Stagnating PX production may affect Chinese textile firms

The production of paraxylene, a key raw material needed for production of polyester fabrics, is getting stagnated in China, as new projects are getting derailed, which may affect the textile companies that use PX as a raw material.

 

There is huge demand for PX in China, as the country is a large manufacturer and exporter of textiles. In addition, PX is used by other industries like plastic bottle making, and in the medical and biochemical industries.

 

But in recent years, questions regarding safety have led to derailment of several PX plants.

 

Last year, thousands of people protested over construction of a PX plant in East China’s Ningbo province citing health concerns.

 

A recent article in People’s Daily, Li Runsheng, vice president of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, suggested some steps for increasing public confidence, leading to setting up of paraxylene projects.

 

According to Runsheng, adequate social risk and environmental impact assessments should be carried out prior to making any decision on setting up of PX projects.

 

Secondly, in order to raise public confidence, local governments should standardize the safety mechanism, including supervision over the companies and workers’ protection.

 

Further, independent third party supervision is necessary to increase citizen participation in decision-making. 

 

Mr. Runsheng also suggests that the Government should play the role of a mediator between the public and the project developer, as consent of nearby residents has become a must for construction of any paraxylene plant.