Resumption of Production of Wanhua Chemical¡äs Phase I 1 Million Tons Ethylene Plant
2026-1-12
On the evening of January 8, 2026, Wanhua Chemical issued an evening announcement stating that the 1 million tons per annum ethylene Phase I plant at its Yantai Industrial Park had been shut down starting from June 3, 2025, for feedstock diversification renovation. Up to now, the feedstock renovation of this ethylene Phase I plant has been fully completed. The plant now produces ethylene via ethane cracking and has turned out qualified products.
This renovation is a key initiative for Wanhua Chemical to advance its feedstock diversification strategy. Centering on the feedstock adaptability upgrading of the ethylene plant, it was completed in approximately seven months.
The core content of the renovation is to realize flexible switching of feedstock routes. Through technical upgrading of cracking furnaces, separation systems and supporting public utilities, the plant has transformed from a single propane-feeding operation mode to a flexible mode that can switch between ethane and propane feedstocks. Ethane cracking has become the primary production route, while the propane-feeding capacity has been retained, enhancing the adaptability to fluctuations in the feedstock market.
This renovation relied on the existing facilities of the Yantai Industrial Park without adding new major production capacity construction. It focused on process optimization and feedstock adaptability improvement, ensuring efficient synergy with the park¡äs core industrial chains such as MDI and POE, and providing stable raw material support for the production of downstream high-end new materials.
After the renovation, the ethylene Phase I and Phase II plants at the Yantai Industrial Park have formed a complementary layout. The Phase I plant with a capacity of 1 million tons per annum (flexible feedstock) is paired with the Phase II plant with a capacity of 1.2 million tons per annum (naphtha + ethane), bringing the total ethylene production capacity in the Yantai area to 2.2 million tons per annum. This provides sufficient ethylene raw materials for core products such as MDI, POE and nylon 12, strengthens the integrated industrial chain of "raw materials - intermediates - high-end materials", reduces dependence on external procurement, improves overall operational efficiency, and helps the company further expand its market presence in the fields of new energy materials and high-end polyolefins.
This renovation is a key initiative for Wanhua Chemical to advance its feedstock diversification strategy. Centering on the feedstock adaptability upgrading of the ethylene plant, it was completed in approximately seven months.
The core content of the renovation is to realize flexible switching of feedstock routes. Through technical upgrading of cracking furnaces, separation systems and supporting public utilities, the plant has transformed from a single propane-feeding operation mode to a flexible mode that can switch between ethane and propane feedstocks. Ethane cracking has become the primary production route, while the propane-feeding capacity has been retained, enhancing the adaptability to fluctuations in the feedstock market.
This renovation relied on the existing facilities of the Yantai Industrial Park without adding new major production capacity construction. It focused on process optimization and feedstock adaptability improvement, ensuring efficient synergy with the park¡äs core industrial chains such as MDI and POE, and providing stable raw material support for the production of downstream high-end new materials.
After the renovation, the ethylene Phase I and Phase II plants at the Yantai Industrial Park have formed a complementary layout. The Phase I plant with a capacity of 1 million tons per annum (flexible feedstock) is paired with the Phase II plant with a capacity of 1.2 million tons per annum (naphtha + ethane), bringing the total ethylene production capacity in the Yantai area to 2.2 million tons per annum. This provides sufficient ethylene raw materials for core products such as MDI, POE and nylon 12, strengthens the integrated industrial chain of "raw materials - intermediates - high-end materials", reduces dependence on external procurement, improves overall operational efficiency, and helps the company further expand its market presence in the fields of new energy materials and high-end polyolefins.