA or polyester industry. As a newly built factory or installation, we should do well in site selection and other safety work, and handle the relationship between economic benefits and environmental protection.