Chinese chemical producer, Shanxi Sanwei, could start commercial production at its 75,000 tonne/year butanediol (BDO) plant in Hongtong, Shanxi province, in July. Market players had earlier expected commercial production to start in May. However, July or August is a more realistic date considering the plant has to go through various tests before it begins operation. The BDO plant, integrated with a 40,000 tonne/year tetrahydrofuran (THF) unit, will double Shanxi Shanwei’s total BDO production capacity to 150,000 tonnes/year.