Exxon mulls new multi-billion-dollar chemicals complex in China

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EXXONMOBIL is considering building a multi-billion-dollar chemicals complex in China’s Guangdong Province to meet the country growing demand for chemicals.

The company says it has signed a co-operative framework agreement with local authorities to discuss the project, which would include a 1.2m t/y ethylene flexible-feed steam cracker, two production lines for performance polyethylene and two for performance polypropylene. It would be built at the Huizhou Dayawan Petrochemical Industrial Park with startup planned for 2023.

ExxonMobil said the new complex would use advanced proprietary technologies in direct crude steam cracking and performance polymers manufacturing. 

China is the world’s largest chemicals market with a market share of around 40%. ExxonMobil’s investment would contribute towards the country’s push to rely less on imports. It follows BASF’s announcement in July that it is also considering building a major complex in Guangdong. BASF says the investment could reach US$10bn and the highly-integrated complex would include a steam cracker with a production capacity of 1m t/y of ethylene.  

ExxonMobil also confirmed it plans to participate in plans to build an LNG-receiving terminal in Guangdong, as well as supply LNG.

The US major’s plans to expand production includes building 13 new facilities in Asia Pacific and North America, including two world-scale steam crackers in the US. It recently began operating a 1.5m t/y ethane cracker at its integrated chemicals and refining complex in Texas, US.