Selling indications were at $1,650/tonne CFR Taiwan and/or CMP, but no transactions were heard done.

Traders said there were concerns about a potential disruption in the supply of PX after the Taiwanese government ordered a “rotational closure” of the entire Mailiao refinery and petrochemical complex to thoroughly review safety standards.

Officials from Formosa Chemical & Fibres Corp (FCFC) said the company is running its No 2 and No 3 aromatics units, which have a combined nameplate capacity of 1.45m tonnes of PX per annum, normally.

However, they said they are waiting for further instructions from the government on which Mailiao-based units will be subject to “rotational closure”.

It is also unclear when FCFC will be able to restart its No 1 aromatics facility that has been shut since 13 May.

Yunlin county officials were expected to give FCFC permission to restart its No 1 unit in the week ended 29 July, but the recent spate of fires at the Formosa group’s Mailiao complex may delay the process, sources said.