Menu
Currently, Fushun City is leveraging Fushun Petrochemical as the "chain leader" to integrate the deep processing of raw materials—such as C5 and C9 fractions and paraffin—thereby achieving tiered value addition for refining by-products. By making breakthroughs across four key sectors—high-end fine chemicals, new chemical materials, new energy batteries, and innovative chemical pharmaceuticals—the city is accelerating the petrochemical industry's transition from a model based on scale to one based on quality, continuously unleashing new momentum through this "coarse-to-fine" upgrade.
Today, the Fushun High-tech Industrial Development Zone has established eight major industrial chains—covering ethylene, propylene, C4, C5, aromatics, plastics, paraffin, and petroleum coke. More than 160 enterprises have clustered along these chains, forming industrial groups that work in synergy to shape the landscape of the petrochemical industry.
At present, the project to debottleneck and improve the energy efficiency of Fushun Petrochemical’s 800,000-ton-per-year ethylene unit is advancing rapidly. In the prefabrication yard, a crane smoothly lifts and precisely installs the convection module for Cracking Furnace No. 9. Unlike conventional projects, this new ethylene cracking furnace employs a "building-block" construction method: all modules are assembled in a dedicated prefabrication yard before being moved as a complete unit to the production area for seamless integration with existing facilities. This approach allows the upgrade to proceed quickly without disrupting the operation of the current units.
"This project encompasses three core undertakings: the capacity expansion and upgrade of the 800,000-ton ethylene unit; the construction of a new 200,000-ton solution-polymerization polyethylene unit utilizing Fushun Petrochemical’s proprietary technology; and the construction of an air separation unit. It also includes upgrades to the butadiene extraction unit, butene-1/MTBE unit, aromatics extraction unit, utility systems, and auxiliary facilities," said Yan Zhongwei, head of the project engineering management team. Currently, the project is 64.4% complete; the ethylene, butene, and aromatics extraction units are already operational, and the new 10,000 Nm³/h air separation unit is providing a stable supply of industrial gases. Upon completion, the debottlenecking and energy-efficiency upgrade project for the 800,000-ton-per-year ethylene unit will not only improve energy efficiency but also boost the production of high-end products—such as polyethylene for bottle caps, high-purity resins for large blow-molded containers, and ultra-low-density polyolefin plastomers (POP)—thereby expanding Fushun Petrochemical's competitive edge in the high-end new materials market.
Amid the wave of transformation and upgrading in the refining and chemical industry, strategies such as "reducing fuel output to increase chemical and specialty product output" and accelerating the development of new materials and fine chemicals have become the industry's path forward. Facing practical challenges—such as an unbalanced product mix and an oversupply of refined fuels—Fushun Petrochemical has continuously upgraded its quality and operations while accelerating the cultivation and development of "new quality productive forces."
Fushun Petrochemical is the world's largest paraffin wax production base, earning the industry reputation of the "Paraffin King." Microcrystalline wax, a premium product within the paraffin family, is prized for its low hardness, high flexibility, and high elongation. It is widely used across sectors including electronics, metallurgy, chemicals, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. Hydrogenation treatment further broadens its application scope, driving strong market demand and promising prospects.
Seizing this opportunity, Fushun Petrochemical launched a combined oil-and-wax production project in 2023, achieving a remarkable timeline: construction began, progressed, reached mechanical completion, and entered production all within the same year. On December 28, 2023, the 200,000-ton-per-year high-pressure paraffin hydrogenation unit at Fushun Petrochemical’s No. 1 Oil Plant successfully produced "Grade 80" microcrystalline wax, with specifications meeting all quality standards. With the full integration of the combined oil-and-wax production project, Fushun Petrochemical became the only domestic enterprise capable of producing the complete range of paraffin, blended, and microcrystalline waxes. This achievement marks an effective pathway for the rational utilization of petroleum resources, the enhancement of deep-processing capabilities, and the cultivation of new quality productive forces.
From overcoming capacity bottlenecks in the ethylene project to deepening the paraffin industry and extending the high-end value chain, Fushun Petrochemical has blazed an innovation-driven trail—transitioning from "coarse" to "refined" operations—as it strives to become a global giant in paraffin products, develop new materials, and transform advantageous resources into high-tech goods. This journey has powerfully driven the optimization and upgrading of the local petrochemical industrial cluster, achieving a win-win outcome for both the enterprise and the local community.
