PODCAST: Ethane cracking gains favor in China on better margins

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Ethane is gaining favor as the feedstock for steam crackers in China, as its competitive prices make ethane-cracking the most profitable route for ethylene production compared to other options.

Join ICIS LPG analysts Lillian Ren and Yan Wang as they discuss how Chinese steam crackers are eyeing ethane as a cracking feedstock.

• Several steam cracker operators in China plan to revamp and switch to cracking more or only ethane instead of propane.
• Propane/butane still takes a larger share than ethane in steam cracker feedstock slates.
• The cost advantage of ethane will narrow with increasing demand and a single global source.

Clarification: The podcast has been re-uploaded to reflect Wanhua Chemical’s plans to transition the feedstock of its No 1 steam cracker from propane to ethane. The headline has also been recast for clarity.