In China, operation rates of styrene monomer (SM) production facilities are on the rise in January compared with December. Several facilities that underwent turnaround and lowered production thus far resumed operations one by one in January. The operation rates were reportedly at 65-75% in December.

SM facilities including Zibo Junchen, Ningbo Keyuan, Ningbo Daxie, Zhejiang Petrochemical, Anhuijiaxi, Lianyungang Petrochemical and Sinochem Quanzhou were adjusting operations until December. Further, SM facilities of Qilu Petrochemical were halted because of a lack of feedstocks as upstream naphtha crackers suspended operations due to a fire.