韩国小型石脑油裂解装置面临关停

Group 1 - The South Korean petrochemical industry is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring due to oversupply, with small independent naphtha cracking units potentially facing shutdowns and some facilities considering mergers to cope with the crisis [1] - The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the top ten petrochemical companies in Korea have agreed to cut naphtha cracking capacity by 2.7 to 3.7 million tons per year, which is equivalent to 25% of the current total capacity, aiming to alleviate the long-term oversupply situation and improve industry profit margins [1] - Wood Mackenzie's chemicals division head, Catherine Tan, indicated that the restructuring's impact on naphtha demand may exceed that of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as 82% of ethylene production in Korea relies on naphtha as a feedstock [1] Group 2 - SK Innovation is considering various options, including shutting down a naphtha cracking unit, while analysts suggest that YNCC, the third-largest ethylene producer in Korea, may close 1 to 2 of its 3 cracking units [2] - Hyundai Heavy Industries is in talks with Lotte Chemical regarding the acquisition of its naphtha cracking unit or a business merger, with Lotte being the second-largest ethylene producer in Korea [2]