Shell Chemicals has announced a planned maintenance program for its ethylene glycol (EG) and ethylene oxide (EO) units at the Geismar, Louisiana site, scheduled for August 2025. According to industry sources, the company will temporarily halt operations at both units, though exact dates and downtime are yet to be confirmed. The EG unit capacity stands at approximately 430,000 mt/year, while the EO plant adds another 415,000 mt/year of production capability.
Separately, Celanese is preparing to shut down its acetic acid unit in Nanjing, with maintenance expected to begin mid‑August 2025. A source in Singapore revealed that the unit will be taken off line for undisclosed duration, pending approval. The Nanjing facility is a major asset in Celanese’s global acetyl chain operations, with significant acetic acid output.
These planned outages in North America and Asia are poised to tighten regional supply chains temporarily. The EG/EO shutdown in Geismar could affect glycol and epoxide derivatives supply, while the acetic acid pause in Nanjing may disrupt downstream production of esters and other vinyl chemicals.
