A source in Taiwan reports that Formosa Plastics Corporation (FPC) is planning a maintenance turnaround at its acrylonitrile (ACN) unit in Mailiao in the July-August 2026 timeframe. The source noted that the precise date and shutdown duration have not yet been finalized, and FPC has not issued an official confirmation.
The ACN unit in question carries an annual production capacity of 280,000 metric tons, making it a major player in the region’s acrylonitrile supply chain. If the maintenance outage proceeds as anticipated, the impact could be felt downstream in sectors that rely heavily on ACN for production of acrylic fibres, resins, and synthetic rubbers.
Market watchers are now assessing how this expected maintenance might influence ACN availability and pricing in Taiwan and neighbouring Asian markets. With inventories already under pressure in some areas, a prolonged shutdown could tighten supply, potentially leading to increased import activity or upward pricing adjustments.
Also under scrutiny will be FPC’s ability to manage the turnaround efficiently. Key considerations include securing spare parts, workforce scheduling, and maintaining safety and environmental compliance. Given the scale of the unit and its role, the shutdown may serve as a barometer of how robust supply resilience is in Asia’s ACN markets ahead of mid-2026.
