Japan, Mitsubishi Chemical Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. (Dia-Nitrix) plans to perform routine inspections of 90,000-ton/year acrylonitrile units in Otake from September 19th to November 4th, with Sumitomo Chemical) plans to close the 70,000-ton/year acrylonitrile plant in Niihama, Ehime prefecture in mid-September, shutting down for up to three weeks. In addition, Asahi Kasei plans to shut down the 150,000-tonne/year acrylonitrile plant in Kawasaki in November and is expected to stop for a month.

South Korea, Asahi Kasei Subsidiary Dongxu Petrochemical plans to shut down 70,000 t/y and 230,000 t/y acrylonitrile units in Ulsan in October.

In Taiwan, Sinopec Taiwan plans to overhaul the 240,000 tonne/year acrylonitrile plant in Taishe in October-November. It plans to stop the two lines for 15 days for inspection, but the exact time is not yet determined. Sources said that customers in mainland China and Taiwan are making inquiries, but firm talks are limited because manufacturers maintain a plant operating rate of 70-80%. September spot cargo supply is minimal.