Gulei Petrochemical’s 600 KTA Styrene Unit Restarts Successfully, Cross-Strait Largest Petrochemical JV Speeds Up Full Resumption

Gulei Petrochemical’s Styrene Unit Achieves One-Time Successful Restart, The Largest Cross-Strait Petrochemical Joint Venture Accelerates Full Production Recovery

On June 26, 2026, the styrene monomer (SM) unit of Fujian Gulei Petrochemical Co., Ltd. completed smooth restart on the first attempt, delivering a critical milestone toward the company’s full production resumption target.

1. Smooth 4-Day Full Process Commissioning

The restart followed a well-organized, seamlessly connected schedule with full safety control across all phases:

• June 22: Furnace ignition and temperature rise, officially entering the startup phase
• 9:00, June 23: Benzene feed introduced to build circulation loops
• 21:00, June 25: Ethylene feed injected into the reaction system
• June 26: Full successful restart of the styrene unit

The whole cycle from ignition to qualified product output took merely four days without any rework, laying a solid foundation for long-term stable, safe, high-efficiency and low-consumption operation in the next production cycle.

The restart decision was made based on clear operational and economic logic. Facing tough industry operating pressures, the company prioritized units with sound marginal profit margins and listed the styrene plant as the top restart target for late June, reflecting precise judgment on profit margins amid market headwinds.

2. Company Profile: The Largest Cross-Strait Petrochemical Joint Venture

Founded in November 2016, Fujian Gulei Petrochemical Co., Ltd. is a 50:50 joint venture between Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co., Ltd. and Xuteng Investment Co., Ltd. It operates Phase I of the Gulei Refining & Chemical Integration Project and ranks as the largest cross-strait petrochemical joint venture.

Centered on a 1 million tons per year ethylene cracking unit, the complex supports eight downstream processing lines to form a complete industrial chain of olefin and aromatic derivatives:

The firm stably supplies 18 types of basic chemical and polymer materials, supported by five berths with an annual throughput capacity of around 7.8 million tons. After full commercial launch at the end of 2022, production capacity has steadily climbed to over 95% of design load, establishing a vital olefin and aromatic supply hub along China’s southeast coast.

3. Industry Impacts: Restart Reshapes East China’s Styrene Supply Landscape

With a 600,000 tons/year capacity, the styrene unit is classified as a large-scale domestic facility. Its successful restart brings two major market changes:

1. Supply Side Adjustment: The return of Gulei’s styrene output will directly replenish spot supply across East and Southeast China, gradually narrowing the supply gap created by previous shutdowns; traders should prepare for periodic shifts in styrene price levels.

Resumption Signal: The styrene unit’s restart acts as a precursor to the group’s full plant recovery. The subsequent restart timeline of ethylene glycol, EVA, polypropylene and other units will be key market monitoring points. In particular, the 760,000 tons/year EG plant will exert notable downward pressure on South China glycol spot prices once brought online.