Mitsubishi Gas to increase meta-xylene production by 70,000 tonnes

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc (MGC) will resume the operation of a line of meta-xylene (MX) production equipment in March 2017. Purified isophthalic acid (PIA), a major application of MX, has been increasing by four to five percent every year, leading to good prospects for future growth in meta-xylene demand. 

Since November 2013, MGC has stopped one line of its MX production equipment (comprising two lines with 220,000 tonne annual capacity in total). The stopped line has an annual capacity of 70,000 tonnes. Meanwhile the shutdown of meta-xylene production equipment by competitors has been tightening the supply and demand balance for MX.

To coincide with the completion of the turnaround of the line currently in operation (with annual capacity of 150,000 tonnes), Mitsubishi Gas Chemical will accordingly resume the operation of the stopped line of MX equipment in March 2017.

With the restart of the production line, MGC will help accommodate the growing demand for meta-xylene.