Fuhaichuang Petroleum and Petrochemical is preparing to recommence operations at its orthoxylene (OX) plant in Gulei by the end of August 2025, according to a Polymerduniya source. The plant, which has been offline since late June for maintenance, is scheduled to restart at the close of the month. The facility boasts a substantial annual production capacity of 240,000 tonnes, underlining its role in the region’s aromatics supply chain.
The Gulei complex itself has a storied history. Formerly known as Dragon Aromatics, the site was restructured and renamed Fuhaichuang after a catastrophic fire in 2015, which triggered a three-year shutdown. It has since resumed operations, now under the joint ownership of Fuhua Gulei Petrochemical and Dragon Aromatics (with Fuhua holding 90 percent ownership). Additionally, the Gulei petrochemical hub houses a broader aromatics complex, including paraxylene (PX) and benzene units, highlighting its strategic importance to the local petrochemical infrastructure.
With the orthoxylene unit soon reinstated, the Gulei site is inching closer to full operational capacity, an encouraging development amid strong demand for derivatives like polyester and other downstream products. As the market watches closely, this restart could bolster supply stability in regional aromatic markets and possibly help ease tightness in end-product feedstocks.
