In a sign of shifting dynamics in China’s polyester raw-material landscape, INEOS Zhuhai is reportedly gearing up to bring its No.3 Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) plant back online in early October, following a maintenance shutdown that began on September 23, 2025. A source based in China told an industry team member that “the company plans to restart the unit in the first half of October 2025,” though no confirmation has come from official spokespeople.
Situated in Zhuhai, the No.3 facility carries an annual capacity of 1.25 million metric tons, making it one of the site’s major PTA assets. The timing of its reactivation could bring relief to buyers facing tight supplies, but also weigh on PTA prices if downstream demand lacks strength.
The shutdown, albeit temporary, created uncertainty in supply chains, prompting speculation across crude, aromatics, and polyester sectors about how quickly demand will absorb the restart volumes. For INEOS, the decision to resume also suggests confidence in market fundamentals or at least in better stability ahead.
While the source’s timeline is plausible, market stakeholders will be watching for confirmations, change orders, or feedstock allocations that typically accompany a PTA unit restart. The interplay of supply, demand, and logistics could define whether this restart adds clarity or additional volatility to already delicate polyester value chains.
