PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical has reportedly resumed operations at its No.1 High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) unit in Jilin, China, following a planned maintenance turnaround. Market sources in China informed that the company is believed to have brought the unit back online around September 4, 2025. The facility had been taken offline at the end of July for scheduled maintenance work, aimed at ensuring the long-term reliability and efficiency of operations.
Although the restart date has been circulating within industry circles, the information has not yet been officially confirmed by an authorized representative of the company. Still, the news has already captured the attention of market participants, as supply restarts from major producers often carry implications for availability and pricing dynamics in the regional polyethylene market.
The No.1 HDPE unit, which has an annual production capacity of 320,000 metric tons, is a significant contributor to China’s domestic supply of polyethylene, a material widely used in packaging, containers, pipes, and various household and industrial applications. The restoration of production capacity is expected to ease any temporary tightness in supply that may have been felt during the maintenance period, particularly as demand remains steady in several downstream industries.
Traders and industry watchers are now closely observing how the restart may influence spot prices and inventory levels in the weeks ahead. While turnarounds are a routine part of plant operations, their timing often plays an important role in shaping short-term market sentiment. In this case, the return of a major HDPE facility could help stabilize supply conditions just as the market transitions into the final quarter of the year.
As the industry awaits official confirmation from PetroChina, the resumption of the Jilin HDPE unit stands as another reminder of how closely linked plant operations are with regional trade flows, market balances, and price movements in the polymers sector.
