Hyundai Chemical is preparing for a planned shutdown of its polypropylene (PP) units in Daesan, South Korea, in what could become a significant supply event for the Asian market heading into year-end.
Market sources informed that the company is expected to take both units offline around October 13, 2025, with operations scheduled to resume by December 14, 2025. While an official confirmation from Hyundai Chemical has not yet been issued, industry participants said preliminary discussions with downstream buyers and traders suggest the shutdown plan is moving forward.
The Daesan complex houses two polypropylene units with a combined production capacity of 500,000 mt/year, making it a critical supplier in the regional PP chain. A prolonged outage during Q4 could tighten availability just as demand from downstream packaging, automotive, and consumer goods sectors typically begins to improve.
Traders in Asia indicated that the news has already sparked conversations about potential substitution strategies and the possibility of increased imports from the Middle East or China if South Korean supply dips. However, with global macroeconomic conditions still fragile and demand recovery uncertain, the full impact on pricing remains to be seen.
