Asia/Pacific
India’s HPCL to invest $3.8B to expand refining capacity by two-thirds
HPCL will boost the capacity of its Mumbai refinery to 190,000 bpd by July 2019 from 130,000 bpd, while the Vizag refinery will ramp up to 300,000 bpd from 166,000 bpd by July 2020.
China calls for talks after Costa Rica abandons $1.5B refinery project
The refinery upgrading project has been paralyzed since 2013 by Costa Rica's comptroller after complaints of conflicts of interest in the feasibility studies.
India’s JBF secures paraxylene supply from ONGC
JBF Petrochemicals is in the process of commissioning a PTA plant with 1.25 MMtpy of capacity, using technology from BP, at Mangalore. The paraxylene will be supplied by OMPL.
China’s crude import growth slows as refining inventories swell
Independent refineries in China have been ramping up their crude processing rates and boosting fuel sales as low global oil prices provide higher margins.
Total to broaden LNG cooperation with Korea Gas
The agreement is designed to jointly identify and pursue opportunities to develop the LNG market in Asia and in new importing countries, Total said in a statement.
Air Liquide to supply gases for petrochemical unit of China’s Sinopec
Expected to start operations in the second quarter of 2017, the new ASU will supply industrial gases including oxygen and nitrogen to the customer's new ethylene oxide plant as well as to its existing one.
Global chemicals output shows monthly growth
During February, chemical production rose in North America, Western Europe, and Asia-Pacific; was flat in Africa & the Middle East; and fell in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe.
LyondellBasell acquires Indian polypropylene compounding assets
LyondellBasell entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zylog's polypropylene (PP) compounding assets in November 2015, and the deal was formally completed on Thursday.
Asian refiners turn to Middle East’s heavy crudes over Latin America
Latin American crude sold to Asia fell 1% in the first three months of 2016 from a year ago, while Middle East exports to Asia rose 7% in the first quarter, according to new data.
Strong oil demand from China’s teapot refiners drives tanker jam
China's independent refiners, freed of government constraints after securing permission to import just last year, have gorged on plentiful low-cost crude in 2016. This has created delays for tankers that have quadrupled to between 20 to 30 days at Qingdao port in Shandong province.
- U.S. labor board judge rules Exxon's Texas refinery union lockout was legal 11/28
- U.S. crude stocks fall, gasoline and distillate inventories rise 11/28
- Maersk could use 15%–20% alternative fuels for its fleet in 2030 11/28
- Germany's BSW pushes to restore Russian oil to Schwedt refinery, seeks regional legitimacy 11/28
- Asia likely to benefit from cheaper Canadian, Mexican oil if Trump imposes tariffs 11/28
- Singapore distillates stocks tick up for fifth week 11/28
