Three Sinopec regional subsidiaries have achieved milestone overseas export breakthroughs recently. Zhongyuan Petrochemical exported bio-based polyolefins to Japan for high-end packaging use, Qilu Petrochemical delivered its first batch of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber for overseas shipment, and Guangzhou Petrochemical supplied ethylbenzene to Hong Kong for the first time. All cross-border businesses were completed via in-depth coordination with Sinopec Chemical Sales branches.
Sinopec Zhongyuan Petrochemical jointly cooperated with Sinopec Chemical Sales Company to expand downstream application scenarios of bio-based polyolefin raw materials, successfully promoting the products into Japan’s high-end inflatable cushioning packaging market. Before formal export, the two teams conducted in-depth downstream market research to track real-time industry trends and clarify customized performance requirements of overseas packaging manufacturers.
High-end inflatable cushioning packaging puts forward strict requirements on air tightness, heat sealing performance and cross-material adhesion, which were long-term technical pain points for conventional polyolefin materials. Zhongyuan Petrochemical launched integrated production, sales, R&D and user collaborative work. Its internal technical team maintained long-term direct communication with Japanese end customers, conducting multiple rounds of sample delivery and field performance testing. By optimizing molecular formula and fine-tuning continuous production parameters, the bio-based polyolefins passed strict third-party quality screening. The products have obtained positive customer feedback after large-scale practical application in Japanese packaging production lines.
Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical completed the shipment of 5 tons of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), marking the first bulk overseas export since the HNBR production unit was put into operation. HNBR is a high-performance synthetic rubber featured with outstanding heat resistance, anti-oxidation capability and chemical corrosion stability. It is widely adopted in rigorous industrial scenarios including aerospace equipment, onshore and offshore petroleum exploitation, and high-load transportation vehicle spare parts.
The localized HNBR industrialization technology belongs to a key national-level scientific research project under Sinopec’s major technical breakthrough roadmap. Qilu Petrochemical carried out long-term stable unit operation optimization and repeated technical iterations. After performance upgrading, the vulcanization speed of its self-produced HNBR outperforms mainstream imported overseas counterparts, while core indicators such as tensile strength reach international top-tier standards. The enterprise has realized serialized, customized and high-end HNBR mass production to meet differentiated industrial procurement demands.
The cross-functional production, R&D and sales team adopted online industry seminars and offline customer visits to map global downstream demand. By expanding peripheral application scenarios beyond traditional rubber parts, Qilu Petrochemical has continuously improved the international cost and performance competitiveness of its HNBR products.
Sinopec Guangzhou Petrochemical dispatched the first ethylbenzene tanker to Hong Kong, which means the company has officially opened a stable cross-border sales channel for liquid chemical products in the Hong Kong market. Guangzhou Petrochemical coordinated closely with Sinopec South China Chemical Sales and Sinopec Chemical Sales International Trading teams.
While maintaining stable supply for existing domestic clients, the joint teams analyzed Hong Kong fine chemical raw material supply gaps and captured timely procurement demands from local Hong Kong manufacturers. Benefiting from superior product purity and geographical logistics advantages in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou Petrochemical signed the cross-border ethylbenzene supply contract successfully. The teams finished all pre-shipment procedures within a short timeframe, including customs declaration approval, official sample inspection and customized liquid tanker connector transformation to meet Hong Kong import safety standards.
