印度石化需求仍保持低迷

据ICIS网站4月17日消息 尽管印度计划在4月20日之后放松对某些企业的限制，但由于疫情导致的长时间停工，下游工厂继续关闭或者以低生产率运行，因此印度的石化需求可能仍然低迷。

巴拉特石油公司的一位不愿透露姓名的官员表示：“印度大多数炼油厂，无论是国营还是民营，目前的产能都在50%左右”。

尽管石油和天然气行业受到基本服务的约束，并在封锁期间获准运营，但许多下游行业被迫关闭。

这位巴拉特石油官员称，这导致炼油厂和石化厂的石化库存增加。

印度天然气管理局（GAIL）在4月15日向孟买证券交易所（BSE）发出的一份通知中确认，由于库存过剩，该公司关闭了位于Pata in Uttar Pradesh的40万吨/年聚乙烯（PE）工厂。

印度天然气管理局在提交给孟买证券交易所的文件中称，出现这种情况是由于该国的需求减少以及运输限制。

印度最初为期三周的全国封锁本应于4月14日结束，但目前延长至5月3日。

虽然印度政府已经为4月20日后部分放松封锁制定了广泛的规定，但各行业在开始运营前还需要得到各邦政府的批准。

下游行业包括包装和塑料行业、汽车零部件行业以及油漆和染料公司仍在等待各有关部门的指示。

王磊 摘译自 ICIS

原文如下：

Indian petrochemical demand to stay subdued despite relaxed lockdown restrictions

India's petrochemical demand may remain subdued as downstream plants will either remain shut or run at reduced rates despite planned relaxed restrictions on certain businesses after 20 April amid an extended pandemic-induced-lockdown.

“Most refineries in India, both state-run and private are currently operating at around 50% of capacity,” said an official with Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) who did not wish to be identified.

Though the oil and gas industry comes under essential services and has been allowed to operate during the lockdown, many downstream industries were forced to shut down.

This has caused a rise in petrochemical inventory at the refinery and petrochemical complexes, the BPCL official said.

In a notification to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on 15 April, Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) confirmed that it shut down its 400,000 tonne/year polyethylene (PE) plant at Pata in Uttar Pradesh state due to excess inventory.

In its filing to the BSE, GAIL stated that the situation arose due to reduction of demand as well as transport restrictions in the country.

India’s initial three-week nationwide lockdown was supposed to end on 14 April but was extended to 3 May.

While the Indian government has laid out the broad rules for the partial relaxation of the lockdown after 20 April, industries will also require approvals from the various state governments before they can begin operations.

Downstream industries including the packaging and plastics industry, auto components industry and paints and dyes companies are still waiting for clarity in instructions from various authorities.