The Chinese chemical industry is rapidly overtaking in multiple industries and has now formed an "invisible champion" in bulk chemicals and individual fields. Multiple "first" series articles in the Chinese chemical industry have been produced according to different latitudes. This article mainly reviews the largest chemical production enterprises in China based on different dimensions of chemical production scale.

1. China's largest producer of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, pure benzene, xylene, ethylene glycol polyethylene, polypropylene, and styrene: Zhejiang Petrochemical

China's total ethylene production capacity has exceeded 50 million tons/year. In this figure, Zhejiang Petrochemical contributed 4.2 million tons/year of ethylene production capacity, accounting for 8.4% of China's total ethylene production capacity, making it the largest ethylene production enterprise in China. In 2022, ethylene production exceeded 4.2 million tons per year, and the average operating rate even exceeded the full load state. As a benchmark for the prosperity of the chemical industry, ethylene plays an important role in the extension of the chemical industry chain, and its production scale directly affects the comprehensive competitiveness of enterprises.

Zhejiang Petrochemical's total propylene production capacity reached 63 million tons/year in 2022, while its own propylene production capacity was 3.3 million tons/year, accounting for 5.2% of China's total propylene production capacity, making it the largest propylene production enterprise in China. Zhejiang Petrochemical has also gained advantages in the fields of butadiene, pure benzene, and xylene, accounting for 11.3% of China's total butadiene production capacity, 12% of China's total pure benzene production capacity, and 10.2% of China's total xylene production capacity, respectively.

In the field of polyethylene, Zhejiang Petrochemical has an annual production capacity of over 2.25 million tons and has 6 units, with the largest single unit having a production capacity of 450000 tons/year. Against the backdrop of China's total polyethylene production capacity exceeding 31 million tons/year, Zhejiang Petrochemical's production capacity accounts for 7.2%. Similarly, Zhejiang Petrochemical also has a strong performance in the polypropylene field, with an annual production of over 1.8 million tons and four units, with an average production capacity of 450000 tons per unit, accounting for 4.5% of China's total polypropylene production capacity.

Zhejiang Petrochemical's ethylene glycol production capacity has reached 2.35 million tons/year, accounting for 8.84% of China's total ethylene glycol production capacity, making it the largest ethylene glycol production enterprise in China. Ethylene glycol, as an important basic raw material in the polyester industry, its production capacity directly affects the scale of the polyester industry. Zhejiang Petrochemical's leading position in the ethylene glycol field is complementary to the supporting development of its group companies, Rongsheng Petrochemical and CICC Petrochemical, forming a collaborative model of the industrial chain, which is of great significance for enhancing its competitiveness.

In addition, Zhejiang Petrochemical also performs strongly in the styrene field, with a styrene production capacity of 1.8 million tons/year, accounting for 8.9% of China's total production capacity. Zhejiang Petrochemical has two sets of styrene units, with the largest production capacity reaching 1.2 million tons per year, making it one of the largest single unit production enterprises in China. This unit was put into operation in February 2020.

2. China's largest toluene production enterprise: Sinochem Quanzhou

China's total production capacity of toluene has reached 25.4 million tons per year. Among them, Sinopec Quanzhou's toluene production capacity is 880000 tons/year, making it the largest toluene production enterprise in China, accounting for 3.5% of China's total toluene production capacity. The second largest is Sinopec Hainan Refinery, with a toluene production capacity of 848000 tons/year, accounting for 3.33% of China's total toluene production capacity.

3. China's largest PX and PTA production enterprise: Hengli Petrochemical

Hengli Petrochemical's PX production capacity is close to 10 million tons/year, accounting for 21% of China's total PX production capacity, and is the largest PX production enterprise in China. The second largest company is Zhejiang Petrochemical, with a PX production capacity of 9 million tons/year, accounting for 19% of China's total PX production capacity. There is not much difference in production capacity between the two.

PX downstream is the main raw material for PTA, and Hengli Petrochemical's PTA production capacity has reached 11.6 million tons/year, making it the largest PTA production enterprise in China, accounting for approximately 15.5% of the total PTA scale in China. The second place is Zhejiang Yisheng New Materials, with a PTA production capacity of 7.2 million tons/year.

4. China's largest ABS manufacturer: Ningbo Lejin Yongxing Chemical

Ningbo Lejin Yongxing Chemical's ABS production capacity is 850000 tons/year, accounting for 11.8% of China's total ABS production capacity. It is the largest ABS production enterprise in China, and its equipment was put into operation in 1995, always ranking first as a leading ABS enterprise in China.

5. China's largest acrylonitrile production enterprise: Sierbang Petrochemical

The production capacity of Silbang Petrochemical's acrylonitrile is 780000 tons/year, accounting for 18.9% of China's total acrylonitrile production capacity, and it is the largest acrylonitrile production enterprise in China. Among them, the acrylonitrile unit is divided into three sets, each with a capacity of 260000 tons/year, and was first put into operation in 2015.

6. China's largest manufacturer of acrylic acid and ethylene oxide: Satellite Chemistry

Satellite Chemistry is the largest manufacturer of acrylic acid in China, with an acrylic acid production capacity of 660000 tons/year, accounting for 16.8% of China's total acrylic acid production capacity. Satellite Chemistry has three sets of acrylic acid plants, with the largest single plant having a production capacity of 300000 tons per year. In addition, it also provides downstream products such as butyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and SAP, becoming the most complete production enterprise in China's acrylic acid industry chain and possessing an important position and influence in the Chinese acrylic acid market.

Satellite Chemistry is also the largest ethylene oxide production enterprise in China, with a production capacity of 1.23 million tons/year, accounting for 13.5% of China's total ethylene oxide production capacity. Ethylene oxide is widely used downstream, including polycarboxylic acid water reducing agent monomers, non ionic surfactants, etc., and has been widely used in fields such as pharmaceutical intermediates.

7. China's largest producer of epoxy propane: CNOOC Shell

CNOOC Shell has a production capacity of 590000 tons/year of epoxy propane, accounting for 9.6% of China's total epoxy propane production capacity, and is the largest enterprise in the field of epoxy propane production in China. The second largest is Sinopec Zhenhai Refining and Chemical, with an epoxy propane production capacity of 570000 tons/year, accounting for 9.2% of China's total epoxy propane production capacity. Although there is not much difference in production capacity between the two, Sinopec has a significant influence in the industry.